Against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis, a near-stagnant economy and a looming election, the 2023 Autumn Statement was seen to reflect a pivotal moment in the UK’s economic trajectory. As Jeremy Hunt stepped up to the dispatch box for his second Autumn Statement as Chancellor of the Exchequer, the nation’s attention was firmly fixed…

A Treasury task force explained on the 9 October how listed companies and financial firms will have to outline plans to cut carbon emissions in the transition to a 2050 net-zero economy. The plans dovetail with pre-existing mandatory climate standards, which are set to be replaced by new measures from the International Sustainability Standards Board…

Leading business organisations have criticised the Government’s decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2, despite its promises to divert £36 billion into new transport in the Midlands and north of England. High-Speed Rail Group, which represents rail and engineering firms, described the move as the “biggest and most damaging U-turn in the history of…

The number of company insolvencies in September 2023 was 16.5% higher than the same month last year, according to official data published in October by the Insolvency Service. Corporate insolvencies decreased to a total of 1,967 compared to August’s total of 2,319, but compared to September 2022’s figure of 1,688, they increased by 16.5%. Nicky…

Britain’s economy partially recovered in August, with a marginal growth of 0.2% following a sharp fall in July. This slow growth has fuelled expectations that the Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee will vote to maintain its base interest rate at 5.25% next month. The BoE halted its run of interest rate increases in…

Constant developments in technologies like AI and cloud accounting are changing the way we do business and manage our finances. It’s a rapidly advancing field that has already changed the way most businesses think about their processes. So what are the benefits of using technology in business accounting? Embracing technology can empower you to move…

What you need to know about trusts, including how they are taxed. Trusts are legal arrangements where assets are placed into the care of an individual or organisation that manages them for the benefit of someone else. For the person setting up the trust, this arrangement means they know their assets will be properly looked…

London’s ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) aims to improve air quality and public health. The latest ULEZ expansion means that many more businesses and individuals could face charges when driving vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards. We’re here to help you understand how to comply with these clean air schemes and offer advice on minimising…

Hunt will use the Statement to set out future tax plans and departmental spending plans, although he may hold back on serious plans amid inflationary pressures. The Chancellor may also decide against favourable announcements until the Spring Budget as part of the general election, which must be held in January 2025 at the latest. Hunt…

The UK is no longer a global economic outlier after a huge revision to its post-pandemic economic performance by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). GDP, the size of the country’s economy, climbed back above pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021, the ONS said last week — much higher than previously thought. The ONS…

Employers are turning to generous counter-offers in a bid to retain staff as skills shortages persist, new research suggests. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), 51% of employers who make counter-offers to keep employees have offered a higher number over the last 12 months. A quarter of employers who have made…

HMRC has reopened the self-assessment tax helpline from 4 September after it was closed for three months over the summer. Between 12 June and 3 September, callers were redirected to digital services to give HMRC staff time to deal with other phone enquiries and handle the postal backlog. This was not the first time HMRC…

Rising interest rates and frozen thresholds will force over one million more taxpayers to pay taxes on their savings interest this tax year, new data reveals. Over 2.7 million individuals will pay tax on cash interest in the 2023/24 tax year, up by a million in a single year as more savers breach the personal…

Real wages in June 2023 were higher than a year ago for the first time in 18 months, ending a pay squeeze across Britain. Wages grew by 7.8% in the three months to June, the fastest annual rate since records began in 2001, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Darren Morgan, ONS…

Growth remained sluggish between April and June 2023, with GDP growing by 0.2% in the second quarter of 2023 following a 0.1% rise in the first. Monthly estimates also show that GDP grew by an estimated 0.5% in June 2023 after falling by 0.1% in May and rising by 0.2% in April. Growth of 1%…

One in five British importers have altered their supply chains because of geopolitical tensions, particularly with China, new research suggests. A survey by the Institute of Directors (IoD), found that 20.5% of importers have altered their supply chains because of tensions abroad, while a further 14.5% were considering doing the same. Just 42.4% of importers…

Contractors and freelancers operate through a private company to enjoy a better tax treatment compared to sole traders — but a more favourable tax position is actually never guaranteed because of off-payroll working rules known as IR35. According to IR35, if a contractor or freelancer has a working relationship with a client that is more…

If you’ve never had to complete a self-assessment tax return, the first time can be daunting. But don’t worry: we’ll demystify the process in this article. And if you have completed one before, this guide might still teach you a thing or two about doing your self-assessment better. What exactly is self-assessment? Self-assessment is the…

In evidence submitted to the Public Accounts Committee’s Progress with Making Tax Digital inquiry, contributors from across the accounting profession handed down a blistering verdict on the project, and HMRC’s ability to deliver on its new timeline. The written submissions criticised HMRC’s failure to consult with and listen to taxpayers, agents, professional bodies and software…

After “a successful trial period”, HMRC has decided to extend its call time information messages to more of its helplines in a bid to give taxpayers and agents a better understanding of how long they can expect to be waiting on the phone. According to HMRC’s most recent stakeholder digest, the extension, which came into…