ETC Tax

24/10/2026

The most successful exits are usually the result of years of preparation!

Are you thinking about selling your business?

Are you prepped and ready to go?

The most successful exits are rarely created during a transaction process. They are usually the result of years of preparation.

With that in mind, here are ten areas every business owner should be thinking about long before a sale process begins.

https://etctax.co.uk/10-things-to-think-about-when-planning-an-exit-from-your-business/

Over the last twelve months, we have seen a significant increase in the number of business owners wanting to talk about exit planning.

22/10/2026

High-performing teams don't just happen; they're built!

At the beginning of October, Angela attended the Professional Training Conference, High-Performing Teams - Driving Collaboration, Resilience and Results, led by Nadine Stanton.

The event explored what it takes to build successful teams, from developing a positive mindset and encouraging collaboration to creating a culture where people feel supported and confident to perform at their best.

One of the highlights was hearing from Emma Wiggs, Paralympic and World Champion canoeist. Emma presented The Resilience Revolution, where she discussed sustaining excellence through change and shared her experiences and insights into resilience.

A key takeaway? High performance isn't just about skills and knowledge. It's also about mindset, trust, adaptability and supporting one another.

At ETC Tax, we're always looking for ways to develop our people, encourage new ideas and create an environment where everyone can thrive. We are looking forward to putting what we learned into practice.

13/10/2026

VAT Disputes
You may only get one proper opportunity to produce the evidence!

When a significant VAT dispute begins, don't wait to see how far HMRC takes it before thinking about evidence.

Establish the facts you need to prove.
Identify the evidence supporting each one.
Find the gaps.
Make sure the numbers reconcile.
And do it early.

Click here for further reading https://etctax.co.uk/vat-disputes-build-the-evidence-before-you-need-it/

04/10/2026

Tax can be tricky terrain… but that’s something our team is used to navigating, unlike the hills of the Cheshire countryside on quad bikes!

If only every day looked like this...

Some were faster than others; there was plenty of sheep swerving, flying cow pats, and yes… one of our tax advisers got a little too well acquainted with a tree! But we live to fight HMRC for another day! 🌳

Thankfully, everyone made it back in one piece (just about!).

A brilliant team day and a reminder that, while we might be more comfortable navigating complex tax matters, we’re always up for tackling some different terrain.

Here are a few of the action shots…

03/10/2026

Selling your business: Share sale or asset sale?

When selling a business, it’s not just how much you sell it for that matters; how the deal is structured can be just as important.

A share sale and an asset sale can have very different tax and commercial consequences for both the buyer and seller.

Understanding the difference early can help you plan ahead, avoid unexpected tax surprises and enter negotiations better prepared.

🔗 Share Sale vs Asset Sale – read our latest article to understand the key tax differences: https://etctax.co.uk/share-sale-vs-asset-sale/

26/09/2026

If you're planning to sell your business, one of the first questions you're likely to ask is, "How much tax will I have to pay?"

Obviously, the answer depends on several factors, but one relief that often comes into the conversation is Business Asset Disposal Relief, and the fact is that if you qualify, it can reduce the CGT owed.

Want to find out more?

Click here https://etctax.co.uk/business-asset-disposal-relief-what-every-business-owner-should-know-before-selling/ for further reading.

24/09/2026

Thinking about selling your business?

Don’t leave the tax planning until the deal is underway.

Finding the right buyer and agreeing on the right price might be front of mind, but planning ahead can help identify tax issues, avoid unwanted surprises and put you in a stronger position when negotiations begin.

Selling your business?

Check out our Tax Planning Checklist below for the key things to consider before putting your business on the market.

https://etctax.co.uk/the-tax-planning-checklist-before-selling-your-business/

If you're thinking about selling your business, it's easy to focus on the big-ticket items. Finding the right buyer, agreeing a price and negotiating the

20/09/2026

Selling your business? The buyer won’t just be looking at the profits.

For many business owners, selling a company is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

After years of building the business, the focus is understandably on finding the right buyer and securing the best possible price.

But a potential buyer isn’t just buying the future of your business; they’re buying its history too.

That means looking closely at its tax affairs and asking:

👉 Have all tax obligations been met?
👉 Are there any historic errors or uncertainties?
👉 Could an unexpected tax liability emerge after the sale?
👉 Is there anything that could affect the price or delay the deal?

A pre-sale tax health check can help identify and address potential issues before they are uncovered during the buyer’s due diligence.

Because when you’re preparing to sell, fewer surprises can mean a smoother transaction.

Thinking about selling your business? Check out our latest article: https://etctax.co.uk/pre-sale-tax-health-checks/

Why not speak to ETC Tax about getting your tax position sale-ready?

15/09/2026

06/09/2026

Family Investment Companies: 15 Questions People Ask Before Setting One Up
https://etctax.co.uk/family-investment-companies-your-q-answered/

A Family Investment Company (FIC s a UK-resident private limited company where the shareholders are family members. Could it be the right way to manage and pass on family wealth?

FICs have become an increasingly popular option used for family succession and tax planning, allowing founders to retain control whilst passing wealth to future generations in a tax-efficient manner.

But they aren’t right for everyone.

Before setting one up, it’s important to understand how they work, the tax implications, the costs involved and whether a FIC genuinely fits your long-term objectives.

In our latest article, we answer 15 of the most common questions people ask about Family Investment Companies.

If a FIC is something you’ve been considering, reading this article is a good place to start.