HLAS

The mandatory use of software for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment is being phased in from April 2026. Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax Self-Assessment (ITSA) was due to be phased in from April 2024. However, the government, recognising the current economic environment and the significant change that a transition to Making Tax Digital represents, has pushed this back to April 2026. In addition, the previously announced £10,000 threshold for self-employment and property income has been raised, as detailed below. Under MTD for ITSA, businesses, self-employed individuals, and landlords will keep digital records, and send a quarterly summary of their business [...]

In 2022, despite the troubles with the economy, we have been amazed at the resilience of our clients and how they have energetically moved their businesses into new areas, products and services. Many of our clients have redesigned delivery and payment systems, moved their entire processes digital, accepted remote working and adopted to new technologies to survive and indeed prosper. You have demonstrated to us how we can all readily adapt to a change in circumstances and have given us inspiration and optimism for the future. We hope that by this time next year we will be back to where [...]

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has updated its international transfers guidance, adding: a new section on transfer risk assessments (TRAs) a downloadable TRA tool (DOC, 368K) These updates aim to help organisations know how to protect people's personal information when making international transfers. Earlier this year, the ICO published the International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) and the Addendum to the European Union Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs). The latest updates clarify an alternative transfer risk assessment approach to the one put forward by the European Data Protection Board. With the guidance, and the six-question TRA tool, the ICO offers a framework to help [...]

Apply for Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) funding to develop data driven approaches for upgrading portfolios of buildings. Innovate UK is investing up to £5 million (across two phases) to accelerate the shift to a net zero economy, by developing and testing scalable commercial service propositions. These must reduce bills and carbon emissions from buildings with the intention of commercialising the results beyond phase two of this competition. Projects must take a data-driven approach to assessing and defining appropriate pathways for: the upgrading of building portfolios targeting decarbonisation energy demand reduction market demand certainty heat efficiency This is phase one [...]

Cyber Essentials has extended the certification grace period to April 2023, to coincide with the next technical requirements refresh. In January 2022, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) announced an update of the Cyber Essentials technical controls. At the time, organisations who were looking to be assessed against the new standards were given a grace period of up to 12 months for some of the requirements. This grace period was due to end in January. The decision has now been made to extend the grace period for a further three months until April 2023. The new deadline will coincide with the next, [...]

Enterprise Nation has partnered with Adobe to bring “Small Business Goes Big”. It’s a chance to pitch your small business to retail buyers, with the possibility of getting stocked. You could also win a share of £10,000 cash grants. If you are a small business, micro-business, freelancer or sole trader, are based in the UK, have fewer than 20 employees, and operate in the following sectors then you’re eligible to apply: Food and drink Homewares Fashion and jewellery Beauty Health, leisure and wellbeing To enter, you will simply create a two-minute pitch video with the free Adobe Express app. You [...]

Whether you are an aspiring or existing entrepreneur, the StartUp Show is a chance to not only discover everything you need to know about starting a business, but also to connect with advisers and business experts who’ll help take your enterprise to the next level. The event takes place on 28 January 2023 at King's College London, with early bird tickets costing £10 (register by 31 December 2022). By registering for the event, you will receive access to the recordings captured from the Keynote stage, featuring top tips from inspirational entrepreneurs. See: StartUp Show: The biggest start-up event in London [...]

As winter takes hold, you can find helpful advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on keeping people as comfortable as possible when working in the cold. The guidance has been refreshed to make it easier to find and understand advice on how to protect workers in both low and high temperatures. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations require employers to provide a reasonable indoor temperature in the workplace. The guidance explains how you can assess the risks to workers and put controls in place to protect them. There is a workplace temperature checklist to help you carry out a basic [...]

The UK Government has launched its ‘Help for Households’ campaign. The campaign aims to help people through the cost of living this winter. Some of the topics include: Cheaper broadband and phone packages - Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. For further information please select the following link Cheaper broadband and phone packages - Ofcom Discounts and offers – To find out what discounts and offers are available from businesses to help with the cost of living, please select the following link Discounts and offers - Help for Households [...]

From tax year 2024/25 unincorporated businesses will be required to compute their profits on the new ‘tax year’ basis, i.e. those arising between 6 April and 5 April. Many businesses are considering changing their accounting period end to align with the tax year but those that choose not to will need to apportion their profits and may need to estimate some of the figures in order to meet the 31 January filing deadline. For example, a business with a 31 December accounting year end would need to include nine months of the profits from the year ended 31 December 2024 [...]