News from butterworths

January 12, 2026

Starting 2026 with a Clear Plan for Your Business and Yourself

The start of a new year is a natural moment to take stock of your business. You probably have ambitions for your business, but you also want it to help you reach your personal goals.
January 5, 2026

HMRC warns of rising Self Assessment scams ahead of January deadline

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued a warning about scams ahead of the 31 January Self Assessment deadline.
January 21, 2026

How to Spot Phishing Attempts Before It’s Too Late

HM Revenue and Customs have reported that 170,000 scam referrals were made to them in the year to July 2025. Encouragingly, this is a 12% reduction on the previous year, however HMRC are warning taxpayers to take care.
January 21, 2026

Companies House WebFiling to Switch to GOV.UK One Login

From 13 October 2025, Companies House will require all businesses to use GOV.UK One Login to access WebFiling. This change is part of a wider government move to introduce a single, more secure login system across all online services.
January 21, 2026

HMRC Interest Rates to Fall Following Base Rate Cut

The Bank of England reduced its base rate from 4.25% to 4.00% on 7 August 2025. Because HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) interest rates are directly linked to the base rate, the interest charged on late tax payments and the interest paid on repayments will also fall.
January 21, 2026

Electric Car Grant Expanded: More Car Models Now Included

The government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) is now up and running, with more vehicle models eligible for discounts. Initially launched in July, the £650 million scheme offers savings on new electric cars priced at or below £37,000. The discount is either £3,750 or £1,500, depending on the vehicle’s sustainability and is applied directly at the point of sale, with no paperwork required from customers.
January 21, 2026

UK Labour Market Shows Gradual Cooling

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that the UK labour market is continuing to ease, although the slowdown remains measured rather than abrupt.
January 21, 2026

Seven Things Every Company Director Needs to Know

Becoming a company director comes with a fair bit of responsibility - and not just when things are going well. Whether you're the hands-on type, more of a silent partner, or even directing behind the scenes, all company directors have legal duties under the Companies Act 2006.
January 21, 2026

Lessons From a Director Ban: Getting Help Before It’s Too Late

If your business ever runs into financial difficulties, how you handle the situation can have serious and lasting consequences. That’s the message behind a recent case involving a Staffordshire director who’s just been banned from running a company until 2031.
January 21, 2026

Government Unveils Small Business Plan

The government has launched its Small Business Plan which it believes will help small businesses to grow and encourage entrepreneurs to start businesses.

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.