Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates

Got a P800 from HMRC? It might not be as straightforward as it seems. Double-check your tax details to avoid surprises. Curious? Read on to find out why it matters.

Received a P800 from HMRC? - Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates HMRC is currently carrying out its annual reconciliation of PAYE for the 2025-26 tax year. Between June and November, HMRC calculates the Income Tax paid by individuals and checks whether the correct

Is your VAT system truly airtight? Identifying gaps now could save headaches later. Check if controls keep pace with your business changes. Find out why this matters today.

Is your VAT control system strong enough? - Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates A strong VAT control system should clearly identify who is responsible for VAT, document the processes involved and regularly check that controls are working. HMRC also recommends keeping procedures

Summer VAT relief on kids' meals and family attractions has ended. From 2 September, normal VAT rules apply. Check your tickets and payments to avoid surprises. Find out why this matters for your next day out!

Summer VAT relief has ended - Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates The temporary 5% reduced rate of VAT introduced for certain children’s meals, tickets and family attractions ended on 1 September 2026. The relief applied from 25 June 2026 and was intended to reduce

Alert for business owners: You could possibly slash your taxable profits by claiming the Annual Investment Allowance on your new machinery and equipment. Find out why thousands are claiming up to £1 million in tax relief and how you could too. Read on to see if your next purchase qualifies!

Benefits of claiming the Annual Investment Allowance - Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates Businesses investing in qualifying assets may be able to claim the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) and deduct the full cost of eligible purchases from their profits before tax. This can help by

Alert for employers: Are you aware of how tax rules impact uniforms and protective clothing you provide? It's not one-size-fits-all. Find out why this matters to your payroll and record-keeping now.

Tax relief for uniforms and protective clothing - Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates Employers providing uniforms or protective clothing to employees need to understand the tax and National Insurance rules that apply. The treatment depends on whether the clothing is required for the

Alert: Claiming business expenses? Keep your receipts and evidence safe! HMRC could ask for proof, so get your records in order to avoid trouble. Find out why it matters now.

Evidence required to support business expense claims - Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates Self-employed individuals can deduct allowable business expenses from their income when calculating taxable profits. However, businesses must keep accurate records and evidence to support the costs

Pubs, restaurants, cafés and hotels continue to face soaring employment costs, rising supplier prices, higher National Insurance contributions and squeezed consumer spending.

Yet the UK still applies one of the highest rates of VAT to hospitality in Europe.

While business rates discounts provide some breathing space, many operators need more meaningful support to protect jobs, maintain service standards and remain profitable.

A serious conversation about hospitality VAT is long overdue.

As BII Accredited Advisors to the Licensed Trade, we work with hospitality businesses every day and see first-hand the challenges operators face.

Do you think a reduced VAT rate would make a bigger difference than business rates relief?

Burnham Bounce? Why a Hospitality VAT Cut Matters More Than Business Rates - Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates Recent reporting from The Guardian suggests that many hospitality businesses are feeling more optimistic following the Government's announcement of business rates relief for pubs, clubs and live music

Missed your tax deadline? You might have a reasonable excuse that could save you from penalties. Serious illness, bereavement, or unexpected tech failures could count. Find out how acting quickly helps and when to appeal. Read on to see if you qualify.

What is a reasonable excuse for missing a tax deadline? - Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates Missing a tax deadline can result in penalties from HMRC, but a taxpayer may be able to appeal if they have a genuine reasonable excuse. Whether an excuse is accepted depends on the individual facts

Alert: Are your workers classified correctly? Missteps in employment status can bring unexpected tax bills, fines, and lost rights. Find out why reviewing this now could save your business trouble. Read on to see what you need to check.

Have you reviewed your workers’ employment status? - Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates Businesses should regularly review whether individuals working for them are correctly classified as employees, workers or self-employed. Getting employment status wrong can result in unexpected tax

VAT registration just got a lot more interesting! Did you know you might reclaim VAT on some costs from before you were even registered? It could mean reclaiming VAT on goods bought up to four years prior and services up to six months earlier, but only if they're linked to your current business. Intrigued? Find out why this could impact your next VAT return and what special rules might affect you.

Recovering VAT on pre-registration costs - Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates Businesses that register for VAT may be able to reclaim VAT paid on certain goods and services purchased before VAT registration. There are specific time limits for claiming pre-registration VAT.