Helping Employees Save on Childcare: What Employers Need to Know As many families receive confirmation of where their child will start school this September, now is the perfect time for working parents to start planning childcare arrangements. One valuable support option is the government’s Tax-Free Childcare scheme, which can save parents up to £2,000 a...

New Identity Verification and ACSP Rules from Companies House – What You Need to Know As of 2025, Companies House has implemented new regulations for Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) as part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. These changes are designed to increase transparency, improve the integrity of the company register, and...

Cyber Attacks on Retail Giants: What Every Business Should Learn The recent wave of cyber attacks on UK retail giants—including Marks & Spencer, Co-op, and Harrods—has made headlines across the country. These incidents serve as a stark reminder that no organisation is too big, too well-known, or too prepared to be targeted by cyber criminals....

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax – Frequently Asked Questions Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) is on the horizon, with the first phase set to begin on 6 April 2026. Many sole traders, landlords, and small business owners are wondering what this means for them. Here are the most...

Smart Spending Tips for Your Business The government has just announced that thousands of government credit cards will be cancelled as part of a crackdown on wasteful spending. With spending on these cards reportedly increasing fourfold in the last four years, it’s a reminder that keeping an eye on expenses is crucial. While your business...

Identity verification coming to Companies House As part of the changes being gradually introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCT), identity verification is set to become a Companies House requirement. This is one of a number of changes that the Act is making to better protect the data held at Companies House....

5 Ways to Future-Proof Your Business The business world is evolving faster than ever, and companies that fail to adapt risk falling behind. According to the State of Small Business Britain Report, nearly half of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) struggle due to inadequate planning for market changes. The key to long-term success is not just avoiding...

Unlock Smarter Expense Management with Dext: New Features to Simplify Your Business Costs Managing employee expenses and mileage claims can be time-consuming and prone to errors. With Dext’s latest features, you can streamline the process, improve accuracy, and gain better control over your business finances. As experts in financial management, we can help you get...

Should You Be Paying Tax on Your Side Hustle? Avoid Any Nasty Surprises Conventional work and income streams are changing, and with the rising cost of living, many people are turning to side hustles to make extra cash. If you’re one of them, you might be wondering whether you need to pay tax on those...

Making Tax Digital for ITSA: What are the next steps? The way self-employed individuals and landlords manage their tax is changing. With the introduction of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA), HMRC is modernising the tax system to make it more efficient, accurate, and streamlined. If you are a sole trader...

Navigating Pricing Strategies Amid Rising Wage Costs: Lessons from Next With new tax measures taking effect from April 2025, businesses across the UK are bracing for rising wage costs. Many are now evaluating whether adjusting their pricing strategies could help mitigate financial pressures while maintaining customer loyalty. One prominent example is High Street retailer Next,...

Getting Data Privacy Right from the Outset: Essential ICO Tools for Your New Business The start of the year is often a time for fresh beginnings, and for many entrepreneurs, that means launching a new business. While this is an exciting journey, ensuring compliance with data protection laws from the outset is just as important....

Streamlining Employee Benefits Reporting: A Guide to Payrolling Benefits in Kind Payrolling benefits in kind is revolutionising the way employers handle reporting and taxation for employee benefits. With significant changes on the horizon, understanding how this system works is essential for every employer. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the current rules and...

Salary vs dividends: The best way to extract profit in 2025/26 If you trade as a limited company, then you will likely know that balancing salary and dividends is key to extracting profit from your company in the most tax-efficient way. Both methods have distinct implications. and the right mix will depend on your specific...

A Fresh Start: Reviewing Your Business Goals for the New Year The beginning of January is a time for new beginnings, and for business owners, it offers the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and plan for the year ahead. After the hustle and bustle of the festive season, January provides a quieter moment to evaluate...

Understanding HMRC Payments on Account: What You Need to Know If you’re self-employed or receive untaxed income, you may already be familiar with the concept of Payments on Account. But for many, it can still be a confusing part of managing your taxes. In this post, we’ll explain how Payments on Account work, who needs...

Why business owners should start using KPIs to drive success As a small business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations and miss the bigger picture. You might rely on gut feelings or a quick glance at your bank account to determine how well your business is doing. However, without specific...

10 Key Reasons to Choose Bookkeeping Support from Heriot Hughes In the fast-paced world of business, staying on top of finances is crucial for success, but it can be overwhelming when you’re focused on running your company. That’s where Heriot Hughes Chartered Accountants in Liverpool can help. Our dedicated bookkeeping services keep businesses financially organised...

Dividend board minutes are the official written record of a company’s board meeting where the decision to declare and approve a dividend distribution to shareholders is made. These minutes document the formal discussion and decision-making process of the board of directors regarding the payment of dividends from the company’s profits. The minutes typically include key...

A dividend voucher is a formal document issued by a company to its shareholders when dividends are paid. It serves as a receipt or proof of payment, detailing the specifics of the dividend distribution. For shareholders, it confirms the amount they are receiving from the company as part of their return on investment. The voucher...

A stock transfer form is useful for several reasons, particularly for individuals involved in the transfer of shares within a private company. Here’s why: Legal Transfer of Ownership: The form ensures the formal and legal transfer of shares from one party to another. Without it, the transfer wouldn’t be recognised by the company, and the...

Starting a new business is an exciting journey, but it can also be overwhelming with all the legal, financial, and tax requirements. To help you navigate these challenges, we’ve created a comprehensive New Business Kit, designed to ensure you have the knowledge and resources to start and manage your business with confidence. This kit covers...

The “Pay VAT” service on the UK government website is a key tool for businesses to manage and pay their Value Added Tax (VAT) obligations. VAT is a consumption tax placed on goods and services, and businesses registered for VAT must submit VAT returns and make payments to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). This online...

The “Pay Self Assessment Tax Bill” service on the UK government website is designed to facilitate the payment of Self Assessment tax bills for individuals. Self Assessment is a system used by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to collect Income Tax from self-employed individuals, sole traders, and people with other forms of income not taxed...