Author: Glenn

1 October 2025 – Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 December 2024.

19 October 2025 – PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 October 2025. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 October 2025.)

19 October 2025 – Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 October 2025. 

19 October 2025 – CIS tax deducted for the month ended 5 October 2025 is payable by today.

31 October 2025 – Latest date you can file a paper version of your 2024-25 self-assessment tax return.

1 November 2025 – Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 January 2025.

19 November 2025 – PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 November 2025. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 November 2025.)

19 November 2025 – Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 November 2025. 

19 November 2025 – CIS tax deducted for the month ended 5 November 2025 is payable by today.

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.

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.

New rules mean late VAT filings and payments now trigger points, fines and interest charges.

The VAT late filing penalties regime changed for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. Under the new system, there are now distinct and separate penalties for late filing of VAT returns and for the late payment of VAT liabilities.

The revised system operates on a points-based approach. A taxpayer receives one penalty point for each VAT return that is submitted late. Once a specific threshold of points is reached, a financial penalty of £200 is charged and the taxpayer is notified.

The penalty thresholds based on VAT return frequency are as follows:

• For monthly VAT returns, the threshold is five penalty points.
• For quarterly VAT returns, the threshold is four penalty points.
• For annual VAT returns, the threshold is two penalty points.

For example, a business that files VAT returns on a quarterly basis will receive a £200 penalty once it accumulates four late submission points. To remove the penalty points and return to a clean compliance record, the taxpayer must submit all VAT returns on time for a continuous period of twelve months. There are also statutory time limits after which a penalty point cannot be issued for a particular late return.

Late payment penalties are applied separately. If VAT remains unpaid between 16 and 30 days after the due date, a first penalty of 2% of the outstanding tax is charged. If the VAT is still unpaid 31 days or more after the due date, a second penalty of 4% of the outstanding amount applies.

In addition, late payment interest is charged from the day payment becomes overdue until it is paid in full.

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.