June 4, 2026
Temporary VAT reduction on children’s meals, tickets and family attractions
The government has announced a temporary reduced rate of VAT for children’s meals in restaurants and family leisure activities over the summer.
June 3, 2026
Companies House and the IPO warn about fake payment requests
Companies House and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) are asking businesses to take special care of misleading requests for payment sent by fraudulent organisations.
June 1, 2026
Late payment legislation laid before Parliament
Following its mention in the King’s Speech, the Small Business Protections Bill has now been put before Parliament.
May 28, 2026
UK unemployment rises to 5% but inflation drops to 2.8%
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the unemployment rate in the three months to March 2026 has risen to 5% from 4.9%.
May 27, 2026
HMRC introduces targeted advance assurance service for R&D claims
Originally proposed in last autumn’s Budget, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have introduced a targeted advance assurance service for Research and Development (R&D) tax relief claims. The service, which is a pilot, aims to provide businesses with clarity on complex or high-risk areas before they make a claim.
May 26, 2026
Nationwide crackdown on dodgy high street shops
A major police offensive was announced last week that will tackle dodgy shops linked to organised crime. Rogue high street businesses will face raids, closures and cash seizures.
May 21, 2026
AI providing misleading advice on VAT return filing
Incorrect advice provided by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other websites is contributing to a growing trend of late VAT return filing and payment.
May 20, 2026
Four simple ways to improve business profit within 12 months
Most businesses don’t need big ideas or complicated plans to improve profit. In practice, profits will usually increase by tightening up a few everyday things and being more deliberate about how time and effort are applied.
May 18, 2026
Government commits to self-driving technology
The government has announced it has signed a new partnership with Wayve, a British company that is developing self-driving vehicle technologies.
May 14, 2026
What will happen to interest rates in 2026?
The ongoing Middle East conflict has raised concerns over its effect on UK inflation and interest rates in the coming months.
Our Core Services
Bookkeeping
Stressed out with paperwork? Let Butterworths Accountants take it off your hands. Simply drop off your invoices, bank statements and records, and we will take care of all the processing for you.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
From 6 April 2026, the major change under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD for ITSA) comes into effect in the UK. This is a significant update to how certain self-employed individuals and landlords report their income to HMRC.
Business start-up
Starting a business is a really exciting time, but we know it is also a very busy time. You will no doubt have your plans in place and the drive to succeed, but you may not be aware of all the financial aspects involved.
Accounting
Butterworths can help reduce the time you spend on admin work, letting you focus on what is really important to your business.
VAT
Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax that must be paid when purchasing services or goods. At Butterworths we can help you through the whole VAT process, including:
Payroll
Worried about a PAYE inspection? Butterworths Accountants’ PAYE Healthcheck service is designed to identify PAYE issues before HMRC does.
Tax
Need help with your tax return or want to pay less tax? Butterworths Accountants provide personal tax services for both business owners and private individuals.