Articles & Insights



7th October 2024

Achieving the Extra 1%

Being a professional footballer has many benefits that are obvious to all. Although these perks are desirable, the main ambition of footballers, in our experience,…

2nd October 2024

Your role as a company director and changes to UK company law

A company director needs to understand that their role comes with duties and responsibilities. As well as the day to day running of a company,…

26th September 2024

How the first Labour Budget might impact UK landlords

On 30th October, Rachel Reeves will deliver her first Budget since the Labour Party was elected to government. There has been much speculation about the…

23rd September 2024

Estates liable to Inheritance Tax – Who’s responsible for paying it

Inheritance Tax is a tax on the estate (which includes the property, money and possessions) of someone who’s died. The standard rate is 40% which…

11th September 2024

A Q&A with Russell Nathan, Senior Partner at HW Fisher on the upcoming budget

The UK’s new government will deliver its first budget on the 30th October, 2024, and the Prime Minister has set clear expectations that people will…

29th August 2024

What changes could we see to Inheritance Tax in the next budget?

Following the recent statement by the Chancellor that there is a £22 billion hole in public finances, it is expected that the government will increase…

27th August 2024

Do you need to review your employer compliance policy?

Rules concerning the taxation of employees can be complex. In addition to identifying what amounts need to be included in the monthly payroll, employers need…

20th August 2024

The end of the UK’s Furnished Holiday Letting scheme

In the UK, special tax rules apply to rental income from properties that qualify as a Furnished Holiday Letting (FHL). Under the current FHL scheme,…

6th August 2024

The importance of cash flow management for SMEs

According to the latest official data, June saw the highest number of company insolvencies since May 2023, and the third highest number since 2000. High…

31st July 2024

How will the Stamp Duty relief reversal affect you?

In the 2022 Autumn Budget, the then Chancellor Jeremy Hunt implemented a temporary increase in the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) thresholds for homebuyers and…

30th July 2024

A Q&A with Martin Smith, Head of Sports at HW Fisher

With the 2024 Olympics having started last week in Paris, we decided to sit down with our very own Martin Smith, Head of Sports at…

16th July 2024

Don’t miss the second ‘Payments on Account’ deadline

The second ‘payments on account’ deadline is July 31st. With only two weeks to go, Stevie Heafford, Tax Partner at HW Fisher, explains what payments…

2nd July 2024

The UK needs to attract more foreign direct investment

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is critical for nations like the UK. It creates jobs and drives economic productivity. Last week the Department for Business and…

26th June 2024

How to plan for rising school fees

According to the IFS, the average cost of private school fees has risen by 20% in real terms since 2010 — and the cost could…

25th June 2024

What HW Fisher would like to see from the next UK Government

On the 4th of July 2024, the UK will choose its next government. We’ve now seen the main political parties all publish their manifestos, revealing…

20th June 2024

There’s less than a month to go until the share plan reporting deadline

Employers who grant or award their UK employees or directors with equity or share incentives will likely need to submit an annual return to HMRC…

17th June 2024

How should I prepare ahead of the General Election?

The UK General Election has been announced for the 4th of July and the campaigning is well underway. During last week’s manifesto release, both the…

14th June 2024

Employee benefits – Know your obligations as an employer

When providing employees or a member of their family/household with non-cash benefits, it is important to understand the Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions (NIC)…

5th June 2024

Integrity of the Premier League

Financial Fair ‘Play’ Rules It is the end of the 2023/24 Premier League Season and for the first time in the history of the league…

29th May 2024

Property Tax Webinar – Commercial Property

Our recent Property Tax Webinar from our Tax Partner team covered property tax and VAT issues relating to whether you’re a real estate investor or…

23rd May 2024

Why it pays to complete your tax return early

According to HMRC, nearly 300,000 people filed their self-assessment tax return in the first week of the new tax year. In fact, 70,000 of those…

22nd May 2024

Professional Development – Tax talk with HW Fisher

Wondering about the tax ramifications of setting up your own business? Or confused by income and allowable expenses, authors averaging, capital items and allowances, or…

20th May 2024

Overseas landlords and the VAT Domestic Reverse Charge

The Domestic Reverse Charge (DRC) for VAT on construction services came into effect in the UK on March 1st, 2021. In this article, Mike Block,…

16th May 2024

Less than a year until higher Stamp Duty comes knocking at your door

The cost-of-living crisis and higher mortgage rates suppressed demand in the housing market last year; however, with interest rate cuts and one year until additional…

13th May 2024

Higher Education Chair of Audit Roundtable: AI – the risks and opportunities

Zoe Amar joined us at our latest Higher Education Chair of Audit Committee Roundtable where the topic of discussion was Artificial Intelligence.  The topics covered…

