Seagrave French

15/09/2026

You really couldn’t make it up… 😂

A little HMRC story from this week.

We’re dealing with a client’s first VAT return, which happens to be a repayment. HMRC want to carry out some checks before releasing the money.

Absolutely fine. No problem with that.

On 3 September, HMRC asked us for further information and gave us a deadline of 10 September to respond.

Seven days.

Bear in mind, HMRC had taken around four weeks to respond to our previous correspondence.

As seven days wasn’t enough time to obtain everything we needed from the client and prepare a proper response, we emailed HMRC asking for three weeks.

We immediately received an automated response:

“Your email will be replied to within 15 working days.”

So…

HMRC gives us 7 days to reply to them.

We ask for a little more time.

HMRC needs up to 15 working days to reply to our request. 🤦‍♂️

Welcome to my world. 😂

15/09/2026

HMRC enquiries are on the increase – and they're getting tougher.

That's what we're seeing at Seagrave French.

Over the last year, we've dealt with more HMRC enquiries – but what's particularly noticeable is how much more detailed and demanding they're becoming.

More questions. More information being requested. Tighter deadlines. And potentially many more hours of professional work needed to deal with them.

Importantly, receiving an HMRC enquiry doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.

That's one of the reasons we offer Fee Protection to our clients. If you're covered and receive a qualifying HMRC enquiry, we can get on with defending your position and dealing with HMRC without you having to worry about our fees mounting up every time another question arrives.

Unfortunately, the increased level of HMRC activity means the cost of providing that protection has risen too. Our Fee Protection premiums will therefore be increasing from 1 October.

We've written an article explaining what's changing, what an HMRC enquiry can actually involve and why Fee Protection could be more important than ever.

👉 Read the full article on our website.

https://www.seagravefrenchbaa.com/?p=15468

And if you've previously decided not to take Fee Protection, we'd encourage you to have another look at it this year.

18/06/2026

18/06/2026

📚 Every Great Story Needs a Good Accountant

We're proud sponsors of the Repton Festival

While authors write books, business owners write stories of their own - stories of growth, ambition, risk, success and sometimes a few plot twists along the way.

Our job is to help make sure the ending is a happy one.

19/03/2026

📢 This Week’s Business News - Have You Seen It Yet?

There’s a lot changing right now - and a few things coming up that could catch people out if you’re not prepared…

This week we’re talking about:
✔ Starting a business (and getting it right from day one)
✔ Payroll deadlines as we head into the new tax year
✔ New guidance for home working
✔ Fee increases coming in April
✔ And more…

💡 It’s a quick read, but could save you time, stress - and money.

https://tinyurl.com/4he3pfj8

👇 Want a copy? Drop us a message or comment below and we’ll send it over.

As always - we’re here if you need help 👍
Seagrave French

Helping you sleep soundly at night 😴

Welcome to our round-up of the latest business news for our clients. Please contact us if you want to talk about how these updates affect your business. We are here to support you! Starting Up in Business: A Practical Guide Have you reached a point where the idea of running a business feels like mor...

18/03/2026

⚠️ LAST CALL for business owners

The Inheritance Tax rules change on 6 April 2026 - and it could cost your family £1 million+.

The good news?

You can still act now and protect your business.

⏳ But we need time to get everything in place properly.

👉 Please contact us by 20 March 2026 if you want us to help you secure the current reliefs.

After that, it may be too late to implement safely.

See here for more detail ⚠️ LAST CALL for business owners

The Inheritance Tax rules change on 6 April 2026 - and it could cost your family £1 million+.

The good news?

You can still act now and protect your business.

⏳ But we need time to get everything in place properly.

👉 Please contact us by 20 March 2026 if you want us to help you secure the current reliefs.

After that, it may be too late to implement safely.

Click here to learn more https://tinyurl.com/yc4jcwy5

Seagrave French – helping you sleep soundly since 2015 💤

Why business owners must act before 20 March 2026 to secure valuable tax relief ⚠️ A major tax change is coming – and it’s being underestimated From 6 April 2026, the government is fundamentally changing how Inheritance Tax (IHT) applies to business owners. For years, trading businesses have...

11/03/2026

📬 Seen a strange tax code recently? You’re not alone…

At Seagrave French we’re starting to see the new HMRC tax code notices arriving, and something interesting is happening.

A lot of our clients who receive the State Pension are now being given K tax codes on their other income.

Why?

It’s mainly down to fiscal drag.

👉 The Personal Allowance has been frozen for years
👉 The State Pension keeps rising under the triple lock

This means the State Pension is now using up most (or sometimes all) of the Personal Allowance.

Because the State Pension is paid without tax deducted, HMRC collects the tax by adjusting the code on your private pension or PAYE income.

So if you suddenly see a K code appear, that’s probably the reason.

It doesn’t always mean a big tax bill — but it is worth checking the numbers are correct.

If you get a tax code notice and you’re unsure what it means, just send it over and we’ll happily take a look.

😴 Helping our clients sleep soundly at night is what we do best.

27/02/2026

It depends on how you earn your income. Here’s a simple breakdown 👇

🔹 Self-Assessment (sole traders, landlords, directors with dividends)

• 31 January – pay the tax you owe for the previous tax year (or your first payment on account)

• 31 July – second payment on account (if applicable)

⚠️ If you’re required to make payments on account, HMRC assumes you’ll earn a similar income again and asks for tax in advance. This often catches people out.

🔹 Limited Companies (Corporation Tax)

• Corporation tax is due 9 months and 1 day after your accounting period ends

Example: If your year-end is 31 March, tax is due by 1 January.

📌 This is completely separate from your personal tax bill.

🔹 VAT (if registered)

• Usually due 1 month + 7 days after the end of each VAT quarter

• If you’re on the Flat Rate Scheme or Annual Accounting, dates can differ slightly

If you’re ever unsure whether you actually need to pay anything, your first stop should always be your Government Gateway account.

This is where HMRC shows what they think you owe, what’s been filed, and what’s coming up. If you haven’t already, make sure all relevant taxes are linked to your account (Self-Assessment, Corporation Tax, PAYE, VAT etc.).

The biggest issue? Most people don’t struggle with the tax; they struggle because they didn’t plan for when it was due.

Need help getting your finances in order? Use the link in our Bio to schedule a consultation today

25/02/2026

These are expenses I always claim as a Ltd company owner, not to be clever, but because HMRC literally allows them.

Claiming expenses properly isn’t about pushing boundaries.
It’s about understanding the rules, setting things up correctly, and not leaving money on the table.

If you’re unsure what you can (or should) be claiming, it’s probably worth reviewing your setup sooner rather than later.

24/02/2026

Thinking about making the jump from sole trader to a limited company?

It’s a big move and it’s not just about paying less tax.

Here are a few signs it might be time to consider it 👇

• Your profits are consistently growing (not just one good month)

• You’re paying a chunky amount of Self-assessment Tax and Class 4 NICs

• You’re thinking long-term (pensions, reinvesting profits, protection)

• You want a clearer separation between you and the business

And one big thing to keep in mind 👀

👉 MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment is coming in from April 2026.

That means quarterly reporting for sole traders and landlords over the £50,000 threshold.

This means more admin, more submissions, more pressure if your numbers aren’t organised.

For some people, incorporating before then makes sense.
For others, it absolutely doesn’t.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It’s about timing, profit levels, admin tolerance, and plans.

If you’re unsure whether to stay a sole trader or switch to an LTD, that’s exactly the kind of conversation you should have with an accountant before making the leap.