Blogs, News & Useful PDFs
Stratford-upon-Avon
13 The Courtyard
Timothy's Bridge Road
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Warwickshire CV37 9NP
by Grenfell James
Turning 55 soon? From April 2028, the minimum pension access age rises to 57. If you are planning to draw your pension, you could take up to 25% tax-free. Make informed choices about your remaining pot, as the rest will usually be taxed as income.
The value of applying for trade marks
by Grenfell James
A trade mark is a vital tool for protecting the identity and reputation of your business. It can take the form of a name, logo, slogan, shape, or even a sound, and once registered, gives you exclusive rights to use that mark in connection with
The legal responsibilities of directors
by Grenfell James
When someone agrees to become a director of a UK limited company, they take on a set of legal responsibilities defined under the Companies Act 2006 and other relevant legislation. These duties are not just symbolic – directors have a legal obligation
by Grenfell James
Filing your 2024-25 Self-Assessment return early means faster refunds, better budgeting, and no deadline stress. Do not delay, start gathering your tax details today.
The 2024-25 tax year officially ended on 5 April 2025, with the new 2025-26 tax
Save up to £2,000 a year on childcare costs
by Grenfell James
Is your child starting school this September? Tax-Free Childcare could save you up to £2,000 a year. Check your eligibility now and start planning ahead.
Working families whose children are starting school for the first time September 2025 could
MTD for Income Tax deadline is approaching
by Grenfell James
MTD for Income Tax starts 6 April 2026 for the self-employed and landlords with £50k+ income. Plan early to stay compliant and avoid disruption.
MTD represents one of the most significant overhauls to the self-assessment regime since its
HMRC interest rates following Bank of England rate cut
by Grenfell James
Following a Bank Rate cut to 4.25%, HMRC late payment and repayment interest rates will drop from 19 and 28 May 2025. Check which taxes this affects.
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on 8 May and, in a narrow 5-4 vote,
Deadline for paying Class 1A NIC
by Grenfell James
Employers must pay Class 1A NICs on 2024-25 benefits by 19 July (22 July if paying electronically). Avoid penalties by meeting deadlines and using correct references.
Employers are reminded of the upcoming Class 1A National Insurance contributions
The transition from FHL to Property Rental business
by Grenfell James
Tax perks for Furnished Holiday Lets have ended. From April 2025, lettings fall under standard rental rules. Check the transition rules to avoid surprises.
The tax advantages that were previously available to property owners letting their properties
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.