30th April 2024

Proposed changes to the UK’s non-dom regime

In the Spring Budget 2024, the Government announced its plan to abolish the concept of domicile for tax purposes, and with it the associated ‘remittance…

22nd April 2024

Three steps to start your sustainability journey

Last week the Scottish government ditched its target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030. The truth is that they are not the…

18th April 2024

Introduction to UK Corporation Tax

All corporate bodies, including companies, local associations, charities, must file a Corporation Tax return and pay Corporation Tax on their profits (if any), unless they…

15th April 2024

10 changes that will impact businesses this April

This month several changes have come into effect that will impact UK businesses across a wide variety of sectors. From VAT registration thresholds to changes…

12th April 2024

What is the VAT registration threshold and what’s included?

For some time, the VAT registration turnover threshold for UK businesses was set at £85,000. In the Spring Statement, the VAT threshold for 2024 was…

2nd April 2024

HW Fisher’s checklist for the new tax year

The UK tax year always ends on 5th April and starts on 6th April. With less than a week to go until the start of…

27th March 2024

New tax year: four changes for property owners

Following our recent property tax webinar and the changes announced in the Spring Statement, Stevie Heafford, Tax Partner at HW Fisher, outlines the key tax rules,…

27th March 2024

Tech transfer and commercialising Intellectual Property for universities and research institutions

Recently I had the pleasure to present with Simon Warner (Head of Licencing and Ventures at Oxford University Innovation) and Carol Rudge (Head of Higher…

20th March 2024

Side hustles – when do you need to report them?

To combat the cost-of-living crisis, more adults across the UK are turning to side hustles to bring in extra income. However, to ensure that people…

18th March 2024

Charity trustee roundtable: Supporting chairs and trustees through challenging times

At our recent charity trustee roundtable, we were joined by Joe Saxton, Chair of the Association of Chairs, who led the discussion. The key points…

11th March 2024

Property Tax Webinar

Our recent Property Tax Webinar from our Tax Partner team covered property tax and VAT issues relating to whether you’re a homeowner, real estate investor,…

8th March 2024

What International Women’s Day means to the women at HW Fisher

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a celebration honoured worldwide of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It’s a day to raise awareness…

7th March 2024

Spring Statement 2024: Key Takeaways

In this week’s Spring Statement, likely the last major fiscal event before the impending general election, all eyes were on the potential introduction of voter-friendly…

4th March 2024

How to optimise your company’s tax position through group relief

Understanding group relief can be helpful in optimising your company’s tax position. The long-standing Corporation Tax relief allows companies within the same group to surrender…

28th February 2024

Late to file? Navigating the self-assessment tax return penalties

According to HMRC, a record 11.5 million people submitted their tax return in time for the 31 January deadline. However, it is estimated that 1.1…

23rd February 2024

The Spring Statement: Our Wishlist

With less than two weeks to go until the Chancellor delivers the Spring Statement, the team at HW Fisher share their thoughts on what the…

19th February 2024

The Register of Overseas Entities: one year on

The 31st of January 2024 marked one year since overseas entities owning UK property were mandated to register with Companies House. By creating the register,…

19th February 2024

The return of VAT free shopping for tourists?

In a much-needed intervention for struggling retailers, the Office of Budget Responsibility recently announced that it will undertake a cost versus benefit review of tax-free…

14th February 2024

Thinking about proposing this Valentine’s Day? Four marriage tax breaks you will love

Today is Valentine’s Day and for many around the world, it is a special time to show their love and affection for others. Some might…

12th February 2024

What accountants should be thinking about in 2024

This article was first published on Accountancy Today.  The accountancy profession is evolving rapidly, with several changes that demand the attention and strategic response from…

9th February 2024

Brexit – 4 years on

It’s been four years since the UK officially left the European Union (EU), yet the much spoken of demise of UK PLC has not materialised.…

5th February 2024

National Apprenticeship Week – A day in the life of Leyla Murtagh

To celebrate this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with Leyla Murtagh, an AAT Apprentice in the Not-for-Profit team at HW Fisher, on what…

29th January 2024

Self-assessment tips for Airbnb and short-term let hosts

Since 1 January 2024, platforms like Airbnb specialising in short-term rentals have been required to send data on their clients’ earnings to HM Revenue and…

25th January 2024

Higher Education Chair of Audit Committee Roundtable: HEPI’s View of the Sector

At our recent Chair of Audit Committee Roundtable, we were joined by Nick Hillman, Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), who led us…

25th January 2024

Tax refunds – could you be eligible?

