ammu chartered accountants

ammu chartered accountants A blend of Chartered Accountants, and Chartered Management Accountants located in Glasgow & Ayr

We are proud to be described by our clients in Ayrshire as having a refreshing, caring approach which has led to our growing reputation as one of Ayrshire’s most effective accountancy practices for individual clients and small and medium sized businesses.

Recent tax changes are affecting more than just HMRC receipts.Higher CGT rates can make asset sales more expensive. High...
03/06/2026

Recent tax changes are affecting more than just HMRC receipts.

Higher CGT rates can make asset sales more expensive. Higher employer NICs can add pressure to staffing costs. Frozen thresholds are also continuing to pull more people into higher tax bands.

For business owners, landlords, employers and higher earners, that can feed into decisions about disposals, staffing, business structure and longer-term planning.

Our latest blog looks at the practical impact of these changes and why reviewing the position early can still make a difference.
https://ammu.uk/cgt-and-nic-increases-explained/

Have recent tax changes affected any of your plans?

When a business starts growing, VAT registration can sometimes come up sooner than expected.It is easy to think of it as...
29/05/2026

When a business starts growing, VAT registration can sometimes come up sooner than expected.

It is easy to think of it as an admin task, but it can also affect your pricing, margins and cash flow. If your business sells mainly to private customers, the impact can feel more noticeable because those customers usually cannot reclaim VAT.

That is why it helps to review your pricing before you reach the threshold.

Looking at your turnover, margins, future quotes and customer base early gives you more room to plan properly. It can also help you avoid having to make rushed pricing decisions once registration becomes urgent.

If your business is getting closer to the VAT threshold, it may be worth getting advice before you cross it.

Are your prices set up for the next stage of growth?

27/05/2026

Close company reporting is becoming more detailed from the 2025/26 tax year, and that could mean closer HMRC checks for some directors.

Self-assessment tax returns will need to include more information for each close company directorship, including details such as dividend income and shareholding. This can apply even where no salary or dividends were taken.

In practical terms, that means clear and consistent records matter. Dividend history, loan account movements and shareholding details should all be easy to trace.

We explain the key changes in our latest blog.
https://ammu.uk/close-company-reporting-for-directors/
Would your records be ready for closer scrutiny?

When you are starting a business, most of your attention naturally goes to finding customers, getting your name out ther...
20/05/2026

When you are starting a business, most of your attention naturally goes to finding customers, getting your name out there and keeping up with the work.

But the financial basics are just as important.

A business can look busy and still struggle with cash flow. Invoices might be paid late, costs might increase, or tax might not have been set aside early enough.

That is why it helps to build simple habits from the beginning: keep track of what is coming in and going out, record expenses, chase payments, and set money aside for tax.

You do not need complicated systems straight away. But having clear foundations can make running the business feel much less stressful as it grows.

What is one thing you wish you had known earlier about managing business finances?

VAT late payment penalties can build more quickly than many businesses expect.The important point is timing. A short del...
19/05/2026

VAT late payment penalties can build more quickly than many businesses expect.

The important point is timing. A short delay may not trigger an immediate penalty, but once a VAT bill goes unpaid for longer, the cost can rise fast. Late payment interest can also apply even where no penalty is charged.

That is why it is usually better to act early rather than ignore the bill. If payment may be difficult, reviewing cash flow and looking at options such as a Time to Pay arrangement could help limit the damage.

We explain the key points in our latest blog.
https://ammu.uk/vat-late-payment-penalties-explained/

Have you reviewed how your business would handle a VAT payment problem?

Pension contributions can be a helpful and tax-efficient way to save for the future.But before increasing them, it is wo...
15/05/2026

Pension contributions can be a helpful and tax-efficient way to save for the future.

But before increasing them, it is worth thinking about more than the tax saving.

Money paid into a pension is usually locked away until later life. That can be useful for retirement planning, but it may not help with things you need access to sooner, such as an emergency fund, a house deposit, a career change, business plans or other short-term goals.

A helpful question to ask is:
What do I need this money to do, and when might I need access to it?

Pensions, ISAs, cash savings and other investments can all play different roles. The right balance depends on your own situation, goals and need for flexibility.

Tax efficiency matters, but accessibility matters too.

Have you reviewed whether your savings are working for both your future plans and your current needs?

Some lifetime gifts can fall outside inheritance tax immediately, which often comes as a surprise to people who only kno...
13/05/2026

Some lifetime gifts can fall outside inheritance tax immediately, which often comes as a surprise to people who only know about the seven-year rule.

However, that does not mean every gift will qualify. The rules look at whether the gift was made out of income, whether it formed part of normal expenditure, and whether the giver could still maintain their usual standard of living.

In our latest blog, we explain what a recent tribunal case tells us about inheritance tax gift rules and why regular gifting needs more care than many people realise.

https://ammu.uk/inheritance-tax-gift-rules-and-the-limits-of-the-exemption/

Had you come across this exemption before?

National Insurance gaps can affect your State Pension, but they are not always obvious.They can happen if you have been ...
08/05/2026

National Insurance gaps can affect your State Pension, but they are not always obvious.

They can happen if you have been self-employed with lower profits, taken time out of work, worked abroad, had caring responsibilities, or missed out on credits you may have been entitled to.

The key point is this: paying voluntary National Insurance is not automatically the right solution.

Before making payments, it is worth checking your National Insurance record and State Pension forecast. You should also check whether National Insurance credits could apply, as these may help fill gaps in some situations.

With the temporary extended deadline now over, most people can usually only pay voluntary contributions for the past 6 tax years.

Have you checked whether there are any gaps in your National Insurance record?

The cycle to work scheme remains a useful option for employers and employees alike.It can make bikes more affordable thr...
06/05/2026

The cycle to work scheme remains a useful option for employers and employees alike.

It can make bikes more affordable through salary sacrifice while also offering tax and NIC savings. There was some speculation that the November 2025 Budget might introduce a financial cap, but that did not happen.

In our latest blog, we explain how the scheme works, what rules employers need to know, and why it is still worth considering as part of a wider employee benefits package.

https://ammu.uk/how-the-cycle-to-work-scheme-still-saves-tax/

Is this the kind of staff benefit you think more small businesses should look at?

A small side income might not feel like something you need to worry about, especially if you are not earning enough to p...
01/05/2026

A small side income might not feel like something you need to worry about, especially if you are not earning enough to pay tax overall.

But HMRC’s rules are not only about whether tax is due. They are also about whether income needs to be reported.

Once income from self-employment or trading goes over the £1,000 trading allowance, HMRC may expect it to be declared. Being under the personal allowance does not always remove the need to register or file a tax return.

If you are earning money on the side, it is worth keeping simple records from the start. And if you realise something should have been reported, it is usually better to deal with it voluntarily rather than wait for HMRC to find it.

Are you confident your side income is being handled correctly?

Address

8 Miller Road
Ayr
KA72AY

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

01292 388031

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