HLAS

The government has announced that it will provide an additional £5 million of support to Bradford, which is the 2025 UK City of Culture. The funds, which bring total support provided to £15 million, will be used to help in delivering a programme of events and support a legacy of cultural regeneration. It is expected that 6,500 jobs will be created in the area as a result of Bradford being UK City of Culture. Around 1,000 events are being organised for 2025. These are expected to attract an additional 3.3 million visitors to the area, and it is anticipated that [...]

Recent immigration enforcement activity has highlighted the importance of employers ensuring their workers have the right to work in the UK. With thousands of enforcement visits, numerous arrests, and significant fines being issued, businesses that fail to fulfil their responsibilities face serious repercussions. Crackdown on Illegal Working Immigration Enforcement teams have been focusing on sectors known to employ workers without the right to work, such as car washes, nail bars, supermarkets, and construction sites. Between July and November last year, thousands of visits were conducted across the UK. In London alone, these visits resulted in 770 arrests, with nearly 1,000 [...]

The start of a new year is often when entrepreneurs begin planning for a new business venture. To assist with this, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published guidance to help entrepreneurs address data protection from the outset. The ICO offers an e-learning platform featuring videos and advice tailored to small organisations. This resource, available online, is well worth exploring. In addition, the ICO provides two useful online tools to simplify data protection compliance: Privacy Notice Every organisation that handles personal information must explain why it collects the data and how it is used. This is typically done via a [...]

The physical and mental health benefits of exercise are widely recognised. The healthier and fitter we are, the better we perform in running our businesses. Similarly, a healthier, fitter workforce is more likely to be productive and content. Despite this, many of us find it challenging to make time or summon the energy for regular exercise. The Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS have reported that 8.7 million NHS Couch to 5K runs were completed in 2024, with 790,000 people downloading the NHS fitness app. The app is designed to help beginners gradually work towards running 5 [...]

Flights departing from the UK are now set to become greener with the introduction of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate, which came into effect on 1 January. From 2025, 2% of all jet fuel used for flights taking off from the UK must be SAF, with this percentage increasing by 2 percentage points each year to reach 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040. SAF is sustainably sourced fuel, derived from materials such as household waste and used cooking oil. According to government data, fuel made from these sources generates an average of 70% fewer carbon emissions compared to [...]

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have reported that 4,409 individuals chose to file their tax returns on Christmas Day, getting their 2023-2024 tax affairs sorted well in advance of the 31 January deadline. In total, 40,072 taxpayers submitted their returns over the festive period, demonstrating that even amidst holiday celebrations, there’s time for a bit of financial organisation. Festive Filing Insights The holiday statistics shed light on the filing habits of those who decided to take care of their tax obligations over Christmas: Christmas Eve: The busiest day, with 23,731 returns submitted, as some opted to prioritise tax returns over [...]

The start of January marks a time of new beginnings, and for business owners, it’s the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and plan ahead. After the whirlwind of the festive season, January offers a quieter moment to consider where your business is headed, how it’s performing, and whether you’re still on track to meet your goals. Why review your goals now? Setting goals is one thing – keeping track of them is another. Running a business is often about managing the immediate – urgent emails, pressing deadlines, and day-to-day challenges. Without a clear plan, though, it can be easy to [...]

The key tax takeaways from the Scottish Budget, held on 4th December, concerned the Scottish Rate of Income Tax (SRIT) and Land & Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT). Scottish Rate of Income Tax If a taxpayer’s main residence is in Scotland or they are otherwise classed as a ‘Scottish taxpayer’, their non-savings/non-dividend income is subject to the SRIT. Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Local Government, Shona Robinson, announced that the SRIT will not be increased and no new bands will be introduced for the remainder of this parliament. From 6 April 2025, the Basic and Intermediate rate thresholds will however increase [...]

With the 31 January Self Assessment deadline fast approaching, HMRC is urging taxpayers to stay vigilant against fraudsters. Over the past year, scam referrals to HMRC have risen by 16.7%, with nearly 150,000 cases reported in the year to November 2024. A large number of these referrals involved fake tax rebate claims. HMRC has reiterated that they never request personal or financial information via text messages, nor do they leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest. If you receive any communication claiming to be from HMRC that asks for personal details or offers a tax rebate, it is crucial to [...]

Prior to the Autumn Budget, there was hope that the new Labour Government might further delay the introduction of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT). However, such hopes were dashed on Budget day, with confirmation of the previously-announced timescales and an additional announcement that individuals with income from trading or property of over £20,000 will be mandated to comply with MTD for IT requirements in future. The mandate timescales are as follows: At present, no mandate deadlines have been set for partnerships. Complying with the requirements of MTD for IT will involve keeping business records in specialist [...]