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Meacher Jones Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers

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Meacher Jones Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers

Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers

We know that small and medium-sized businesses need a bit more than just an chartered accountant – so we work right alongside you, providing the ‘stepping stones’ to guide you through every stage of growing your business. Whether you’re a business start-up or an established company, or if you’re retiring or selling your business, Meacher-Jones Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers can help bot

h with everyday tasks such as taxation and payroll, through to the more complex issues that keep business owners awake at night.

01/06/2026

Incorrect advice provided by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other websites is contributing to a growing trend of late VAT return filing and payment.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are reminding VAT-registered businesses that there is no extension to the statutory due dates when they fall on weekends or bank holidays.

HMRC’s systems do allow for VAT returns to be submitted at weekends or on bank holidays. However, if a business cannot do that, then the return must be submitted by the last working day before the due date. HMRC will not accept weekends or bank holidays as a reason for filing a VAT return late.

It is similar to VAT return payments. When the due date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, payment must clear into HMRC’s bank account by the working day before the due date, unless a taxpayer’s bank allows faster payments on weekends and bank holidays.
Missing the due dates for submitting VAT returns and making payments can result in interest and penalties, so it is important to have a good reminder system to ensure the deadline is met.

If you need any help with filing your VAT returns or any other aspect of VAT advice, please do get in touch. We would be happy to help you!

29/05/2026

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published a new blog on questions to ask when using AI models to find vulnerabilities in your IT system.

Cyber criminals are increasing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance their ability to make cyber-attacks. However, AI can also be used by businesses to discover vulnerabilities in their own systems first and shore them up.

Before throwing caution to the wind though, the NCSC recommends considering some important questions. These are:
• What are you trying to achieve by using AI?
• Is using AI the best way to improve security?
• Do I have a process to manage any vulnerabilities that AI finds?
• How should I prioritise vulnerabilities?
• What are the risks when using AI to find vulnerabilities?
• What AI model should I use?
• Where should I start?
• What’s my long-term plan to deal with new AI models?
• Where do I need to invest in people?
• Do I know how everything we develop or use is patched?

To read the blog in full, see: https://f.mtr.cool/ueyoygmfus

27/05/2026

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have reported that 298,905 people filed their Self Assessment tax return in the first week of the tax year, with a record total of 737,891 returns being filed during the month of April 2026.

HMRC are highlighting several benefits to filing early, including:
• Getting a refund sooner if you are due one.
• Reducing stress by avoiding the pressure that comes from filing at the last minute.
• There is no need to pay tax early but knowing how much you owe ahead of time helps with budgeting.
• Any mistakes can be checked and corrected before the deadline.
• A processed tax return can be used as proof of income for mortgage and loan applications or benefit claims.

More than 12 million tax returns are due to be filed by 31 January 2027, so there are still plenty of returns to be filed yet.

If you would like help in preparing and filing your 2025/26 tax return, please do get in touch. We would be happy to help you!

See: https://f.mtr.cool/gzycahcqdk

21/05/2026

Starting 1 July 2026, a fixed customs duty of €3 will be applied to small parcels valued at less than €150 exported to the EU.

The rate will be applied to all goods exported to the EU by non-EU businesses that are registered in the EU’s Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) for VAT purposes.

Whether the rate will also be applied to goods sold by traders that are not registered in the IOSS remains under review.
The new fixed customs duty is a temporary measure that will stay in place until a permanent solution to eliminate the customs duty relief threshold comes into force. At that time, all goods under €150 will have customs duty applied at the normal EU tariffs for individual products.

A so-called ‘handling fee’ is also under discussion by the EU Council, however, this is separate to these measures.
Government guidance is available on how to register for the VAT IOSS scheme to report and pay VAT due on imports of low-value goods to consumers in the EU, Northern Ireland, or both.

See: https://f.mtr.cool/stsujtmauj

18/05/2026

A visit from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) resulted in a Cheshire-based scrap metal business being fined £1,000 plus costs of £2,000 for failing to have employers’ liability insurance in place.

Employers are legally required to insure against liability for injury or disease to their employees arising out of their employment. It is a compulsory insurance for businesses in Britain and Northern Ireland.

