Heads up for company directors

As of April 2025, directors of close companies and self-employed taxpayers face new mandatory reporting requirements on their Self-Assessment returns. Up to 900,000 company directors and 1.2 million taxpayers carrying on a trade will be impacted by new rules that...

State benefits taxable and non-taxable

Many people rely on state benefits, but it is not always obvious which payments are taxable and which are tax-free. HMRC’s guidance outlines the following list of the most common state benefits on which Income Tax is payable, subject to the usual limits:...

Sharing income from jointly held property

The standard tax treatment for couples living together, whether married or in a civil partnership, is that income from jointly held property is split equally (50:50) between them, regardless of their actual ownership shares. However, if the ownership is unequal and...

Two important 2025 self-assessment deadlines

Paper tax returns are due 31 October 2025, and new registrants must notify HMRC by 5 October 2025. Act early to avoid penalties. Firstly, the deadline for submitting paper self-assessment tax returns is 31 October 2025. If you miss this deadline a £100 late...

Dividend taxes will they increase?

Speculation is growing that rates or allowances applied to dividend income may change in the next Budget. The current tax rates for dividends received (in excess of the £500 dividend tax allowance) are as follows: 8.75% for basic rate taxpayers will pay tax...