by Steffen Kemmerzehl, MAAT, AATQB – see The Accounting Hub If you or someone close to you receives a Winter Fuel Payment, it is worth staying alert. Recently, HM Revenue & Customs warned that scammers are increasingly targeting pensioners with fake messages about repaying Winter Fuel Payments. You can read the official HMRC guidance here. …
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by Steffen Kemmerzehl, MAAT, AATQB – see The Accounting Hub If your business manufactures, imports, stores, or distributes vaping products, an important change is coming. HM Revenue & Customs has opened applications for the new Vaping Products Duty (VPD), which comes into force later this year. This introduces a new duty on vaping liquids and …
Read more “Vaping Duty 2026: What UK businesses need to know”
by Steffen Kemmerzehl, MAAT, AATQB – see The Accounting Hub Simple, practical ways to make sure you are not paying more tax than you need to. Running a business is demanding, and tax rules are not always easy to navigate. It is easy to miss allowable expenses, overlook simple savings, or feel unsure about what …
Read more “Newcastle Small Business Tax Saving Checklist (2026)”
by Steffen Kemmerzehl, MAAT, AATQB – see The Accounting Hub Getting a Mortgage: How an accountant can help Applying for a mortgage is not only about how much you earn. It is also about having clear, accurate financial information that helps lenders understand your circumstances. This can be especially important if you are self-employed, run …
by Steffen Kemmerzehl, MAAT, AATQB – see The Accounting Hub Retirement should be about peace of mind. Unfortunately, many pensioners tell us they feel confused or stressed when they hear about tax changes in the news. Frozen tax allowances, changes to savings rules, digital reporting requirements – it can all sound complicated. The good news …
Read more “Tax Changes Pensioners Should Know About (And How to Stay in Control)”
Running a business is challenging, and paying less tax legally is always welcome news. From 1 January 2026, unincorporated businesses like sole traders and partnerships can benefit from a new 40% First-Year Allowance (FYA) on qualifying plant and machinery that aren’t fully covered by other allowances. At Friendly Assist Accountancy, we help businesses make the …
Read more “New 40% First-Year Allowance: What UK Businesses Need to Know in 2026”
The UK tax system is getting more digital, and two key changes are on the horizon: the mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind (BIKs) and the wider rollout of Making Tax Digital (MTD). Whether you’re a business, charity, sole trader or landlord, understanding these developments now will make compliance easier in the years ahead. What …
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Freelancing gives you freedom. Tax deadlines do not. If you didn’t file or pay your Self Assessment by 31 January 2026, don’t panic. You are not the only one, and this is still very fixable. What matters now is what you do in February. Here’s how to reduce penalties, calm HMRC down, and set yourself …
Read more “Tax Deadline Over? We Can Fix It. Stress free Accountancy”
by Steffen Kemmerzehl, MAAT, AATQB – Friendly Assist Accountancy If you live in the UK and have income from abroad, it can be hard to know what HMRC expects. Especially if your situation feels a bit messy or complicated. As a Newcastle‑based accountancy specialising in international and cross‑border tax, we help clients with overseas income, …
AI-powered bookkeeping tools are advancing quickly. Platforms such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and FreeAgent now automate bank feeds, VAT coding and transaction explanations at scale. Used well, they save time. Used badly, they accelerate errors. The issue is not the technology. It is the quality of the bookkeeping underneath it. Automation does not fix weak …
Read more “AI bookkeeping is only as strong as the habits behind it”