Total Tax Accountants

16/06/2026

15/06/2026

Not sure whether you need to complete a Self Assessment tax return?

You may need to submit one if you:

✅ Have recently become self-employed.
✅ Receive income as a landlord.
✅ Have joined a business partnership as a new partner.
✅ Earned more than £1,000 from a side hustle or additional income.

Use this free online checker to find out. 👇

https://www.gov.uk/check-if-you-need-tax-return?&utm_source=f.co_hmrcgovuk&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa26&utm_content=onlinetoolstatic

Check if you need to submit a tax return⁠

Use this tool to find out if you need to send a tax return for the 2025 to 2026 tax year (6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026).

12/06/2026

High Wycombe contractors and employers, make sure Friday 19 June 2026 is in your diary. It’s the deadline for submitting your CIS Monthly Return and for ensuring your PAYE and NIC payments reach HMRC. If you’re paying by cheque, it must arrive by 19 June. Electronic payments can be made up to 22 June.

Late CIS returns can result in escalating penalties, so it pays to stay ahead of the deadline. At Total Tax Accountants,we help businesses across High Wycombe remain compliant and avoid unnecessary fines. Get in touch today for expert support and complete peace of mind.

11/06/2026

Pay your Inheritance Tax bill

Inheritance Tax must be paid by the end of the sixth month following the month in which the person died. For example, if the person passed away in January, the tax must be paid by 31 July.

Different payment deadlines may apply if you are making payments relating to a trust.

If payment is not received by the due date, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will charge interest on the outstanding amount.

In most cases, you will need to pay some or all of the Inheritance Tax due before you can obtain a Grant of Representation (commonly known as probate). In Scotland, this process is known as confirmation.

How to Pay

Before making a payment, you will need to obtain an Inheritance Tax payment reference number.

Paying from Your Own Bank Account

You can make payment from your personal bank account or from a joint account previously held with the deceased.

Online payments can be made by:

* Authorising payment through your bank account
* Bank transfer

You can also pay by:

* Telephone banking
* Visiting your bank or building society
* Sending a cheque by post

Once probate has been granted, you may reclaim the payment from the deceased’s estate or from the beneficiaries.

Paying from the Deceased’s Accounts

Inheritance Tax may also be paid directly from the deceased’s:

* Bank accounts
* Savings accounts
* Investment accounts
* Government stock holdings

If You Cannot Pay

If funds cannot be released from the estate and you are unable to pay by any other method, you may apply to defer payment of the Inheritance Tax.

If the Amount Owed Is Unknown

You do not need to know the exact amount of Inheritance Tax before making a payment. You can make advance payments towards the expected liability, known as payments on account.

Checking Your Payment

HMRC does not issue receipts for individual payments. Instead, they will write to you once all Inheritance Tax and any interest due have been paid in full.

If you have paid through your own bank or building society, you can confirm the payment has been processed by checking your account statement.

09/06/2026

Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) allows you to travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to six months.

You may apply for an ETA if you are travelling for tourism, to visit family and friends, or for certain other permitted purposes.

An ETA costs £20. You should apply through the official government service. Be aware that some websites charge higher fees and may imitate official government services.

Please note that an ETA does not guarantee entry into the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man. You must still meet the relevant immigration requirements upon arrival.

Who Needs an ETA?

Most visitors require either an ETA or a visa before travelling. The type of permission you need depends on:

* Your nationality
* The purpose of your visit to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man

In many cases, travellers from European countries, the United States, Australia, Canada and certain other countries will require an ETA rather than a visa.

Who Does Not Need an ETA?

You generally do not need an ETA if you:

* Hold a British or Irish passport
* Have permission to live, work or study in the UK
* Have a valid UK visa
* Have permission to live, work or study in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
* Are transiting through a UK airport without passing through border control (you should confirm this with your airline)
* Travel using a British Overseas Territories Citizen passport
* Travel using a British National (Overseas) passport
* Live in Ireland and are travelling from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
* Are a child travelling under the France–UK school trip travel information scheme
* Are exempt from immigration control or do not require permission to enter the UK
* Are awaiting a decision on an application under the EU Settlement Scheme

Travelling as a Family or Group

Every traveller must have their own ETA, including babies and children.

You may submit applications on behalf of other people.

If You Already Have an ETA

You can check your ETA online to confirm:

* Whether you currently hold a valid ETA
* The expiry date of your ETA

Dual Citizens

If you hold dual nationality and one of your nationalities is British or Irish, you are not eligible for an ETA.

