Accounting & Tax Blog

Everything UK directors need to know about Companies House identity verification, the 18 November 2025 deadline, personal codes, and what happens next.

Distributable reserves decide whether a dividend is legal. See how to check retained earnings, test interim dividends and avoid illegal dividends.

See the dividend tax rates 2026/27, the £100k tax trap and why your personal tax position, not the company's accounts, decides what a dividend costs.

Clearing your director's loan account with dividends each year does not clear it. Here is how the balance rolls forward and how to unwind it properly.

Services to overseas customers are generally zero-rated, but if the service relates directly to a UK property, UK VAT at 20% applies regardless of where the customer is based.

Incorporating a new company resets the VAT registration clock. Here is when VAT registration becomes necessary and why it may not be the first priority when you start trading.

VAT on services depends on who the customer is and how you invoice. Here is how design, restoration, delivery, and installation are treated for UK VAT purposes.

The VAT margin scheme lets dealers pay VAT only on their profit, not the full selling price. Here is how it works for antique and second-hand furniture.

Exporting goods from the UK means 0% UK VAT, but who pays import VAT abroad depends on your Incoterms. Here is the difference between DAP and DDP explained.

Whether you charge 20% or 0% VAT comes down to two questions: where are the goods delivered, and who is the importer? Here is how to get it right every time.

Clear breakdown of statutory Companies House fees (£100 incorporation, £50 confirmation statement), accountancy costs, and year-one budget for UK limited companies.

Smoothing your director income across tax years prevents unnecessary jumps into higher tax bands. Here is the planning approach that works best for most UK directors.

Choosing the right share structure when registering your company affects ownership, dividends, and tax efficiency. Here is what to consider before you file with Companies House.

Everything you need to know about the 2025/26 self assessment tax return deadline. Key dates, penalties for late filing, and tips to file on time with HMRC.

Most UK limited company directors use a small salary plus dividends to minimise tax. Here is how the combination works and where the key thresholds sit.

How to structure your director pay between salary and dividends to minimise tax. A practical guide to the most tax-efficient remuneration strategy for UK company directors.

Every UK limited company needs a registered address on the public record. Here is the difference between using your home address, a virtual office, and an accountant's address.

Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) lets UK businesses declare and reclaim import VAT on the same VAT return, eliminating the cashflow hit of paying VAT upfront at the border.

An MVL lets directors extract company reserves as a capital distribution rather than income, often at a lower tax rate. Here is when it makes sense.

MTD for income tax introduces a new penalty points system for late filing and stricter late payment penalties. Here is how the regime works and how to avoid financial penalties.

Not everyone has to join Making Tax Digital for income tax. Here is a full guide to who is exempt, who is deferred, and how to apply if MTD does not apply to you.

MTD for income tax requires four quarterly submissions per year plus a year-end final declaration. Here are the exact deadlines, what to submit, and how errors are corrected.

MTD for income tax is mandatory for sole traders with turnover above £50,000 from April 2026. Here is what changes, what you must do, and key deadlines to know.

Landlords with property income above £50,000 must join MTD for income tax from April 2026. Here is what quarterly reporting means for you and how to get ready.

Step-by-step walkthrough to registering a UK limited company: company name, share structure, SIC codes, Companies House online filing, and post-incorporation UTR.

Closing a limited company through voluntary strike-off involves seven steps, from ceasing trading to DS01 submission. Here is the complete process and what to expect.

An overdrawn director's loan account can trigger an S455 tax charge if not repaid within 9 months of the company year end. Here is what to watch for.

Company pension contributions reduce corporation tax and grow tax-efficiently. Learn how UK directors can use them to extract profit from their limited company.