EQ Accountants

29/05/2026

Last month, Manager, Sam Walker was shortlisted in this year’s ICAS - The Professional Body of CAs Top 35 Rising Stars ⭐

We caught up with Sam to hear more about what the recognition means to him, from the moment he found out he’d been shortlisted, to the support, mentorship and opportunities that have helped shape his career so far, including guidance from Partner Louise Grant.

A huge congratulations again to Sam on this fantastic achievement. We’re incredibly proud to see his hard work recognised and can’t wait to see what’s next.

Next stop, London! 👏

28/05/2026

Agritourism continues to grow across the UK, offering farming businesses exciting opportunities to diversify income and make better use of existing assets, from holiday lets and farm experiences to cafés and rural tourism ventures.

But successful diversification isn’t just about the idea, it’s about getting the foundations right.

In our latest article, Senior, Beth Kochaniuk explores some of the key areas that deserve careful consideration when developing an agritourism venture, including:

• Income classification and bookkeeping clarity

• Understanding the true scale of time and resource required

• Planning for capital costs and cash flow pressures

• The potential impact on Inheritance Tax planning and reliefs

• Getting pricing right for long-term sustainability

With the right planning in place, agritourism can be a powerful way to strengthen resilience, support growth, and create new opportunities alongside the core farming business.

To read the full article: https://www.eqaccountants.co.uk/common-pitfalls-farmers-face-when-diversifying-into-agritourism/

26/05/2026

Our newly launched Sumer Agriculture Newsletter is live 🌾

Packed with practical insight for farming and rural businesses across the UK, this edition covers some of the key challenges and opportunities currently shaping the sector from our experts at EQ and colleagues from across the group.

Inside this edition, you’ll find insights from:
• Mark Smeaton: How resilient is your farming business to global shock?
• Victoria Ivinson: Practical long-term planning for farming families
• Duncan Wood: Unlocking working capital in uncertain times

Plus, a run-down of where you can find the Sumer team at upcoming agricultural shows and events

To read the full issue:https://www.sumer.co.uk/top-diversification-trends-in-farming/

26/05/2026

Be sure to give our latest article with Scottish Association Of Landlords a read.

A 5-step practical guide for your 2025/26 personal tax.

To read: https://scottishlandlords.com/news-and-campaigns/news/taking-the-stress-our-of-our-2025-26-personal-tax-a-practical-guide/

💷 Taking the stress out of your 2025/26 personal tax

A little preparation now can save time, stress, and last-minute pressure later.

From gathering key documents and reviewing income and expenses, to checking allowances and filing early, taking a proactive approach can make the whole process much more manageable.

Whether your circumstances have changed or you’re simply getting organised, starting early helps ensure nothing is missed.

🔗 Read the full guide here: https://scottishlandlords.com/news-and-campaigns/news/taking-the-stress-our-of-our-2025-26-personal-tax-a-practical-guide/

25/05/2026

On Saturday, members of our Agri Team were at the Fife Show, and had a great day for it too! ☀️

Scott Greig, Partner, said:
"This year’s Fife Show was a fantastic day from start to finish, great weather, plenty of familiar faces, and lots of good conversations with clients and contacts. It was really enjoyable to catch up with everyone and spend time out at the show."

If you didn’t manage to pop round at this year’s Fife Show but would like to speak to a member of our team: https://www.eqaccountants.co.uk/contact-us/

20/05/2026

The team are all set and ready to head to this year’s Fife Show on Saturday! 🚜

Events like this are a great opportunity for our team to connect with the agricultural community, discuss current topics such as succession planning and IHT, and help you plan for the future with confidence.

If you’re attending, come along and say hello. We're located ringside, with our team on hand to answer any of your queries. Partners Scott Greig and Mark Wilken will be joined by Calum MacDonald, Emily Page CA, and Michael Fergusson, all who share a wide range of knowledge and experience within the sector.

To read more on our agriculture team: https://www.eqaccountants.co.uk/sectors/agriculture/

19/05/2026

Upcoming changes to succession planning, APR/BPR reliefs, and business structuring are already raising important questions for business owners ahead of 2026 and 2027.

In this new video series, Partners Robert Young and David Morrison will be sharing practical insight and discussing some of the key areas businesses and families should be thinking about now, from succession timing and retirement planning to life cover, employee ownership, and protecting long-term value.

We want to simplify some of the upcoming changes and encourage proactive conversations before decisions become urgent.

If you are considering succession planning, reviewing your business structure, or simply want to better understand how these changes could affect you, get in touch with a member of our team today: https://www.eqaccountants.co.uk/contact-us/

13/05/2026

New Business Rates Relief is here

Qualifying retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses could benefit from new rates relief support for the next three years, with up to 40% relief available for some businesses.

In our latest article, Manager, Nicola Rourke breaks down:
Who may qualify
What level of relief is available
Which sectors could benefit
Important application considerations

To read the full article: https://www.eqaccountants.co.uk/new-business-rates-relief-from-april-2026/

08/05/2026

On Tuesday, we saw over 50 members of the EQ team come together from our different offices for our Internal Agriculture Conference at the Malmaison, Dundee 🚜

The day, hosted by Mark Smeaton, gave us a chance to discuss what’s happening across the sector, the challenges being faced, and where the opportunities for growth are.

A big thank you to our external speakers - Alistair Christie from Galbraith, Barry Watson and Terry Butcher from Oxbury Bank Plc, and Andrew Coalter from SAC Consulting - for sharing their knowledge and expertise. Thanks also to our internal speakers Robert Young, Scott Greig and Natasha Gajczak CTA for leading engaging and insightful sessions.

The feedback from the day said it all, with attendees describing the sessions as “very engaging and useful”, with “lots to learn throughout.”

A great day of learning, discussion and ideas shared across the EQ team ⭐

06/05/2026

Today Partner, Scott Greig and Manager, Calum MacDonald are exhibiting at the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers 2026 Regional Gathering in Aberdeen at Union Kirk.

They will be on hand to answer any of your questions until 5pm.

Be sure to stop by and say hello! 🧡

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