HLAS

At the end of April 2026, new legislation will come into force aimed at addressing concerns about losing benefits support if employment does not work out. For many disabled individuals and those with long-term health conditions, the risk of triggering a benefits reassessment can discourage them from pursuing work or volunteering. The new legislation seeks to address this issue. From the end of April, starting employment will no longer automatically trigger a benefits reassessment for individuals receiving:• New-style Employment and Support Allowance.• Personal Independence Payment.• The health element of Universal Credit. The new rules also ensure that volunteering, often a [...]

The government has released further draft legislation relating to the UK’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will affect importers of certain carbon-intensive goods into the UK. The latest draft provisions address the calculation of embodied emissions, a key component in determining CBAM liability, as well as the monitoring and verification of emissions data. The consultation period runs until 21 May 2026. Alongside the draft legislation, a policy summary has also been published, offering businesses a helpful overview of how CBAM is expected to operate. CBAM is scheduled to come into force on 1 January 2027. Its purpose is to [...]

With Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax coming into force from 6 April 2026, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has been writing to taxpayers in recent weeks to inform them that they are being brought into the regime. MTD became mandatory from 6 April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with total turnover exceeding £50,000 in the 2025/25 tax year, unless an exemption applies. It involves maintaining digital records and submitting quarterly updates to HMRC. Some taxpayers may have received their ‘mandation’ letter only a few days before the start of the tax year. If you have received such [...]

If you are considering selling your business, whether that is in six months or six years, one of the first questions you are likely to ask is, “what’s it worth?” While there are various formulas used to estimate the value of a business, ultimately the answer comes down to the judgement of a prospective buyer, who will weigh up the risks and potential returns of acquiring your business. Many business owners focus on the headline profit figure. While profit is clearly important, it is only one part of the overall picture. Buyers will look closely at how sustainable those profits [...]

New employment rights introduced in April 2026 mean that Northern Ireland is the first jurisdiction in the Northern Hemisphere to provide specific support for miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. New entitlementThe new entitlement for miscarriage means that an employee in Northern Ireland who experiences a miscarriage, or an individual with a defined connection to a woman who has experienced a miscarriage, will qualify for Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay. No medical evidence is required to access this leave. Employees simply need to submit a written self-declaration, including their name and the date the miscarriage occurred or was discovered. This means [...]

New rules, expected to come into force from spring 2027, will make it easier for people to avoid costly subscription traps. The rules will mean:• Clear and simple information must be provided before any subscription is taken out.• Reminders will be issued before free or discounted trials end, or before annual (or longer) contracts automatically renew.• Cancellations must be straightforward, including online cancellation options for subscriptions set up online.• A new 14-day cooling-off period will apply after a free or discounted trial ends, or when an annual (or longer) contract renews. The government has confirmed that initial cooling-off rights and [...]

Last week marked a 4.8% rise in both the basic and new State Pensions. This could mean an additional £575 annually for many pensioners. The Pension Credit has also increased by 4.8% and is worth an average of £4,300 a year. The full rate of the new State Pension increases from £230.25 to £241.30 a week. The full basic State Pension increases from £176.45 to £184.90 a week. The Standard Minimum Guarantee in Pension Credit is now £238.00 per week for a single pensioner, and £363.25 for a couple. The increases, which are part of the government’s Triple Lock Guarantee, [...]

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has recently published a research paper examining how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) perceive electronic invoicing, commonly referred to as e-invoicing. In the Autumn Budget 2025, plans were announced to make e-invoicing mandatory for VAT invoices from 2029. The research paper aims to support the development of an e-invoicing policy that meets the competitive needs of SME businesses. An e-invoice is a document that is issued and received in a structured digital format, allowing it to be processed automatically by electronic systems. E-invoicing solutions can integrate with accounting software, helping to streamline a business’s bookkeeping [...]

There was a time when incorporating a business once profits reached a modest level was almost standard advice. Today, the discussion is more nuanced, and some existing company owners may even be asking themselves, “Do I still need a limited company?” This question is often driven by rising tax bills, following reductions to the dividend allowance and increases in dividend tax rates. In some situations, it may now be more tax-efficient to operate as a sole trader rather than through a limited company. That said, tax is only one part of the overall picture. This article explores some of the [...]

New provisions under the Employment Rights Act came into force on 6 April 2026. These include: • Employees are now entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of sickness absence, rather than from the fourth day. • New fathers and partners now have the right to paternity leave from their first day in a new job, rather than having to wait six months. • Day one rights to unpaid parental leave have also been introduced. Previously, parents were required to complete one year of service before qualifying. • Parents are also granted a new right to take Bereaved [...]