When travelling to the UK, you can prove your citizenship by presenting:

* A valid British passport
* A valid Irish passport
* Another valid passport containing a Certificate of Entitlement

You may also be able to travel using another form of immigration status, for example if you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

You may automatically be a British citizen if:

* You were born in the UK, or
* One of your parents is a British citizen

If You Live in Ireland

You do not need an ETA if:

* You are a national of a country that would normally require an ETA, and
* You are entering the UK from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man

However, if your nationality requires a visa, you must obtain a visa before travelling to the UK.

Documents Required for Residents of Ireland

If you are aged 16 or over, you must carry one of the following documents:

* Irish driving licence
* Irish learner permit
* Medical card
* GP Visit Card
* European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
* Irish Residence Permit
* Permanent Residence Certificate
* National Age Card
* Diplomatic identity card

The document must be:

* An original document
* Issued by the Irish Government
* Valid at the time of travel

Children under the age of 16 are not required to provide proof of residence in Ireland.

What You Can Do with an ETA

An ETA allows you to:

* Visit the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business activities or short-term study
* Stay in the UK for up to three months under the Creative Worker visa concession
* Undertake a permitted paid engagement
* Transit through a UK airport where you will pass through border control (subject to your airline’s requirements)

What You Cannot Do with an ETA

An ETA does not permit you to:

* Remain in the UK for longer than six months
* Undertake paid or unpaid work for a UK employer or work as a self-employed person, except where specifically permitted under the Creative Worker concession or a permitted paid engagement
* Claim public funds or benefits
* Live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
* Marry, form a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership (a Marriage Visitor visa is required for these purposes)

Need Assistance?
Contact Total Tax Accountants or
you can use the official ETA webchat service if you have questions regarding your application.

Please note that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) does not provide ETA support by telephone.

08/06/2026

Earning between £60,000 and £80,000? Claiming Child Benefit? 👶

Our new High Income Child Benefit Charge digital service lets you pay through your salary – no need for Self Assessment.

Find out more on the HMRC app or online. 📲

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-charge/pay-tax-charge-paye_?&utm_source=f.co_hmrcgovuk&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hicbc

04/06/2026

Tax Codes

Your tax code is used by your employer or pension provider to calculate how much Income Tax should be deducted from your salary or pension. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will inform them which tax code to apply.

You will normally have a separate tax code for each job or pension you receive.

How to Find Your Tax Code

You can find your tax code in several ways:

* By checking your current tax code online through your HMRC account (you will need to sign in or create an account).
* Through the HMRC app.
* On your payslip.
* On a Tax Code Notice issued by HMRC, if you receive one.

If you view your tax code online or via the HMRC app, you can also:

* Check tax codes from previous tax years.
* Sign up for paperless notifications, allowing HMRC to email you whenever your tax code changes.

Why Your Tax Code May Change

HMRC may amend your tax code if the amount of tax you need to pay changes. This commonly occurs when there is a change in your income or personal circumstances, for example if:

* You start a new job.
* You begin receiving taxable state benefits.
* You receive income from an additional job or pension.
* The interest earned on your savings exceeds your Personal Savings Allowance.
* Your weekly State Pension amount changes.
* Your employer notifies HMRC that you have started or stopped receiving employment-related benefits.
* You claim Marriage Allowance.
* You claim tax relief on allowable work-related expenses.
* You pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge through your wages or pension.
* You need to repay a Winter Fuel Payment or Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
* You have previously been issued with an incorrect tax code and owe tax.

If you start a new job and your employer does not have details of your previous income, you may be placed on an emergency tax code. If your tax code changes, you can use HMRC’s online Income Tax service to check the reason for the change.

03/06/2026

How Council Tax works

Working Out Your Council Tax

To calculate your Council Tax, you will need to know three things:
• the valuation band of your property in England, Wales or Scotland
• the amount your local council charges for that band
•whether you are eligible for any discount or exemption from the full charge

If you are on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be entitled to Council Tax Reduction (formerly known as Council Tax Benefit).

You can challenge your Council Tax band if you believe your property has been placed in the wrong valuation band.

Changes That May Affect Your Council Tax Band

Your property may be re-banded in certain circumstances, for example if:
• you demolish part of your property and do not rebuild it
• you modify your property to create two or more self-contained units (such as an annexe), each of which will be assigned its own band
• you divide a single property into self-contained flats
• you convert multiple flats into one single property
• you start or stop working from home
• the previous owner made alterations to the property
• there are significant developments in your local area, such as the construction of a new road
• a similar property nearby has had its Council Tax band changed

If you are unsure whether changes to your property will affect its band, you should contact the Valuation Office.

Who Must Pay

You will usually be required to pay Council Tax if you are aged 18 or over.

A full Council Tax charge assumes that at least two adults live in the property. Spouses and partners living together are jointly responsible for paying the bill.

