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Stay informed with the latest tax news, HMRC updates, and practical business tips from our ACCA-qualified accountants in Chester. We break down complex tax rules and financial topics into clear, actionable advice—helping sole traders, landlords, limited companies, and local businesses save money, stay compliant, and grow with confidence.
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Tax & Business Insights
Browse our latest articles, statutory tax guides, and HMRC compliance updates written by Chester’s trusted accountancy team. Filter through practical advice tailored for limited company directors, sole traders, landlords, and growing local businesses.
July 31 Payment on Account Deadline: How Chester Sole Traders & Landlords Can Avoid Overpaying HMRC
As the 31 July Self Assessment payment on account deadline approaches, self-employed sole traders, partners, and landlords across Chester and North Wales are due to make their second tax instalment of the year to HMRC.
The First MTD ITSA Deadline (August 2026): Do You Actually Have to Pay Tax?
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 13 July , 2026 As we settle into July 2026, a historic milestone in the UK tax system has just been reached. The very first reporting quarter of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA)...
Director Wealth Extraction 2026: The Optimal Salary vs. Dividend Split
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 01 July , 2026 Running a highly profitable limited company is only half the battle. Following the aggressive government Autumn Budget—which hiked Employer National Insurance to 15%, slashed the NI threshold to just...
The August 2026 MTD Deadline is Here: What Sole Traders and Landlords Must Do Now
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 22 June , 2026 We are officially in the Making Tax Digital (MTD) era for Income Tax. If you are a sole trader or landlord with a gross annual income over £50,000, the new rules legally took effect on 6 April 2026....
Statutory Mileage Allowance Uplift (55p) & May 2026 Fiscal Adjustments
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 11 June , 2026 In May 2026, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a targeted economic support package aimed at mitigating inflationary pressures for both consumers and commercial operators. The most structurally...
Statutory Update: 2026/27 Profit Extraction and the Dividend Tax Rate Hike
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 09 June , 2026 Introduction Extracting funds from a close company is becoming increasingly expensive. A succession of statutory rate changes across Corporation Tax, National Insurance, and now Income Tax on...
Can I Claim That? 5 Common Expense Traps Tripping Up UK Directors
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 01 June , 2026 Cloud accounting software like Xero and FreeAgent has made it easier than ever to manage your business finances. But while clicking "reconcile" is simple, the underlying tax rules are anything but....
The April 2026 MTD Mandate is Now Live: What Sole Traders & Landlords Must Do Next
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 28 April, 2026 The dust has settled on the start of the new tax year, but for high-earning sole traders and property investors, the landscape has fundamentally shifted. As of April 6th, 2026, the long-anticipated...
Making Tax Digital (MTD) Starts April 2026: The Ultimate Guide for Chester Sole Traders & Landlords
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 04 March, 2026 If you are a sole trader or a landlord, the way you report your income to HMRC is undergoing the biggest change in a generation. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA)...
Missed the January 31st Tax Deadline? Here’s How to Stop the Fines Snowballing
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 26 February, 2026 January 31st has come and gone, and if you didn’t quite manage to submit your Self Assessment tax return on time, take a deep breath—you are far from alone. According to recent data, while over 11...
Do You File Your Own Company Returns? Read This Important Update
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 10 November, 2025 If you are one of the many company directors who handles their own administrative filings at Companies House, your usual routine is about to change. As Accountants in Chester advising many local...
A 15% ‘Partnership Tax’? Why Chester’s LLPs and Partnerships Must Act Now.
Author: Phillips & Co Accountants, Chester Date: 29 October, 2025 Westminster is alive with whispers of a new tax that could fundamentally change the landscape for professional partnerships. If you are a partner in an LLP or general partnership, you need to pay...
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