Common Cents
MTD: HMRC Is About to Sign You Up Whether You Like It or Not
Back in March we asked whether you were ready for the April rollout of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. The first quarterly deadline has now been and gone, so we can stop speculating about how it would go and look at what actually happened. The short version is that...
The Luddite and the Algorithm: Finding the Real Value of AI
There is a word that has been unfairly used as an insult for over two hundred years. Luddite. Today it means someone who is irrationally afraid of technology, a reactionary who would rather smash progress than embrace it. This is historically wrong, and getting it...
Armani Jeans and Sausage Chips: HMRC’s Most Bizarre Rejections
We’ve all wondered if we can squeeze that one questionable receipt into our accounts. But some business owners take "creative accounting" to a whole new level. Every year, HMRC deals with some truly outlandish (and ultimately rejected) claims. While we love helping...
Fiscal Drag: The “Hidden” Tax Increase You Need to Know
While headline tax rates often dominate the news, there is a quieter phenomenon currently reshaping the UK’s financial landscape. It’s called "Fiscal Drag," and if you’ve received a pay rise recently but don't feel any better off, it is likely the reason why. What is...
5 Simple Habits to Master Your Cash Flow
For many business owners, "profit" and "cash" can feel like two very different things. You might have a record month of sales, yet still find yourself checking the bank balance with a knot in your stomach when it’s time to pay the bills. Managing cash flow isn’t about...
MTD for Income Tax: Are You Ready for the April 2026 Rollout?
The way sole traders and landlords report income to HMRC is undergoing its biggest change in decades. From 6 April 2026, "Making Tax Digital" (MTD) for Income Tax becomes mandatory for many, and the countdown has officially begun. Do the new rules apply to you? HMRC...