Is there a better feeling than finding out that you have paid too much tax? Stevie Heafford, Tax Partner at HW Fisher explains who could…

25th January 2024

Gifts out of surplus income – Three rules to remember

Making gifts throughout your lifetime is an effective way to ensure that you are leaving as much behind to your loved ones as possible whilst…

8th January 2024

Tips for self-employed individuals when preparing their tax return

A self-assessment tax return can look daunting; however, with the right information and a little insider know-how, it can become a lot simpler. In this…

4th January 2024

The self-assessment deadline is fast approaching – Five common mistakes to watch out for

According to data published by HMRC this week, nearly 5.7 million customers still need to file their self-assessment tax returns for the tax year ending…

20th December 2023

2023 at HW Fisher: Celebrating milestones and embracing change

2023 was a landmark year for HW Fisher, celebrating 90 years in business and five years post-management buyout. This year, we honoured our history and…

20th December 2023

A Q&A with HW Fisher’s Tanya Craft

Tanya Craft commenced her journey at HW Fisher in 2011 as an Accountant through the ACA programme. Over thirteen years, she ascended to a director…

14th December 2023

Charity Trustee Roundtable: Skills vs Experience – Building the right board

At our recent Charity Trustee Roundtable, we were joined by Kai Adams, Managing Partner of Green Park who led us through a discussion around board…

12th December 2023

Who will benefit from the Chancellor’s NI cuts?

This article was first published on FT Adviser. During the Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced the first ever cuts to National Insurance payments. In his…

11th December 2023

The future of self-assessment – will digital platform reporting take over?

Over 20 years ago, the UK government introduced self-assessment for individual taxpayers. The concept was that individuals would prepare their own tax returns and HMRC…

11th December 2023

Inheritance for the baby boomer generation – when to use a deed of variation

It is understood that the baby boomer generation, those born between 1946 and 1964,  have over 50% of Britain’s wealth and many are on the…

5th December 2023

Specialist webinar on tax issues affecting the Not for Profit sector

  We recently held a webinar discussing VAT, tax and employment tax issues affecting the Not for Profit sector and what finance teams should be…

29th November 2023

Moving to the UK? 5 key tax and visa considerations

Immigration and taxes are key to understanding whether a move to the UK is feasible and these rules can also change from time to time.…

29th November 2023

Tax and visa considerations to be aware of if you’re moving to the UK

Immigration and taxes are key to understanding whether a move to the UK is viable, or indeed even possible. Immigration and tax rules change from…

22nd November 2023

The Autumn Statement 2023: tax changes to be aware of

Today the Chancellor announced the Autumn Statement and there are some milestone tax changes to be aware of.  Overall, there is some good news for…

21st November 2023

Five changes to watch out for in this week’s Autumn Statement

As the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer prepares to announce tax cuts in his Autumn Statement this week, our tax experts outline five changes to…

3rd November 2023

VAT registration goes fully digital

From 13th November, businesses and agents must register for VAT online as part of HMRC’s Making Tax Digital strategy. In this article, Mike Block, VAT…

Girl reading book

1st November 2023

National Authors Day – Your top ten tax questions answered

Today is National Authors Day, an opportunity to celebrate talented writers across the country that have helped to shape our lives with the stories that…

The risk of aligning Capital Gains Tax with Income Tax

30th October 2023

Not all profits are the same – The risk of aligning Capital Gains Tax to Income Tax

In the 2021-22 financial year, UK taxpayers paid a record £16.7bn in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to HMRC, a tax on the profit when you…

24th October 2023

Avoid the October 31st scaries by filing your self-assessment online!

The deadline for individuals choosing to complete their self-assessment via post means you have until the 31st October (aka Halloween) for HMRC to receive all…

23rd October 2023

Our 90-year anniversary – Celebrating our past, present and future

2023 marks the 90th year since HW Fisher’s foundation. I am so proud of where we are today with the knowledge that our future is…

Pay the correct stamp duty land tax

16th October 2023

Buying a property – make sure you pay the correct Stamp Duty Land Tax

It has been a year since the increases in the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) thresholds for residential property took effect. As a result of…

16th October 2023

Learn the value of school fees planning

The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimated that the average cost of private school fees across the UK in 2022/2023 was £15,200. This marks an increase…

4th October 2023

Common tax residency pitfalls to avoid

Since April 2013 tax residency in the UK has been determined by a number of tests collectively known as the Statutory Residence Test (‘SRT’). Prior…

28th September 2023

One week left to register for self-assessment tax return

The deadline for individuals to register themselves for Self-Assessment is October 5th. With only a week to go, Trusha Shah, Tax Manager at HW Fisher…

26th September 2023

How to value your business – a guide to valuation techniques

When it comes to buying or selling a business, you want to know how much it is worth.  There are three primary approaches used when…

21st September 2023

HMRC reveals Inheritance Tax receipts are on the rise

Today HMRC announced that it has collected £3.2 billion in Inheritance Tax (IHT) between April and August 2023, which represents a £0.3 billion year on…

13th September 2023

Tax implications that non-resident sportspeople need to know

As a sportsperson, travelling the world and competing from different global locations is an exciting endeavour. If you’re a non-UK resident sportsperson, you should be…

12th September 2023

Why might I need a business valuation?

