Opus Insights
Insights
Tax, compliance and business commentary, updated as the rules change.
Showing 49–72 of 120 articles
Voluntary National Insurance contributions could be reformed
The government is considering changes to the voluntary National Insurance contributions (NICs) system following a call for evidence published earlier this year.…
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Corporation Tax when you sell business assets
A limited company usually pays Corporation Tax on the profit, known as a chargeable gain, when it sells or otherwise disposes of a business asset.…
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HMRC publishes latest deliberate tax defaulters list
HMRC has published an updated list of deliberate tax defaulters. The list includes individuals, businesses and companies, detailing the amounts on which penalties are due and the exact penalties charg…
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Ready for the October employment law changes?
Several employment law changes are approaching that businesses need to understand. The first arrives on 1 October 2026, when the normal period in which an employee can bring a claim to an Employment T…
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Could better workplace health reduce staff losses?
When an employee develops a health problem, the consequences can extend far beyond a few days of absence. The Government published an update to its Keep Britain Working programme on 23 September, sett…
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HMRC sending 1.8m Simple Assessment letters
Some taxpayers have already started to receive Simple Assessment letters from HMRC for the 2025-26 tax year, with a further tranche due to be sent between October and December 2026.…
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Could your area introduce a tourist tax?
Mayors and local leaders in England are to be given powers to introduce an overnight visitor levy, creating a new charge for people staying in short-term visitor accommodation.…
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Check your State Pension forecast now
A new press release from HMRC is highlighting the fact that almost 7 million UK adults could be heading towards retirement without knowing how much State Pension they may be entitled to. New research…
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HMRC contacting trusts over tax return errors
HMRC is contacting some trustees after identifying possible errors in recent Trust and Estate tax returns relating to the type of trust being reported.…
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UK carbon border tax starts January 2027
Businesses importing certain carbon-intensive goods into the UK will face a new carbon tax from 1 January 2027, when the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) comes into effect.…
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Benefit payrolling rules clarified for overseas employees
HMRC has clarified how employers can handle benefits in kind for globally mobile employees as mandatory payrolling is introduced from April 2027.…
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Interest rates may not be coming down soon
Businesses waiting for cheaper borrowing may need to reconsider their plans.…
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Is your business ready for a cyber incident?
Cyber security is sometimes treated as a problem for large organisations with specialist IT departments. In reality, smaller businesses can be particularly vulnerable because they often have fewer res…
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New self-assessment registration service launched
HMRC has launched an improved online service to make it easier for individuals to register for self-assessment. Anyone who needs to submit a tax return for the first time for the 2025-26 tax year shou…
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HMRC targets persistent tax debts
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 proposa…
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New duty on vaping products starts in October
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, wholesal…
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Tax rules for cryptoassets set to change
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 liq…
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Winter Fuel Payment opt-out deadline approaches
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 exc…
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Money and property after divorce
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…
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Training clawbacks can constitute an unlawful restraint of trade
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 joine…
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Could simpler reporting reduce business paperwork?
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…
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New funding opens for growing businesses
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.…
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Tax diary: October and November 2026
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.…
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Is your company paying Corporation Tax at the right rate?
The rate of Corporation Tax payable depends mainly on the level of a company’s taxable profits. The main rate is 25% and applies where profits exceed £250,000. Companies with profits of £50,000 or les…
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