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Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Bean Counters

Award-Winning AAT Licensed Accountant, AAT subject expert in bookkeeping and computerised accounts & Xero Specialist.
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Xero in on the numbers in your business!

📞 Call us today on: 01933 71 72 73
and let's discuss how we can support your business.

29/10/2026

💷 Payroll Tip...

Payroll Benefits in Kind: Should You Make the Switch Early?

📅 The registration window for voluntary payrolling of benefits for 2027/28 opens in November 2026, so now is a good time to review your employee benefits and payroll processes.

The move to mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind (BIKs) is getting closer, with certain benefits becoming mandatory from 6 April 2027 and most others following from 6 April 2028.

So the question is: Should you voluntarily payroll benefits now, or wait until it becomes mandatory?

✅ Reasons to switch early

Reduce or eliminate the need for annual P11Ds.
Only one transition for employees and payroll teams.
Tax on benefits is collected throughout the year, avoiding unexpected tax code adjustments.
Simpler administration if you only provide a small number of benefits.

⚠️ Things to consider

Employer Class 1A National Insurance will be paid throughout the year rather than after the tax year ends.
This creates a cash flow impact, as you'll be paying HMRC sooner.
Businesses with multiple benefit types may prefer to introduce changes in stages.

Bean Counters Tip: If you provide just a handful of employee benefits, moving everything to payroll from April 2027 could save time and paperwork. However, if cash flow is a concern, it may be worth waiting until the mandatory deadlines.

Would an earlier move simplify your administration, or would preserving cash flow be more valuable to your business?

29/10/2026

⏰ Paper Tax Return Deadline Approaching

Still filing your Self Assessment tax return on paper? Don't get caught out!

HMRC must receive your 2025/26 paper tax return by 31 October 2026. Simply posting it before the deadline isn't enough, and a late return could result in an automatic £100 penalty, even if there's no tax to pay.

The good news? If your paper return isn't going to reach HMRC in time, you can usually switch to online filing and submit by 31 January 2027 instead.

✅ Paper return deadline: 31 October 2026
✅ Online return deadline: 31 January 2027
✅ Any tax due must still be paid by 31 January 2027

If you haven't submitted your return yet and are worried about missing the deadline, now is the time to act.

📞 Need help with your Self Assessment? Get in touch with Bean Counters and let us take the stress away.

28/10/2026

🚨 Autumn Budget 2026: What Does It Mean for You? 🚨

The Chancellor's latest Budget brings some significant tax changes that could affect business owners, landlords, investors and individuals over the next few years.

📈 Higher tax rates on savings and property income from April 2027

💷 Trading Allowance increasing from £1,000 to £3,000

🏢 Changes to Business Asset Disposal Relief for business owners planning an exit

🧾 New VAT rules for online marketplaces

📲 Mandatory e-invoicing and further tax digitisation on the horizon

🔎 Increased HMRC compliance activity and new debt recovery powers

Read in more detail here in our latest blog 👇
https://smpl.is/anucd

While many of the changes don't take effect immediately, now is the time to understand how they could impact your business and personal finances, and start planning ahead.

Read our latest blog for a detailed breakdown of the key announcements and what action you may need to take.

What's the biggest Budget change that will affect you?

28/10/2026

🌟 Another fantastic evening at BusComm! 🌟

As always, we were treated to a lovely buffet from Liz at I Cook You Serve. Thank you, Liz, for keeping us well fed and energised! 🍽️

It was great to welcome Jaime O'Beirne as a first-time visitor, and equally lovely to see Amy McGarthland back with us again. 😊

As is often the case at networking events, there were a few interesting nuggets of information shared along the way:

✅ Dead people don't sunburn
✅ Writing benefits the writer as much as the reader
✅ You can't get onto the M11 at Junction 5

The main event was an extremely informative presentation from Gemma Russo, who shared some of the fantastic free digital marketing tools available to businesses.

Topics included:
📊 Google Analytics
👀 Microsoft Clarity
📧 Mailer Lite
🎨 Canva

There are so many powerful tools available to help businesses better understand their customers, improve their marketing efforts, and grow their online presence, without breaking the budget.

A big thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to another engaging and educational meeting. Looking forward to the next one!

28/10/2026

🦉 Wednesday Wisdom...

It's easy to see challenges as obstacles, but every problem in business brings an opportunity to learn, improve, and become stronger.

The businesses that grow the most aren't the ones that avoid problems altogether. They're the ones that face challenges head-on, adapt, and turn setbacks into stepping stones for success.

Every difficult client teaches better communication. Every cash flow challenge encourages smarter planning. Every mistake provides valuable lessons that help shape a stronger business.