You might wonder why you would ever need to value your business, but the circumstances arise more often than you might think. Exit strategy/selling your…

7th September 2023

Higher Education Chair of Audit Committee roundtable – the view from the regulator

At our recent Higher Education Chair of Audit Committee Roundtable, we were fortunate to be joined by Nolan Smith from the Office for Students (OfS)…

6th September 2023

Buying a business – Why seek advice early?

Buying a business is a big decision, whether it’s a first-time acquisition or part of an existing growth strategy. However, the journey from finding a…

30th August 2023

Normalised working capital and completion mechanisms

When someone offers to buy a business, they will usually value it based on an enterprise value, which assumes the acquisition will be on a…

25th August 2023

Retiring abroad? Don’t trip up on your taxes

Leaving the UK to retire abroad? Perhaps sunny Marbella is on your bucket list or somewhere a little further afield? Whatever you decide, it is…

22nd August 2023

Inheritance Tax receipts up £1bn on previous tax year – Your top 10 IHT planning questions answered

Data published by HMRC today reveals that Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts for April 2023 to July 2023 totalled £270.2 billion, representing a £17.3 billion increase…

14th August 2023

Sell Side Health Check

If you are looking to sell your business, or to exit an existing investment, have you ever considered undertaking a financial health check? In our…

11th August 2023

Should You Pay Yourself a Salary or Dividends?

If you are a director of a limited company, you usually have the option of paying yourself a salary or dividends. Until recently generally there…

7th August 2023

Capital Allowances – Exploring new incentives

From April 2023 until the end of March 2026, companies can claim 100% capital allowances on qualifying investments through the full expensing relief. Andrew Tall,…

7th August 2023

Is your ‘Know Your Donor’ policy up to date?

The UK’s response to the Russia-Ukraine War has seen a significant increase in additions to the UK’s Sanctions List.  Tamara Howe, Director of Financial Crime…

7th August 2023

Introducing the new R&D Additional Information Form

From the 8 August 2023, all businesses claiming R&D tax relief or expenditure credit will be required to submit an additional information form through HMRC’s…

25th July 2023

Why next week’s changes to Alcohol Duty could dampen spirits

With effect from 1 August 2023, significant changes to UK alcohol duty will be introduced in an effort to standardise the tax by removing the…

24th July 2023

One week to go until the second ‘payments on account’ deadline – What self-employed taxpayers need to know

The second ‘payments on account’ deadline is on July 31st. With only one week to go, Stevie Heafford, Tax Partner outlines what ‘payments on account’…

21st July 2023

Debra Allcock Tyler – insights from a formidable force in the charity sector

Debra Allcock Tyler, a formidable force in the charity sector, joined us at our recent Charity Trustee Roundtable. Read on for a summary of her…

17th July 2023

Time to Buy or Sell?

Over the past three years, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in significant disturbances to the world economy, with the aftershocks resulting in supply chain issues, inflation,…

14th July 2023

Corporation Tax incentives – reasons to invest in the UK

Despite the recent increase, the UK’s Corporation Tax rates remain competitive when compared to other jurisdictions. As a result, this is helping the UK to…

13th July 2023

Why the UK leads the investment table for overseas companies

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the UK surpassed £2 trillion in foreign investment for the first time in…

4th July 2023

Need to register for HMRC’s Trust Registration Service? Join the club

HMRC’s Trust Registration Service (TRS) is an online register of the beneficial ownership of assets held in trusts. Since the 6th October 2020, all expressly…

30th June 2023

Wimbledon has started! Serve up your spare room to make some tax free cash during this year’s tournament

The cost of living pinch in the UK is in full swing. There is no sign of inflation coming down and interest rates have hit…

26th June 2023

HMRC extends the deadline for voluntary National Insurance contributions

HMRC has announced that taxpayers now have until 5 April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance record that may increase their State Pension.…

14th June 2023

Divorce – how to ease the tax burden

In March, HMRC announced a change to the transfer of assets rule which will impact spouses and civil partners who are in the process of…

13th June 2023

Simplifications for trusts and estates

Article written by Marc Brinklow, Trust Manager The Chancellor has brought in a number of changes for trusts and estates with the aim of simplifying…

31st May 2023

Byte the Book and The Economics of Publishing – our top 5 takeaways

We were delighted to join some of our clients and friends at a recent Byte the Book panel event, organised by the wonderful Justine Solomons,…