From April 2026, full inheritance tax relief for family businesses is capped at £1m. With 5.1 million family firms employing 15.8 million people, the impact could reshape UK business succession.
Category: Money & Tax for the Self-Employed
Everything you need to manage money and tax as a freelancer or sole trader – from self-assessment to invoicing and cashflow.
Challenger banks now hold 60 per cent of small business lending – and the high street wants it back
Challenger banks now account for 60% of all UK small business lending — but for the first time in a decade, their market share has stopped growing. Here is what it means for SMEs.
Employee ownership was booming – then the taxman changed the rules
EOT sales have dropped from 550 to around 350 after the government tightened tax rules on employee ownership trusts. What small business owners considering an exit need to know.
The £90,000 ceiling that is quietly stopping small businesses from growing
HMRC data shows thousands of small businesses are capping turnover to avoid the £90,000 VAT threshold. Cafés cut hours, tradespeople work four-day weeks — and the economy pays the price.
The rate cuts small businesses were counting on may not arrive this year
Middle East conflict has sent inflation expectations surging and put Bank of England rate cuts in doubt. Small businesses relying on cheaper borrowing need to rethink their plans.
Quarterly tax returns are coming – and the fines for getting it wrong start at £100
Self-employed workers and landlords earning over £50,000 must file quarterly digital tax returns from April 2026. Late filers face fines of up to £900 and beyond.
HMRC scraps homeworking tax relief – and your staff will want to know why
HMRC is abolishing the £6-a-week homeworking tax relief from April 2026, affecting 300,000 workers. Small employers with hybrid teams need to prepare for questions from staff.
Sick pay from day one: what every small employer needs to know before 6 April
New statutory sick pay rules take effect on 6 April 2026, scrapping the three-day waiting period and extending SSP to lower earners. Here is what small businesses must do now.
Taxpayers warned to pay HMRC by 3 March or face 5% surcharge
One million taxpayers who missed the 31 January self-assessment deadline must pay HMRC by 3 March or face a 5% surcharge plus 7.75% interest on unpaid tax.
More than 860,000 to move to Making Tax Digital from April as quarterly reporting begins
More than 860,000 self-employed people and landlords will have to start filing regular digital tax updates with HMRC from April as the government’s long-planned Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme enters its next phase.
Sole traders spend 27 hours a year on tax admin ahead of Making Tax Digital changes
New research shows UK sole traders lose 27 hours a year to tax admin as Making Tax Digital reforms approach, with many unprepared for April changes.
Act now: 864,000 sole traders and landlords are about to get dragged into digital tax
If you’re a sole trader or landlord earning more than £50,000 a year, HMRC is about to change how you report your tax — whether you feel ready or not.
UK fintech Sidekick raises £7.8m to open up private-bank style investing to professionals
Sidekick has raised £7.8m to expand access to private-bank style investing tools for professionals who’ve outgrown entry-level apps but don’t want opaque wealth management.
American Express rolls out flexible payment option for small businesses feeling the cashflow squeeze
American Express has launched a Flexible Payment Option for Business Platinum and Gold Cardmembers, giving small businesses more control over cashflow when income is uneven.
Most self-employed and freelancers failing to save for retirement, Aviva finds
Fewer than four in ten self-employed workers and freelancers are saving for retirement, according to Aviva, with low awareness of pension options leaving many exposed later in life.