So the next time a problem lands on your desk, don't ask, "Why is this happening to me?"

Ask, "What can this teach me?" 🚀

Growth rarely happens in your comfort zone. It happens when you're solving problems, overcoming challenges, and moving forward anyway.

💡 Learn from it.
💪 Grow through it.
📈 Become stronger because of it.

27/10/2026

🚨 News Update for Small Companies

In a significant U-turn, the government has announced that small companies and micro-entities will no longer be required to file Profit & Loss accounts with Companies House from April 2028.

This change forms part of a wider initiative aimed at reducing business regulation and cutting administrative burdens, with the government claiming over £600 million in annual savings for businesses.

The decision ends years of uncertainty around P&L filing requirements. Originally proposed in 2020, paused, reinstated, delayed, and now effectively shelved again, the policy has had more twists and turns than a soap opera!

✅ What stays the same?
• All companies will still be required to file accounts electronically using commercial software from April 2028.
• Other Companies House reform measures remain on track.

💬 Industry experts are divided. Some welcome the reduction in red tape, while others question whether businesses will actually save any meaningful time or money, given that Profit & Loss accounts still need to be prepared for tax and accounting purposes.

For now, it's one less filing requirement for small businesses to worry about, but with the government stating the position is still "under review", this may not be the final chapter in the story.

👉 If you're a limited company owner and wondering how these upcoming changes could affect your business, speak to your accountant to ensure you're prepared for the reporting requirements that will remain in place.

27/10/2026

💡 Xero Tip!

Made a Reconciliation Mistake? Don't Panic!

We've all been there... clicking through the bank feed, happily reconciling transactions, only to realise later that something has been matched incorrectly. 😬

The good news is that Xero makes it easy to fix.

🏦 Go to the bank account on your Dashboard
🏦 Click the three dots to the right of the account name
🏦 Select Account Transactions
🏦 Open the transaction you want to amend
🏦 Click Options and choose Un-reconcile

The Un-reconcile feature removes the connection between the bank statement line and the account transaction, while keeping both records intact. This allows you to go back and reconcile the transaction correctly.

Once you've completed the process, simply return to your bank reconciliation screen and re-match the transaction as intended.

✨ A quick fix that can save a lot of time and help keep your accounts accurate.

Have you ever discovered a reconciliation error months after it happened? The un-reconcile feature can be a real lifesaver!

27/10/2026

Menopause and mental health support can be tax free.

Employers offering counselling and wellbeing services to staff have received clarification about which services can be provided tax free. Updated guidance specifically includes menopause and mental health support, but not all employee assistance programmes will qualify.

What should employers check?

HMRC's updated guidance confirms that welfare counselling covering:

✔️ menopause
✔️ mental health
✔️ stress
✔️ bereavement
✔️ and other personal difficulties

can be provided without creating an income tax or NI liability. However, menopause support must be distinguished from medical treatment, which is not generally covered by this exemption.

Certain therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), can qualify where provided as part of an employer's welfare counselling services.

The exemption also excludes general financial, legal and tax advice, although counselling about debt problems is permitted. This can cause difficulties where employee assistance programmes combine several types of support.

Strictly, including non-qualifying services can put the exemption for the entire package at risk, although HMRC accepts a common-sense approach where these are insignificant.

💡TIP: Employers should review their wellbeing packages and, where possible, separate qualifying counselling from other services to preserve the tax-free treatment.

26/10/2026

🚀 Monday Motivation...

I am sure Marilyn Monroe wasn't thinking about small businesses when she said this, however it can be applied to a business mindset.

Success in business isn't about having endless energy. It's about staying committed to the vision, especially on the days when motivation is low and challenges seem endless.

Every successful business owner has faced moments of exhaustion, setbacks, and self-doubt. The difference is that they kept moving forward. Progress doesn't require perfection. It requires persistence.

I'm sure I am not the only one who has had late nights and had to make difficult decisions. The extra effort, and the consistent action all add up over time. Businesses that achieve lasting success aren't always the ones that start strongest. They're often the ones that refuse to quit before the finish line.

✨ Rest when you need to.
✨ Recharge when you're tired.
✨ But don't give up on your goals.

Keep going. Your future success is built on the actions you take today.

24/10/2026

Weekend plans?

If your Saturday currently involves bookkeeping, spreadsheets, and a pile of receipts, it might be time for a change!

Imagine swapping bank reconciliations for coffee with friends, family time, hobbies, or simply putting your feet up.

Leave the bookkeeping to us and reclaim your weekends.

📞 Give us a shout to see how we can help.

Address

Park Farm
Wellingborough

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5:30pm

Website

http://www.bean-counters.co.uk/

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