Did you know you can monitor any UK company for free and get email alerts when key details change, which can help protect your own business from unexpected or unauthorised filings?

A significant amount of information about companies is available in the public domain from Companies House. Companies House is responsible for incorporating and dissolving limited companies, examining and maintaining statutory records, and making company information publicly accessible.

Much of this information is available free of charge, in line with the government’s commitment to open data. As a result, all publicly available digital information held on the UK register of companies can be accessed without cost.

The information available includes core company details such as the registered address and date of incorporation, details of current and resigned directors and officers, copies of documents filed with Companies House, mortgage and charge information, previous company names and insolvency records.

In addition, you can choose to monitor a company and receive email alerts whenever new documents are filed, such as changes to directors or registered office addresses. This can also be a useful safeguard for your own company, helping you to identify any unexpected or unauthorised filings at an early stage.

The Insolvency Service data for England and Wales shows monthly company insolvencies remain high by historical standards, even though they move up and down month to month. For example, November 2025 recorded 1,866 registered company insolvencies, down on October 2025 and also below the same month a year earlier. The wider context matters, monthly totals through 2025 have generally been slightly higher than 2024, but lower than 2023, which saw a 30 year high in annual insolvencies.

New company formations: still strong, but down on the prior year

On the formations side, Companies House figures show incorporation volumes have softened. In the financial year ending 2025, there were 801,864 company incorporations, down 10% compared with the financial year ending 2024. At the same time, dissolutions rose, with 726,735 dissolutions in the financial year ending 2025, up 9.6% on the prior year.

Quarterly data shows how this can translate into net shrinkage in the register for periods of time. Between July and September 2025 there were 215,982 incorporations and 234,373 dissolutions, so dissolutions outpaced incorporations in that quarter.

A practical way to read this is that the “start-up engine” is still running, but not as hot as it was, while the “clean-up” of non-viable businesses has accelerated.

Why both trends can be true at the same time

ONS business demography data helps explain the apparent contradiction. On an enterprise basis (different from Companies House incorporations, but directionally helpful), business births edged up from 316,000 to 317,000 between 2023 and 2024, while business deaths fell from 310,000 to 280,000, producing the lowest death rate since 2016.

So, depending on which lens you use, you can see: (a) high company insolvency activity, (b) lower incorporations than the prior year and (c) relatively resilient enterprise births and improved enterprise death rates. Differences in definitions and timing matter, but the shared message is that the UK is in a reallocation phase: weaker balance sheets and marginal business models are being pushed out, while new ventures keep forming, often leaner, more specialised and sometimes set up to replace old entities.

Pre-tax year end planning is one of the most practical and controllable ways for UK businesses and higher rate taxpayers to reduce unnecessary tax exposure. Unlike long term restructuring, it focuses on decisions that can still be influenced before 5 April or, for companies, before the accounting year end. When done properly, it is not about aggressive schemes, it is about making sure allowances, reliefs and timing opportunities are not wasted.

Why timing matters

The UK tax system is sensitive to timing. Income, expenses, capital purchases and pension contributions can fall into one tax year or the next depending on when action is taken. Once the year end passes, many opportunities disappear completely.

For higher rate taxpayers, this can be particularly costly. Income drifting just over a threshold can trigger higher marginal rates, loss of allowances or reduced reliefs. Pre-year end planning allows income levels to be reviewed and steps taken to mitigate sharp jumps in tax, rather than reacting after the event.

Key benefits for businesses

For owner managed businesses, year-end planning often centres on profit extraction and investment decisions. Reviewing results before the year end allows directors to consider whether profits should be retained, extracted as salary or dividends or redirected into qualifying expenditure.

Capital allowances are a common example. If a business plans to invest in plant or equipment, bringing expenditure forward into the current year can accelerate tax relief and improve cash flow. Pension contributions made by the company can also be an efficient way to extract value, reducing corporation tax while building long term personal wealth.

Stock levels, bad debts and provisions also deserve attention. A timely review can ensure profits are not overstated simply because adjustments were overlooked.

Value for higher rate and additional rate taxpayers

Individuals paying tax at higher or additional rates face some of the steepest marginal tax charges in the system. Pre-tax year end planning can help smooth income and preserve reliefs.

Pension contributions are often central. Personal contributions can attract higher rate relief, while also reducing adjusted net income, which can help protect allowances that taper away at higher income levels. Charitable giving under Gift Aid can have a similar effect.

For those with investment income, reviewing disposals before the year end can allow better use of annual exemptions or losses, rather than triggering avoidable capital gains tax.

HMRC’s figures show thousands of taxpayers are filing over the festive period, but leaving your return until late January risks penalties, stress and avoidable payment problems.

A new press release by HMRC has highlighted that 4,606 taxpayers took the time to file their tax return online on Christmas Day with a further 10,479 taxpayers completing their tax returns on Boxing Day. In total, 37,435 self-assessment returns were filed between 24 and 26 December and a further 54,053 returns between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. HMRC even joked that festive filing has, for some, become as much a Christmas tradition as watching the King’s Speech or avoiding the washing up!

HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said:

‘Millions of customers have already completed their tax returns and can start 2026 with one less thing to worry about. For anyone yet to file, don’t leave it until the last minute. Filing now means you know exactly what you owe and have time to arrange payment. Search ‘Self-Assessment’ on GOV.UK to get started.’

If you are filing online for the first time you should ensure that you register to use HMRC’s self-assessment online service as soon as possible. Once registered an activation code will be sent by mail. This process can take up to 10 working days. 

We would encourage our readers to complete their tax return as early as possible to avoid the last-minute stress as the 31 January 2026 filing date looms. If you miss the filing deadline then you will be charged a £100 fixed penalty (unless you have a reasonable excuse) which applies even if there is no tax to pay, or if the tax due is paid on time. There are further penalties for late tax returns still outstanding 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after the deadline. There are also additional penalties for paying late of 5% of the tax unpaid at 30 days, 6 months and 12 months.

While company cars often come with tax implications, there are specific situations where the associated benefits may be exempt. There are circumstances where it can be possible to offer employees car benefits that are exempt from tax.

Exempt expenses and benefits include the following:

• Business-only use: This rule has been the subject of much case law over the years, but it has generally been established that to qualify for VAT recovery the car must not be available for any private use. This means that the car should only be available to staff during working hours for employment related duties or to travel to a temporary workplace. The business must also clearly tell their employees not to use the vehicle for private journeys and check that they don’t.
• Adapted vehicles for disabled employees: These cars are exempt if the only private use is for journeys between home and work and for travel to work-related training.
• Fuel paid by employees: The fuel benefit is removed when an employee pays for all their private fuel use or if the employer pays and the employee reimburses the amount (during the tax year).
• ‘Pool’ cars: Employers are not required to pay or report on 'pool' cars. These are cars that are shared by employees for business purposes only and normally kept on your premises. Employers must ensure the ‘pool’ car rules are properly adhered to.
• Privately owned vehicles: Employers do not have to pay anything on cars that directors or employees own privately.

Proper documentation and compliance are required in order to maintain these exemptions.