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


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


HMRC targets personal expenditure
HMRC will run a digital campaign to ensure that income tax self assessment (ITSA) taxpayers do not claim tax relief for personal expenditure when completing tax returns for 2025/26.
Aug 11, 2025


New standard for firms certifying AI management systems
To promote trust and consumer confidence, the British Standards Institution has published a new standard on auditing artificial intelligence management systems.
Aug 3, 2025


Companies may have claimed marginal relief in error
HMRC is writing to companies that may have failed to include the correct number of associated companies in their corporation tax return and as a result claimed marginal relief in error.
Jul 27, 2025


“Major win” for HMRC in SDLT case
Following a recent court decision, HMRC is warning homebuyers to take care if they are considering claiming a repayment of stamp duty land tax (SDLT) on the basis that the property is in need of repair.
Jul 20, 2025


WWII accountants: Lieutenant-Colonel William Harris-Burland
An accountant that worked across Europe in the 1930s and then used his local knowledge, as well as his business and accounting skills to mastermind clandestine activities during the Second World War.
Jul 15, 2025


Scaling up: how to build flexibility into your strategy
How to grow: scaling a business isn’t just about growth, it’s about growth with resilience – especially during these times of greater uncertainty.
Jul 13, 2025


Chart of the week: Energy price cap
As reported by ICAEW According to Ofgem, the domestic energy price cap in Great Britain for the third quarter of 2025 commencing on 1...
Jul 6, 2025


Companies encouraged to review loan relationships
As reported by ICAEW HMRC is asking companies where it has opened an enquiry into the application of the unallowable purpose rule to...
Jul 6, 2025


Warning: 31 July deadline for paying income tax and NIC
The normal due date for paying income tax and class 4 national insurance contributions (NIC) under self assessment (SA) for a tax year is 31 January after the end of that year. However, some taxpayers need to make a POA on 31 January during the tax year and on 31 July immediately after the end of the tax year.
Jul 4, 2025


Hiring Slows as Costs Rise
New data from the Office for National Statistics suggests that UK businesses are continuing to slow down recruitment, with job vacancies falling by 63,000 between March and May.
Jun 18, 2025
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