Category Archives: Uncategorized

When does a hobby become a business

Many people start an activity as a hobby, perhaps selling handmade goods online, offering occasional services, or generating small amounts of additional income from spare capacity. Over time, what begins as a leisure pursuit can evolve into something that looks increasingly commercial. This raises an important question, when does a hobby become a business for […]

Price gouging and the governments new response

Recent global instability, particularly tensions affecting oil and energy supply chains, has increased concerns about price gouging, where businesses take advantage of shortages or uncertainty to impose unjustified price increases. In response, the UK government has announced new measures intended to protect consumers and ensure markets continue to operate fairly. Price gouging generally occurs when […]

Companies House blunder

A Companies House blunder has raised concerns after a flaw in the WebFiling service briefly exposed sensitive company data. The issue, identified on 13 March 2026, meant that a logged-in user could potentially access and amend limited details of another company by carrying out a specific sequence of actions. Companies House has stated that this […]

Changes to reporting of BiKs

Mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind (BiKs) and taxable employment expenses will be introduced from 6 April 2027. This represents a major change in reporting and means that for most benefits, the annual P11D form will no longer be required from the start of the 2027-28 tax year. The requirement to report Income Tax and Class 1A […]

External business threats and how planning can help counter them

External risks can affect even well managed businesses. Many threats arise outside the control of business owners, yet they can have a significant impact on profitability, cash flow and long term stability. Economic change, regulatory developments, market disruption and supply chain pressures can all create uncertainty. Forward planning allows businesses to prepare for these risks […]

What the new HMRC website does not provide

The launch of HMRC’s Tax Confident website represents a clear attempt to simplify the UK tax system and help individuals better understand their obligations. The site is structured around real life situations such as starting work, running a small business, or approaching retirement, and aims to present tax concepts in plain English without technical jargon. […]