Swinton Accountants

28/05/2026

🌞 The Government has announced a temporary VAT reduction as part of its new ‘Great British Summer Savings’ scheme.

From 25 June to 1 September 2026, VAT on selected tourist attractions and children’s meals will be reduced from 20% to 5%.

The scheme is expected to encourage more visitors to tourism, leisure and hospitality businesses – but it may also create extra admin for businesses needing to update pricing, tills, invoices and VAT systems.

Our latest blog explains:
✔️ Which businesses qualify
✔️ What’s included in the VAT reduction
✔️ The practical challenges businesses may face
Read the full article here 👇

https://swintonaccountants.co.uk/summer-savings-vat-cut/

12/05/2026

Running a business comes with constant demands, and it’s easy for your own wellbeing to slip down the to-do list.

With Mental Health Awareness Week here, it’s a good moment to pause and reset. Small changes can make a real difference:

• Take regular breaks away from your desk
• Set clearer boundaries around working hours
• Talk things through instead of carrying decisions alone
• Make time for exercise, fresh air, or something that helps you switch off

It’s also a great time to check in with colleagues, friends, and peers. A simple conversation, or even a smile, can go a long way.

At Swinton Accountants, we believe in keeping conversations open. If something is on your mind, we’re always happy to talk things through.

23/04/2026

Employers, could you accidentally be paying your staff below the National Minimum Wage?

Small oversights can lead to underpayments, which may in turn lead to penalties from HMRC.

Now the NMW rates have increased, with effect from beginning of April 2026, here are three quick checks to make sure you’re compliant:

https://swintonaccountants.co.uk/new-minimum-wage-rates/

03/04/2026

31/03/2026

Is your payroll ready for year-end?

With key deadlines approaching and major SSP changes coming in April 2026, now’s the time to review your processes and stay compliant.

Don’t get caught out – read our latest guide:
swintonaccountants.co.uk/payroll-deadlines-ssp-changes

13/03/2026

If you run a limited company, are you taking the right amount out as salary?

Sticking with last year’s approach isn’t always the most tax-efficient option.

In our latest blog, we share practical steps to review your salary, dividends and pension contributions before your year end.

Read more here: swintonaccountants.co.uk/profit-extraction

12/03/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Alain Medina!

We’re delighted to celebrate a fantastic milestone for our client manager Alain Medina, who has successfully passed all of his accountancy exams to become a Chartered Accountant (ACCA).

Alain joined Swinton Accountants in 2016 as a school-leaver apprentice and has steadily progressed through the firm while completing his studies. Along the way he’s built strong experience supporting clients with bookkeeping, VAT, management accounts and year-end work.

Passing every exam first time is a great achievement and reflects the hard work and commitment Alain has shown throughout his training.

Now that the studying is completed, Alain will continue building his client portfolio, with a particular focus on construction, hospitality and motor trade businesses.

A huge well done from everyone at Swinton! 👏

swintonaccountants.co.uk/exam_success

06/03/2026

What makes a great team?

Tomorrow is International Women’s Day and we’re celebrating the brilliant women of Swinton Accountants.

Our team spans several decades and brings together a wide range of backgrounds and interests. What they all share is a collaborative spirit, strong teamwork and plenty of laughter along the way!

You’d have to go a long way to find a more supportive and dedicated team, one that genuinely puts clients and colleagues first and is always willing to go the extra mile.

Here’s to incredible women everywhere, every day.

05/03/2026

What’s your favourite book? Today is World Book Day, so we asked a few members of the Swinton team to share their favourite fiction book and why it’s stuck with them.

Hayley: Our House by Louise Candlish kept me wired with anticipation and disbelief. Fi returns home to find people moving into her house. They are legally the new owners, yet she knew nothing about it and the property wasn’t even for sale. To add to the confusion, her estranged husband and her two sons have disappeared. A brilliant suspenseful thriller based on a highly plausible, “this could actually happen to me” property fraud.

Anita: My favourite book is Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. It’s such a lovely story that shows good can happen to anyone. It contrasts the bad traits of the privileged characters with the kind-hearted and caring nature of Charlie who is rewarded for being nice and playing by the rules.

Ricky: My favourite book is called The Alchemist by Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho. It’s one of those books that transports you to a place that isn’t quite real, but isn’t completely fantastical either. Even after 20 years and multiple reads, I’m still finding things that I’ve missed before. A must-read book – if you like that kind of thing!

Rea: My favourite is an illustrative book called The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. It’s a short but beautiful story and my all-time favourite because you can pick it up at any time – even any page – and read short bursts of inspirational words. It has an amazingly wide target audience for any age but truly is my go-to as it’s such a heart-warming, motivational book.

Stella: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is a beautifully written, evocative novel about a blind French girl and a German soldier during WW2. Interweaving their stories, the novel explores themes of resilience, light and human connection in contrast to the dark brutality of war.

Jake: My favourite is the How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell. Introduced to them by my favourite teacher, the books follow the adventures of a young Viking named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. I love the imaginative Viking-era setting and the humorous portrayal of dragons with their unique personalities.

We’d love to hear from you! What book would you recommend?

03/02/2026

Own your own business? The new year is the perfect time to get your tax planning on track.

Small tweaks, like reviewing your salary and dividends, checking you’re claiming all allowable expenses, or planning corporation tax earlier, can make a real difference over the year.

Read our top tax tips here: swintonaccountants.co.uk/top-tax-tips-to-start-the-new-year-right

We work with business owners across Norfolk and beyond to keep things clear, practical and jargon-free. No scare tactics. Just solid advice that works.

If you’d like help making sure you’re set up tax-efficiently for the year ahead, we’re always happy to chat.

Get in touch with Swinton Accountants on 01603 812131.

We discuss the importance of early exit planning and what to consider.

15/01/2026

Do you have an exit plan for your business?

Many business owners assume they’ll deal with selling or stepping away later. But leaving exit planning too late can cost you control, value and money.

In our latest blog, we explain:
• What exit planning really means
• How to make your business more sale-ready
• How tax planning can protect more of what you’ve built
• Why planning for the unexpected matters

If you’re thinking about your long-term future – even if exit feels years away – this is worth a read.

Read the full blog and start planning with confidence:
swintonaccountants.co.uk/exit_planning/