Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates

Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates BII Accredited Accountants for the licensed trade, HLWA specialise in pubs, bars and hospitality.

With 50+ years’ experience, we provide accounting, payroll, VAT and business planning to keep you compliant and confident in every financial decision.

Alert: Claiming business expenses? Keep your receipts and evidence safe! HMRC could ask for proof, so get your records i...
02/09/2026

Alert: Claiming business expenses? Keep your receipts and evidence safe! HMRC could ask for proof, so get your records in order to avoid trouble. Find out why it matters now.

Self-employed individuals can deduct allowable business expenses from their income when calculating taxable profits. However, businesses must keep accurate records and evidence to support the costs

Pubs, restaurants, cafés and hotels continue to face soaring employment costs, rising supplier prices, higher National I...
02/09/2026

Pubs, restaurants, cafés and hotels continue to face soaring employment costs, rising supplier prices, higher National Insurance contributions and squeezed consumer spending.

Yet the UK still applies one of the highest rates of VAT to hospitality in Europe.

While business rates discounts provide some breathing space, many operators need more meaningful support to protect jobs, maintain service standards and remain profitable.

A serious conversation about hospitality VAT is long overdue.

As BII Accredited Advisors to the Licensed Trade, we work with hospitality businesses every day and see first-hand the challenges operators face.

Do you think a reduced VAT rate would make a bigger difference than business rates relief?

Recent reporting from The Guardian suggests that many hospitality businesses are feeling more optimistic following the Government's announcement of business rates relief for pubs, clubs and live music

Missed your tax deadline? You might have a reasonable excuse that could save you from penalties. Serious illness, bereav...
02/09/2026

Missed your tax deadline? You might have a reasonable excuse that could save you from penalties. Serious illness, bereavement, or unexpected tech failures could count. Find out how acting quickly helps and when to appeal. Read on to see if you qualify.

Missing a tax deadline can result in penalties from HMRC, but a taxpayer may be able to appeal if they have a genuine reasonable excuse. Whether an excuse is accepted depends on the individual facts

Alert: Are your workers classified correctly? Missteps in employment status can bring unexpected tax bills, fines, and l...
01/09/2026

Alert: Are your workers classified correctly? Missteps in employment status can bring unexpected tax bills, fines, and lost rights. Find out why reviewing this now could save your business trouble. Read on to see what you need to check.

Businesses should regularly review whether individuals working for them are correctly classified as employees, workers or self-employed. Getting employment status wrong can result in unexpected tax

VAT registration just got a lot more interesting! Did you know you might reclaim VAT on some costs from before you were ...
01/09/2026

VAT registration just got a lot more interesting! Did you know you might reclaim VAT on some costs from before you were even registered? It could mean reclaiming VAT on goods bought up to four years prior and services up to six months earlier, but only if they're linked to your current business. Intrigued? Find out why this could impact your next VAT return and what special rules might affect you.

Businesses that register for VAT may be able to reclaim VAT paid on certain goods and services purchased before VAT registration. There are specific time limits for claiming pre-registration VAT.

Unlock confidence for your business funding journey with HMRC's advance assurance. Curious how this could boost investor...
28/08/2026

Unlock confidence for your business funding journey with HMRC's advance assurance. Curious how this could boost investor trust? Find out why it matters now.

Businesses seeking investment through the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) or Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) can benefit from obtaining advance assurance from HMRC before approaching

Employers, did you know the official interest rate for beneficial loans just changed to 3.75% for 2026-27? This could me...
27/08/2026

Employers, did you know the official interest rate for beneficial loans just changed to 3.75% for 2026-27? This could mean tax tweaks for employees taking loans below this rate. Keeping track makes all the difference. Find out why this matters for your payroll and reporting.

Employers providing loans to employees or directors need to ensure they correctly calculate any taxable benefit using HMRC’s official rate of interest. Where a loan is provided at no interest or at a

Big news for sole traders and partnerships! Incorporation Relief can mean you defer your Capital Gains Tax when moving y...
26/08/2026

Big news for sole traders and partnerships! Incorporation Relief can mean you defer your Capital Gains Tax when moving your business to a limited company. Wondering how this could affect your finances? Find out why it matters now and what you might need to consider before making a move. Read on to uncover the details and see if this could be a game-changer for your business tax planning.

When a sole trader or partnership transfers a business to a limited company, a chargeable gain may arise. This is usually calculated by comparing the market value of the business assets at the date of

Alert: Missing a tax notification to HMRC could land you with a penalty. If you have overlooked a tax liability, steppin...
25/08/2026

Alert: Missing a tax notification to HMRC could land you with a penalty. If you have overlooked a tax liability, stepping forward now could help reduce fines. Find out why acting fast matters and how your cooperation makes a difference. Read on to see what you need to know.

If you become liable to pay a tax or register for a tax that HMRC has not already been informed about, you must notify HMRC within the relevant time limit. Failing to do so can result in a financial

Alert for new businesses: registering for Corporation Tax on time is crucial. Missed deadlines could mean penalties. Fin...
24/08/2026

Alert for new businesses: registering for Corporation Tax on time is crucial. Missed deadlines could mean penalties. Find out why this matters now and how to stay on track.

Companies and other organisations that are liable for Corporation Tax must ensure they register with HMRC at the correct time. Failing to register when required could result in missed filing

Address

Leigh Court Business Centre
Bristol
BS83RA.

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Herbert Lewis Williams & Associates posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category