Shorts Chartered Accountants

16/06/2026

Lifetime trusts aren’t just for the wealthy — they can be a powerful part of anyone’s estate planning.

They do come with rules and limitations, though, and in some cases, other options might be a better fit.

If you're interested in planning your estate, our guide to lifetime trusts can help you decide whether it suits your requirements:

Discover the essentials of lifetime trusts, their structures, and how they can protect your assets and support future generations effectively.

09/06/2026

If you run a limited company, HMRC is about to get a clearer view of how you pay yourself.

New details are now required on Self-Assessment Tax Returns for directors of limited companies.

Discover what's required, and the penalties for missing this information:

HMRC introduces new reporting requirements for close company directors in 2025/26, enhancing transparency on dividends and shareholdings.

03/06/2026

Starting this month, a range of activities and items are set to be cheaper for families over the summer.

The Great British Summer Savings scheme will apply a reduced VAT rate across a range of tickets, food and attractions to ease household costs on families.

Discover what qualifies under the scheme with our guide:

The Government's Great British Summer Savings scheme reduces VAT to 5% on children's meals, tickets, and family attractions from June to September 2026.

03/06/2026

Join us in celebrating and congratulating Nellie Powell on a wonderful five year work anniversary!

Thank you for all your hard work and continued support since you joined us Nellie!

We’re looking forward to the next five years and beyond!

01/06/2026

Celebrating 5 years with Jake Furniss 🎉

It’s hard to believe it’s already been five years since Jake joined the team here at Shorts – yet what a journey it’s been so far.

Joining via the apprenticeship route in 2021, Jake initially balanced studying for his degree alongside building hands-on experience, going on to successfully complete his professional qualification with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and progressing into his role as an Audit & Accounts Senior.

Over that time, he’s developed into a reliable and knowledgeable member of the team, always willing to get stuck in – whether that’s out on audit or getting involved in wider firm life.

From fundraising running events to taking part in charity football tournaments, Jake is someone who’s always happy to get involved and support the team beyond his day-to-day role.

Thanks for everything you’ve contributed so far, Jake – and congratulations on your milestone anniversary 👏

27/05/2026

With the anticipation as high as the temperature over the last few days, it's time to give our final update on this years Big Team Challenge.

The Challenge: To walk (virtually) our way across the country - starting at Durham in the North East and working our way through 8 milestones to Canterbury in the South East. A distance of around 545 miles (878 km) per team. Over two weeks.

76 active participants split into 13 teams.
A total of 2 teams completed the challenge total distance.
8,980.0 kilometers (5,579.9 miles) were logged.
12,286,981 steps were logged.

The team of 6 - Craig, Sarah, Laura, Becky, Dan and Lewis called 'Ketchup If You Can' were a sauce of inspiration and topped our leader board with a distance 1,253.4km

2nd place, Claudene, Julie, Beth, Anita, Craig and Matthias - AKA 'The Devil Wears Strava clocked 1,125.9km!

Claudene was our 1st place individual, amassing an amazing 320.9km over the course of the event.

What a fantastic event this year. We had more people take part, and we walked further than ever. All while being ever-so-slightly competitive, having fun, and enjoying the benefits - both mentally and physically, of moving more and keeping that step count up.

And we planted 7 trees too! 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

A huge well done to all.

Oh... One more thing... Shall we do it again next year?

26/05/2026

Cash flow is often treated as the business owner’s perennial headache. But it doesn’t have to be.

Cash flow is less a solitary burden and more a shared discipline. When approached collectively, it becomes something every team, at every level, can influence and improve.

So what happens when cash flow becomes part of a company’s culture, rather than a monthly concern? The result is typically sharper decisions, stronger operations, and fewer unwelcome surprises.

Our latest guide explores how to build that culture across your business:
https://hubs.ly/Q04h62zx0

Learn how to create a cash flow culture to enhance business resilience, improve financial health, and foster proactive financial management.

26/05/2026

For years, pensions formed a quiet, yet essential, part of estate planning. However, their role is now changing.

Following the 2026 Finance Act, pensions will be brought into scope for Inheritance Tax. This can have a far-reaching impact on estate planning for individuals.

Learn what's changing, and how you can prepare, with our guide:

Prepare now to mitigate significant changes to Inheritance Tax on pensions taking effect from April 2027, impacting estate planning for many families.

21/05/2026

Thank you to all attendees for joining us for our FRS 102 Seminar this morning at the Sheffield AMP.
It was another excellent event and it was great to welcome you, to meet you and to share our knowledge on the topic.

19/05/2026

HMRC has issued a warning for businesses using AI to inform them of VAT return deadlines.

Recent events have shown some AI-powered tools and sites are giving business owners the wrong information.

Find out what HMRC's response was and what steps business owners should take next: https://hubs.ly/Q04h4bWq0

HMRC warns that incorrect AI-generated VAT advice is leading to late submissions and penalties. Learn how this happens and how to avoid this error.