Author: Glenn

Running a small business comes with plenty to juggle, and while insurance might not be the most thrilling task, it is absolutely essential. There is one policy you are legally required to have: employers' liability insurance (EL). If you employ anyone, EL covers legal and compensation costs if someone falls ill or gets injured at work. Missing it could cost you a hefty £2,500 per day in penalties.

Beyond what is required, there are a number of other smart protections to think about:

• Public liability insurance (PL) protects against claims from members of the public, for instance, if someone has an accident at your premises or your team accidentally damages someone's property. Many clients or suppliers will require proof of this cover before doing business.
• Contents and portable equipment insurance covers your essential business gear, such as furniture on-site or gadgets you take out (laptops, tablets, smartphones), in case of theft, fire, flood, loss, or damage.
• Professional indemnity insurance (PI) is vital if you offer expertise or advice. It covers you if a client suffers a financial loss because of something you did or did not do. Many clients expect this sort of protection before hiring you.
• Directors’ and officers’ liability (D&O) protects company leaders personally if there is a claim against them, such as breaches of health and safety laws, pension mismanagement, or financial errors.
• Cyber liability insurance is increasingly important in the digital world. It helps cover the costs of data breaches or cyber-attacks, including claims, compensation, and even IT or legal support.

From 13 October 2025, access to Companies House WebFiling will require GOV.UK One Login. This replaces the older Government Gateway sign-in and is part of the wider move towards a single, more secure login across government services.

When you next log into WebFiling after that date, you will be prompted to connect your existing account to GOV.UK One Login. Without doing so, you will not be able to file company documents. This shift follows the earlier transition of the “Find and update company information” service in 2024.

The new login system provides additional benefits. It brings stronger security through two-factor authentication, reducing the risk of fraud and misuse. It also allows you to use one set of login details for multiple government services, cutting down on the need to manage different usernames and passwords. Over time, GOV.UK One Login will replace all other government login systems.

To prepare for the change, users should check that their WebFiling email address is up to date and accessible. If they also use the “Find and update company information” service, they should ensure both accounts use the same email address. It may be worth creating a GOV.UK One Login in advance using that same email. Companies House is also advising that users review and clean up their “My companies” list to remove any businesses they no longer file for.

Looking further ahead, identity verification becomes compulsory from 18 November 2025 for all new and existing directors and Persons with Significant Control. This can be completed voluntarily now via GOV.UK One Login or, alternatively, through an authorised agent.

In short, from mid-October WebFiling accounts must be connected to GOV.UK One Login. Preparing early will help avoid delays and ensure users are ready for the new identity checks that follow in November.

The letters in your tax code indicate whether you are entitled to the annual tax-free personal allowance. These codes are updated each year and help employers calculate how much tax should be deducted from your salary.

For the current tax year, the basic personal allowance is £12,570. The tax code corresponding to this amount is 1257L, which is the most common tax code used for those with a single job, no untaxed income, and no unpaid tax or taxable benefits (such as a company car).

HMRC updates your tax code when your circumstances change, and your taxable income is affected. Some common reasons why your tax code may change include:

• Starting a new job. If you begin working for a new employer, HMRC may issue a new tax code based on your earnings, especially if they haven’t yet received your full income details.
• Receiving taxable state benefits. Certain state benefits are taxable. If you start receiving them, HMRC may adjust your tax code to account for the additional income.
• Taking on an additional job or receiving a pension. If you begin earning from another job or start drawing a pension, your tax code may be updated to reflect this extra income.
• A change to your weekly State Pension amount. If your weekly State Pension payments change, HMRC may revise your tax code to ensure the right amount of tax is collected.
• Changes to job-related benefits. If your employer informs HMRC that you have started or stopped receiving benefits like a company car or private healthcare, your tax code will likely change to reflect this.
• Claiming Marriage Allowance. If you transfer part of your Personal Allowance to your spouse or civil partner, or they transfer it to you, HMRC will adjust your code to reflect the change in allowances.
• Claiming tax-deductible expenses. If you claim tax relief on work-related expenses (like uniforms, tools, or mileage), your code might change to reduce the tax you pay during the year.

It is important to check your tax code is correct. If you have any questions, we would be happy to help.

From 2024, platforms like eBay, Vinted and Airbnb must report seller data to HMRC, so check your tax responsibilities.

If you sell goods or services on a digital platform it is important to understand your tax responsibilities. This can apply whether your sales are a part-time income source or your main income. Even casual selling online may mean you need to report earnings and potentially pay tax.

You may need to pay tax if you engage in activities on digital platforms like:

• Buying and reselling items online or making things to sell (even as a hobby).
• Providing services online, such as tutoring, repairs, food delivery, dog walking, or equipment hire.
• Creating digital content, like podcasts, YouTube videos, or social media influencing.
• Earning income by renting out property or land, like letting a holiday home, running a bed and breakfast, or renting out a parking space on your driveway.

Since 1 January 2024, digital platforms (such as eBay, Vinted, Etsy and Airbnb) have been required to collect and report seller data to HMRC. The first reports covered the period from 1 January to 31 December 2024, with information submitted to HMRC by 31 January 2025.

The same rules apply in 2025, meaning income earned this calendar year (January to December 2025) will be reported by 31 January 2026.

Platforms must report your information if either of the following applies:

• You made 30 or more sales in the year.
• You earned over €2,000 (about £1,700).

The digital platforms will also give you a copy of the data they send to HMRC, which can help when completing your self-assessment return.

If you are earning money online you should ensure you check your tax responsibilities. The rules are clear, and platforms are now required to report many types of earnings directly to HMRC.

Employers must ensure they are paying staff at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or National Living Wage (NLW). The NMW and the NLW are the minimum legal amounts that employers must pay their workers. The latest NMW and NLW rates took effect on 1 April 2025. The current hourly rate for the NLW is £12.21. For those aged 18 to 20, the NMW is £10.00 per hour. Workers aged 16 to 17 and apprentices are entitled to £7.55 per hour.

The minimum wage is calculated as an hourly rate, but it applies to all eligible workers however they are paid. This means that even if someone is paid an annual salary, and it is paid by the piece or in other ways, they must still calculate their equivalent hourly rate to check whether they are receiving at least the minimum wage.

To do this correctly, it is also important to understand what counts as working time under NMW rules.

According to HMRC guidance, for all types of work, this includes time spent:

• at work and required to be working, or on standby near the workplace (but do not include rest breaks that are taken);
• not working because of machine breakdown, but kept at the workplace;
• waiting to collect goods, meet someone for work or start a job;
• travelling in connection with work, including travelling from one work assignment to another;
• training or travelling to training;
• at work and under certain work-related responsibilities even when workers are allowed to sleep (whether or not a place to sleep is provided).

Working time does not include time spent:

• travelling between home and work;
• away from work on rest breaks, holidays, sick leave or maternity leave;
• on industrial action; and
• not working but at the workplace or available for work at or near the workplace during a time when workers are allowed to sleep (and you provide a place to sleep).