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Latest News
Practical articles and financial advice to support individuals, sole traders and small businesses across Kent


How Gen Z can avoid burnout
They are newer to the world of work, but Gen Z employees report a higher frequency of burnout-related symptoms than their older colleagues. Fortunately, there’s much we can do to help.
Dec 29, 2025


Taxpayers told to watch out for self assessment scams
In a warning to taxpayers, HMRC has revealed that more than 4,800 self assessment scams have been reported since February 2025. Separately, HMRC has launched a new tool for reporting suspicious activity in HMRC online accounts.
Dec 22, 2025


Can the government’s Business Growth Service get small businesses growing?
The Business Growth Service is designed to make it easier for small businesses to find the support they need.
Dec 15, 2025


HMRC asks companies and agents to check tax returns
Letters are being sent where HMRC believes that the corporation tax liability declared by the company in its most recent company tax return is much lower than expected compared to similar companies.
Dec 8, 2025


Taxpayers reminded to ensure returns are correct and complete
Following the publication of guidance earlier this year, HMRC is asking wealthy taxpayers to ensure that any legal interpretation applied in a tax return or other document sent to HMRC is "correct in both fact and law”.
Dec 1, 2025


Budget expected to have negative impact on businesses, says ICAEW
An ICAEW poll has found that close to three-quarters of respondents agreed the Budget would negatively impact their organisation.
Nov 24, 2025


Public finances continue to disappoint ahead of the Budget
The cumulative budget overrun has widened from £7bn to £10bn in seven months, reveals latest data from the Office for National Statistics.
Nov 17, 2025


Tax news in brief
Highlights from the broader tax news for the week ending 28 October 2025, including: a reminder for employers that the November 2025 payment deadline falls on a weekend; and improved HMRC guidance to help with compliance checks.
Nov 10, 2025


Exports: what you can learn from record £1m sanctions fine
A UK exporter paid the price when selling goods to a company incorporated in Russia operating in a third country. The case highlights the need for businesses to completely understand sanctions rules and their implications.
Nov 10, 2025


Directors’ reports to be scrapped and more companies to be exempt from strategic reports
In a package of reforms aimed at reducing bureaucracy and supporting businesses growth, the UK government has announced plans to remove the requirement for companies to prepare a directors’ report as part of their annual report and accounts.
Oct 27, 2025


How do you make cyber training stick?
If cyber security training is to be relevant and effective, business owners and organisation leaders must ensure that it is specifically tailored to how their companies work and the risks they face on any given day.
Oct 20, 2025


Hackers almost breached this firm’s systems. Here’s what they learned
Security experts at a mid-tier audit firm knew they had to act swiftly when they discovered an attempt on their own system, in which their servers were almost breached by cyber criminals, and used it as a lesson to bolster their own security and training across the business.
Oct 13, 2025


Ethics: four questions to assess company culture
When stepping onto a board or taking up a leadership role, how do you assess the ethics of the organisation? Here are the key questions you need to ask.
Oct 6, 2025


Public finances turn ugly just as Chancellor needs good news
The monthly public sector finances release for August 2025 published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 19 September reported a provisional shortfall between receipts and total public spending of £18bn in August 2025 and £84bn for the five months then ended. These were £6bn and £12bn over budget respectively and £4bn and £16bn higher than in the same periods in 2024.
Sep 22, 2025


Businesses to benefit from rates reforms, says government
The government has announced that it will explore options for reforming business rates, including overhauling small business rates relief to make it easier for smaller businesses to invest and grow.
Sep 15, 2025


Taxpayers encouraged to ensure returns are correct and complete
HMRC has published guidance setting out what it expects of taxpayers who are considering applying novel or improbable interpretations of the law, or are uncertain how the law applies when submitting a tax return or similar document.
Sep 9, 2025


Simple assessment taxpayers can apply online for a payment plan
Taxpayers who owe tax of up to £50,000 under simple assessment can now apply online for a time to pay arrangement with HMRC.
Aug 31, 2025


DBT issues guidance on low-value shipments to US
UK businesses now face tariffs on “vast majority” of exports to the US, following Trump’s suspension of de minimis duty-free treatment of low-value goods from abroad.
Aug 31, 2025


Ireland: economic prospects, tariffs and the emerging world economic order
As businesses across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland face US tariffs and ongoing turmoil, how can organisations build resilience, manage supply chains and make the right decisions to ensure they thrive?
Aug 25, 2025


Economic update: the UK economy faces a difficult road ahead
The UK economy is feeling the effects of growing domestic and international headwinds as GDP slows and inflation continues to rise. ICAEW’s Economies Director Suren Thiru discusses the implications.
Aug 17, 2025
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