HSE principal inspector Emily Osborne said: “[Employers’ liability insurance] is not a trivial optional extra, it is a compulsory requirement that is designed solely to protect employees.”

A free guide is available from HSE that provides information about employers’ liability insurance in England, Scotland and Wales and who needs to have it. HSENI, the health and safety body for Northern Ireland, also have guidance available.

See: https://f.mtr.cool/arszsbczxp

14/05/2026

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have reported that 161 pubs closed across the country in the first three months of 2026. It is estimated that this has led to the loss of 2,400 jobs. Scotland has been the most heavily affected, with 41 closures between January and March.

The BBPA have called for longer-term changes, including an overhaul of taxes affecting the hospitality industry.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: “The scale of these closures is avoidable because pubs are doing a brisk trade, but their profits are wiped out by a disproportionate tax burden and tax costs. We want to work with government to establish a permanent long-term plan that will deliver permanently lower bills, a fairer system and ultimately protect this treasured sector.”

A 15% relief on business rates for pubs came into effect in April 2026 and will be followed by a two-year freeze. A government spokesman also noted extended opening hours for the World Cup and alcohol duty cuts on draught pints as part of the support that is currently being offered.

However, increased employment costs and shifting consumer habits continue to make trade challenging for many pub businesses.
If your business is under pressure by tax or other costs, getting early advice can make a big difference to your options. Please feel free to contact us; we would be happy to help you.

See: https://f.mtr.cool/gosnnomagu

11/05/2026

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) announced at CYBERUK 2026 in Glasgow that it will begin recommending the use of passkeys wherever a service supports them, and two-step verification (2SV) where it does not.

A passkey is a way to sign in that does not use a password. Instead, your account is linked to a device you own, such as a phone or computer. When you log in, the service asks your device to confirm it is you, and you approve this by unlocking the device with a fingerprint, face scan or PIN.

Based on analysis carried out by the NCSC, it has been concluded that passkeys provide stronger protection for users than traditional 2SV, which can be vulnerable to phishing. According to the NCSC, phishing is one of the most persistent causes of cyber compromise.
The NCSC point out that, as with any security control, passkeys need to be implemented and used sensibly to be most effective. Users will still depend on the security of their devices and credential managers.

See: https://f.mtr.cool/gshpektvmt

07/05/2026

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published final guidance on the new ‘charitable purposes soft opt-in’ provision introduced by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

The provision means that charities can send direct marketing by electronic mail, including emails, texts and direct messages on social media, to people who have expressed an interest in or offered to support to an organisation’s charitable purpose, without needing to obtain consent first, providing strict requirements have been met.

The new guidance sets out how charities can use the provision and the safeguards they need to put in place.

To review the guidance, see:

https://f.mtr.cool/zvkgbynond

05/05/2026

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a consultation on workplace injury and illness reporting. Currently, such reporting is covered by The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

HSE is consulting on legislative changes that will:

• Clarify definitions within RIDDOR where the existing terminology is unclear or ambiguous.
• Revise the lists of dangerous occurrences and reportable occupational diseases.
• Broaden who can formally diagnose a reportable occupational disease to certain registered health practitioners, and not just a doctor registered with and holding a licence to practise with the General Medical Council.

HSE is also seeking views on simplifying the online RIDDOR reporting form to improve its usability.

The consultation is open until 30 June 2026.

To read more about the proposals and respond, see:
https://f.mtr.cool/hrfjkwucng

28/04/2026

Are You Prepared for Cyber Threats?

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued a call to action to business leaders to build resilience to severe cyber threats. The NCSC reports that their Annual Review 2025 shows a widening gap between the rising pace of cyber threats and the UK’s collective resilience.

While the call to action and accompanying guidance are aimed primarily at the leaders of large organisations, cyber threats continue to be a challenge faced by businesses of all sizes.

The NCSC advises that when a cyber incident happens, it is often too late to start working out what should be done and who will do it. Therefore, it can pay to get the business ready so that if a cyber-attack does happen, it is better able to continue operating through the disruption, as well as to recover as quickly as possible.

See: https://f.mtr.cool/ofqabylqus

Address

6 St John's Court Vicars Lane
Chester
CH11QE

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+441244401001

Website

http://www.meacher-jones.com/

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