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Stratford-upon-Avon
13 The Courtyard
Timothy's Bridge Road
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Warwickshire CV37 9NP
HMRC targets persistent tax debts
by Grenfell James
HMRC is reviewing proposals to introduce new powers for recovering lower-value, persistent tax debts from individuals and businesses that repeatedly fail to engage with collection efforts. The proposals, set out in a public consultation earlier this
New duty on vaping products starts in October
by Grenfell James
Businesses in the vaping sector are reminded that the new Vaping Products Duty and the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme will take effect from 1 October 2026. HMRC is urging manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers to make sure they are ready for
Tax rules for cryptoassets set to change
by Grenfell James
The tax treatment of some crypto assets is set to change under draft legislation for Finance Bill 2026-27. The proposed changes include new rules for qualifying stablecoins, crypto asset loans and liquidity pools.
Eligible stablecoins are expected
Winter Fuel Payment opt-out deadline approaches
by Grenfell James
Pensioners who do not want to receive the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026-27 have until September to opt out. The payment will be recovered through the tax system from those whose total income exceeds £35,000.
In England and Wales, pensioners
Money and property after divorce
by Grenfell James
When a couple divorces or separates, they need to agree how their finances will be divided. This can include property, pensions, savings, investments and maintenance payments. Where possible, reaching an agreement without going to court can be
Training clawbacks can constitute an unlawful restraint of trade
by Grenfell James
Seeking to claw back training costs from wages is common practice. However, a recent ruling has set clearer boundaries as to how this can become an unenforceable restraint of trade. An appellant joined an IT services provider as a trainee quality
Could simpler reporting reduce business paperwork?
by Grenfell James
The Government has announced plans to simplify corporate reporting and reduce the administrative burden placed on UK businesses. It estimates that the proposed reforms could save businesses more than £450 million each year.
The measures are expected
New funding opens for growing businesses
by Grenfell James
The British Business Bank has launched a £210 million investment fund to help smaller businesses in the South East of England start, develop and grow.
The South East Investment Fund will offer loans ranging from £25,000 to £2 million, together with
Tax diary: October and November 2026
by Grenfell James
1 October 2026 – Corporation Tax payment is due for companies with an accounting period ending 31 December 2025, unless the company is required to make quarterly instalment payments.
5 October 2026 – Deadline for notifying HMRC of a new liability to
Grenfell James Technology Adoption Index
How does your business perform against others adopting financial tech? Find out with our interactive diagnostic:
1.
How does your business receive invoices?
A)
Invoices are mainly received in paper form
B)
Invoices are mainly received by email
C)
Invoices are emailed then automatically forwarded to a designated mailbox
2.
How are purchase invoices processed?
A)
Invoices are entered manually
B)
Invoices are attached to manually raised invoices
C)
Automated software (e.g. ReceiptBank, 1Tap, HubDoc etc) collates invoices
3.
How are accounts processed?
A)
Using Excel/paper-based
B)
Using Computer-based, offline software
C)
Using cloud-based accountancy software
4.
How often is business data revised?
A)
Data is updated annually
B)
Data is updated quarterly
C)
Data is updated monthly or more often
5.
How is banking updated for your business?
A)
Banking is updated manually
B)
Banking is updated by imports
C)
Banking is updated via a live feed
6.
How are bank payments made?
A)
Bank payments are manual
B)
Bank payments are made using bulk imports
C)
Bank payments are made directly via accounting software
7.
How are bank receipts reconciled?
A)
Receipts are chased and reconciled manually
B)
Receipts are chased and reconciled automatically
C)
A third-party platform is used to chase debts and collect fees
8.
How often are management reports produced?
A)
No reports are provided
B)
Reports are provided but often too late to be valuable
C)
Reports are automated with real-time information
Score 8-12:
Curious Exploration
Your financial technology phase is Curious Exploration
% of respondent businesses are in this phase too.
Switching accountancy systems may seem like an upheaval, but can be much more straightforward than most businesses imagine. From talking to our clients, they have found moving from paper invoicing and desktop-based accounting software to the cloud and apps quickly makes the transition process a worthwhile investment of time. Digital accounting solutions bring in streamlined processes, up-to-date business data and greater confidence in the accuracy of information when making financial decisions.
Grenfell James works with your team to fully assess the needs of your business and minimise the impact of any transitions for solutions we recommend.
Score 13-19:
Measured Discovery
Your financial technology phase is Measured Discovery
% of respondent businesses are in this phase too.
Once cloud accountancy software is in place, there’s still plenty of scope to improve your accountancy processes and make sure your business is maximising the benefits of adopting a digital accounting solution. Grenfell James assesses each business to understand how any implemented solutions are being used, identify areas for improvement and the needs of the business overall to support your business goals and achieve success.
Our team of experts can discuss a range of time-saving automation and get different apps and cloud-based solutions talking to create and manage a digital accountancy eco-system to help your business grow.
Score 20-24:
Bold Innovation
Your financial technology phase is Bold Innovation
% of respondent businesses are in this phase too.
You know the benefits of accounting technology and the impact it can have on your business goals. If you want to take it a step further, our team can conduct a systematic review of your processes, apps and business goals to ensure your digital accountancy ecosystem is keeping pace with the changing needs of a growing business.