The Accounts Centre

25/10/2026

Self employed and working from home?

You can claim a flat rate for using your home, without splitting your bills: £10 a month for 25 to 50 hours, £18 for 51 to 100 hours and £26 for 101 hours or more. That's up to £312 a year.

Phone and internet aren't included, so claim their business share separately.

Sometimes working out your actual costs gives you more. Call us on 01829 770915 or send us a message and we'll tell you which is better for you.

24/10/2026

Four Self Assessment myths worth dropping this year.

1. No tax to pay doesn't mean you can file late. The £100 penalty is for the late return, not the tax.
2. Payments on account aren't paying twice. They're advances towards next year's bill.
3. A year of receipts isn't enough. Keep records for at least 5 years after the 31 January deadline.
4. Filing for the first time? Tell HMRC by 5 October after the tax year ends.

Swipe for the detail. Questions about your own return? Call us on 01829 770915 or send us a message.

23/10/2026

When you get in touch with The Accounts Centre, your first conversation is with Liz.

Liz founded the business in 2006, is a chartered management accountant and has spent more than 30 years working in finance. That first chat is free and there's no obligation, so it's a good way to find out whether we're the right fit.

Call us on 01829 770915 or send us a message to book yours.

22/10/2026

Sending your tax return on paper this year? It has to reach HMRC by 11:59pm on Saturday 31 October.

A weekend deadline and the post are a risky mix, so get it in the post this week.

If you'd rather skip the paper altogether, filing online gives you until 31 January 2027. We can do it for you, and you'll know the fee up front.

Call us on 01829 770915 or send us a message.

21/10/2026

Switching accountant feels like a bigger job than it is.

Those are real words from our Google reviews, from people who were nervous about making the move and glad they did.

The first step is a free, no obligation chat with Liz. You'll know your fixed fee before anything changes.

To book, call us on 01829 770915 or send us a message.

20/10/2026

From April 2027, Making Tax Digital reaches sole traders and landlords with more than £30,000 of income.

The part most people get wrong: it's £30,000 before expenses, not profit. A business taking £34,000 with £16,000 of costs is in.

Swipe through for who's affected, what changes and what to do before April.

Not sure where you stand? Call us on 01829 770915 or send us a message and we'll go through your figures with you.

19/10/2026

The Budget is on Wednesday 28 October.

Expect a lot of headlines and not much detail on what it actually means for you.

So here's our plan. The day after, we'll post a plain English rundown of what's changed, who it affects and what, if anything, you need to do.

Worried about something specific before then? Call us on 01829 770915 or send us a message.

15/10/2026

£8.2 billion in R&D tax relief. But fewer businesses are claiming.

New HMRC figures reveal that the total value of Research & Development tax relief increased by 5%, while the number of claims fell by 17%.

And the average claim value? Up 27%.

It's an interesting trend, particularly for businesses investing in developing new products, processes or technology.

R&D tax relief isn't just about laboratories and scientists.

Some businesses undertaking qualifying projects to overcome scientific or technological uncertainty may be eligible without realising it.

Of course, not every improvement or innovation qualifies, and the rules around claims are strict.

But if your business is investing in genuine research and development, it's worth understanding whether tax relief could be available.

Don't overlook potential tax relief simply because you haven't explored it.

Speak to us if you'd like to discuss whether your business could qualify.

13/10/2026

Your pension could soon leave your family with a much bigger Inheritance Tax bill.

From April 2027, most unused pension funds will be included in your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes.

With thresholds frozen until 2031, thousands more families could be affected.

Our latest blog explains what's changing, who could be affected and why reviewing your pension and estate planning now is important.

👇 Read the full article below.

08/10/2026

Another Making Tax Digital update is here.

From April 2027, MTD for Income Tax expands to sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £30,000.

And unlike the first group, there will be no penalty free grace year for quarterly updates.

Our latest blog covers the new threshold, who will be affected, software requirements and what you should be doing now to prepare.

👇 Read the full article below.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax will affect a much larger group of sole traders and landlords from 6 April 2027.