People Who Are Not Counted (‘Disregarded’)

Certain individuals are not counted when determining how many people live in a property. This means you may be eligible for a discount on your Council Tax bill.

You may be disregarded if you are:
• under 18
• on certain apprenticeship schemes
• aged 18 or 19 and in full-time education
• a full-time student at a college or university
• under 25 and receiving funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency
• a student nurse
• a foreign language assistant registered with the British Council
• severely mentally impaired
• a live-in carer for someone who is not your partner, spouse, or child under 18
• a diplomat

Applying for a Discount or Exemption

You must apply for a Council Tax discount or exemption, even if you are disregarded.

You may receive:
• 50% discount if everyone in your household is disregarded
• 25% discount if you are liable for Council Tax and either:
• you live alone, or
• everyone else in the property is disregarded

If you are unsure about your eligibility or responsibility, contact your local council for guidance.

Apprenticeship Schemes

To confirm that you are not counted as an adult for Council Tax purposes, you will need a declaration from your employer stating that:
• your weekly pay does not exceed £195
• your training leads to a qualification recognised by Ofqual or the Scottish Vocational Education Council (SVEC)

Incorrect Discounts

If you receive a Council Tax discount in error, you must inform your local council immediately. Failure to do so may result in a fine, and you may be required to repay the discount.


Please get in touch with us Total Tax Accountants if you require any assistance.

02/06/2026

From cinemas to zoos and everything in between, we are making family days out cheaper this summer.

01/06/2026

War Widow(er) Pension

You may be entitled to a War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension if your wife, husband, or civil partner died as a result of their service in HM Armed Forces or during a time of war.

Your partner must have served before 6 April 2005, although you may still qualify if they later died from an illness or injury connected to their service.

Eligibility

You may be eligible if one of the following applies to your husband, wife, or civil partner:

* They died as a result of their service in HM Armed Forces before 6 April 2005.
* They were a civil defence volunteer or civilian, and their death was a result of the 1939–1945 war.
* They were a merchant seaman, a member of the naval auxiliary services, or a coastguard, and their death resulted from an injury or illness sustained during wartime or while being held as a prisoner of war.
* They died as a result of service as a member of the Polish Forces under British command during the 1939–1945 war, or in the Polish Resettlement Forces.
* They were receiving a War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance at the time of death, or would have been receiving it had they not been in hospital.
* They were receiving a War Disablement Pension assessed at 80% or more, together with an Unemployability Supplement.

You may also qualify if you were living with your partner as husband and wife, or as civil partners.

Illness, injury, or death on or after 6 April 2005

If your partner was injured, developed an illness, or died as a result of service on or after 6 April 2005, you may need to make a claim through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Payment rates

The amount of War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension paid depends on your age and personal circumstances.

This pension is tax-free.

All pensions, benefits, and allowances are paid directly into an account, such as your bank account.

How to claim

To claim a War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension, you can either:

* Download a claim form, or
* Contact the Veterans UK helpline and request a claim form.

Completed forms should be sent to:

Veterans UK
Norcross
Thornton-Cleveleys
Lancashire
FY5 3WP

How to appeal

If you disagree with a decision regarding your claim, you may appeal to an independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal.

Before appealing, you should:

* Ask Veterans UK for further information on how the decision was made.
* Request that the decision be reconsidered if there were relevant facts not available when the original decision was reached.

Changes in your circumstances

You will continue to receive your pension if you marry, enter into a civil partnership, or begin living with a partner on or after 1 April 2015.

If this occurred before 1 April 2015, you may still continue receiving your pension if both of the following apply:

* Your late spouse or civil partner left service before 31 March 1973.
* Your new relationship began on or after 6 April 2005.

If these conditions were not met, your pension would have stopped.

If your pension has stopped

You may be able to reclaim your pension if:

* You become widowed again
* You divorce or separate
* Your civil partner dies
* Your civil partnership ends
* You stop living with your partner

You must inform Veterans UK of any changes in your circumstances to ensure you receive the correct pension amount.

Funeral expenses

Veterans UK may provide a grant of up to £2,200 towards a veteran’s funeral if any of the following apply:

* The death was due to service before 6 April 2005
* A War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance was being paid, or would have been paid if the war pensioner had not been in hospital at the time of death
* An Unemployability Supplement was being paid at the time of death, and the War Disablement Pension had been assessed at 80% or more

The payment may be made to:

* The veteran’s widow or widower
* Their next of kin
* The person responsible for paying the funeral costs

Claims must be made within three months of the funeral.

How to apply for funeral expenses

Download and complete the claim form, then send it to:

Veterans UK
Norcross
Thornton-Cleveleys
Lancashire
FY5 3WP