Monthly Archives: March 2026

How a prolonged Iran war could affect the UK cost of living

The continuing conflict involving Iran has raised concerns about its potential impact on the global economy. While the fighting is taking place thousands of miles from the UK, events in the Middle East often have significant economic consequences around the world. If the conflict continues for an extended period, it could place renewed pressure on […]

Spring Statement 2026

The Chancellor’s Spring Statement, presented to Parliament 3 March 2026, was packed with political content that has no real impact for UK taxpayers, business owners or employees. The substance of her presentation was a summary of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) Economic and fiscal outlook released on the same date. Our summary that follows […]

Filling in NIC contribution gaps

National Insurance credits can help qualifying applicants to fill contribution gaps in their National Insurance record. This can help taxpayers increase their number of qualifying National Insurance years, which may increase the number of benefits they are entitled to, such as the State Pension. This could happen if someone was: employed but had low earnings […]

Car and travel costs if self employed

If you are self-employed, it is important to understand which car and travel costs can be claimed. You can claim allowable business expenses for car, van, or travel costs, which reduce your taxable profit. Typical allowable costs include: Vehicle insurance Repairs and servicing Fuel Parking Hire charges Vehicle tax and licence fees Breakdown cover Train, […]

Rising employment costs and the pressure on UK businesses

Over the past week, one topic has dominated discussion among UK businesses, rising employment costs and the difficult decisions they are forcing on employers. This issue is particularly visible in the retail and hospitality sectors, but the underlying pressures apply across much of the economy. Employers are facing a combination of higher National Living Wage […]