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Stratford-upon-Avon
13 The Courtyard
Timothy's Bridge Road
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Warwickshire CV37 9NP
Directors liability for company debts
by Grenfell James
A limited company is a separate legal entity. In normal circumstances, its debts belong to the company, not to the directors. This is one of the central advantages of incorporation. However, the protection is not absolute. Directors have duties in
How many businesses are there in the UK?
by Grenfell James
Current estimates suggest that there are around 5.6 million businesses operating in the UK. This figure comes from the Department for Business and Trade and the Office for National Statistics. What stands out is that most of these businesses are very
Tax Diary December 2025/January 2026
by Grenfell James
1 December 2025 – Due date for Corporation Tax payable for the year ended 28 February 2025.
19 December 2025 – PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 December 2025. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 December 2025).
19
Tell HMRC about unpaid tax on cryptoassets
by Grenfell James
Where cryptoasset tokens (also known as cryptocurrency) are held personally, this investment is usually undertaken in the hope of making a capital appreciation in its value or to make particular purchases.
HMRC is clear that these holdings will
Pay for imports declared via the CDS
by Grenfell James
If your business imports goods into the UK, it is important to be familiar with the Customs Declaration Service and to ensure that any duty payments are made correctly and on time to avoid delays, interest or penalties.
The Customs Declaration
by Grenfell James
There is a trivial benefit-in-kind (BiK) exemption that applies to small, non-cash gifts (such as a bottle of wine or a bouquet of flowers) that are occasionally given to employees.
This exemption enables employers to offer modest, tax-efficient
Company Voluntary Arrangements
by Grenfell James
A Company Voluntary Arrangement (also known as a CVA) is a special arrangement that allows a company with debt problems or that is insolvent to reach a voluntary agreement to pay its business creditors over a fixed period of time.
The arrangement is
P45s, P11Ds and P60s – what are they?
by Grenfell James
Most employees will come across forms such as the P45, P11D and P60 during their working life, and knowing what each one is for can make it much easier to keep track of your tax position.
A P45 is issued to employees who leave their employment or
by Grenfell James
It is quite common for tax codes to be wrong, particularly if your income or employment situation has changed, so it is worth taking a few moments to check that HMRC has the correct information about you.
HMRC usually updates your tax code
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.