Accountwise

AccountWise - a friendly, flexible and approachable professional Accountancy Practice based in Berkshire specialising in and

We work closely with a broad range of business and personal clients. Apart from the more general accountancy services we can also assist you with business development and specialist tax services. Our philosophy is always to do our utmost to...

- Provide friendly, courteous and efficient service;
- Always exceed your expectations;
- Listen to what YOU are saying;
- Communicate with you quickly and

fully;
- Never surprise you with bills you're not expecting;
- Be honest, truthful and upfront with you at all times;
- Aim for you to pay the least amount of tax payable within the law;
- Provide pro-active business advice wherever possible.

31/03/2026

From 6 April 2026, significant changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) will come into force - and they could have major inheritance tax implications for farming families and business owners.

Following extensive lobbying from the agricultural sector, the Government has increased the 100% relief allowance from £1m to £2.5m. While this provides welcome additional headroom, estates exceeding this threshold may now face new inheritance tax exposure.

Our latest blog explains:

- What qualifies for APR and BPR
- Which assets no longer benefit from full relief
- How the new £2.5m allowance works alongside the nil rate band and residence nil rate band
- Why careful succession and estate planning is now more important than ever

Once the allowance is fully used, qualifying assets will only receive 50% relief, meaning early planning is essential to protect family farms and businesses for the next generation.

👉 https://www.accountwise.co.uk/apr-and-bpr-and-the-2-5m-allowance/

If you would like to discuss how these changes may affect you or your clients, please get in touch.

24/03/2026

Could taking a dividend before 6 April 2026 save you tax?

With the tax year end approaching, it’s a good time for directors of personal and family companies to review how and when they take dividends.

If your company has sufficient retained profits, bringing a dividend forward before 6 April could help you:

✔️ Make the most of any unused personal or dividend allowances
✔️ Benefit from current, lower dividend tax rates
✔️ Potentially save £20 per £1,000 compared to taking the same dividend after April 2026

From April 2026, dividend tax rates are set to increase for basic and higher rate taxpayers, so timing could make a real difference.

That said, it’s not always as simple as taking dividends early - your wider income and tax band will impact whether it’s worthwhile.

If you’re unsure, it’s worth taking a closer look now to make the most of the current rules. As always, we would be happy to chat things through with you. Just drop us a message.

19/03/2026

Are you on track for a full State Pension?

Your State Pension depends on how many qualifying years of National Insurance you have built up over your working life.

✔️ 35 years = full new State Pension
✔️ 10–34 years = a reduced amount
❌ Less than 10 years = no State Pension entitlement

The good news? Even if you haven’t paid National Insurance in the traditional way, you might still be building up qualifying years through credits (for example, if you’re claiming child benefit or certain state benefits).

Whether you’re employed or self-employed, the rules can vary, and there may be options to top up your record if you have gaps.

A quick check of your State Pension forecast can help you understand where you stand and whether action now could boost your future income.

👉 Read our full blog to find out how it all works and what you can do if you’re falling short - the link is in the comments

17/03/2026

Employers: Are You Ready for a New Tax Year?

The end of the 2025/26 tax year is almost here! If you run a payroll, there are a few important tasks to tick off before the new tax year begins on 6 April 2026.

Here’s a handy checklist from HMRC to keep you on track:

- Send your final payroll report of the year on or before your employee’s payday.
- Update employee payroll records and payroll software from 6 April.
- Give your employees their P60 by 31 May.
- Report employee expenses and benefits by 6 July.

Feeling a little overwhelmed? Don’t worry - that’s where we come in! If you’d like a hand with any of these tasks, get in touch. We’d be happy to help you stay organised and ready for the new tax year.

12/03/2026

Big Boost for EV Charge Point Grants!

Great news for businesses, landlords, renters - and even schools! The government has increased EV charge point grants by over 40%, meaning you could save up to £500 on installing an electric vehicle (EV) charger. Previously, the discount was £350 - so this is a significant helping hand!

Here’s what you need to know:

✅ Grants could cover almost half the installation cost, making it easier for EV users to charge at home or work at cheaper electricity rates.

✅ Schools can now claim up to £2,000 per socket.

✅ The grant system is being simplified - 8 grant types reduced to 5 - making it easier to navigate.

✅ The electric car grant is still available, offering up to £3,750 off an EV.

✅ Local authorities also offer support for residents without driveways, with discreet pavement channels – in addition to the £500 installation grant.

✅ EVs continue to get preferential tax treatment, which could save you more if you’re thinking about buying a new vehicle.

If you’ve been considering switching to electric or installing a charger, now is the perfect time to explore your options!

11/03/2026

Five Year-End Tax Planning Tips You Don’t Want to Miss!

With the 2025/26 tax year coming to a close, now’s the perfect time to review your finances and see where you could reduce your tax bill. Our latest blog post shares five practical tips to make the most of your allowances and investments before 6 April 2026.

Here’s a quick snapshot:

1️⃣ Use your personal allowance – Don’t let it go to waste, and consider transferring some via Marriage Allowance if applicable.

2️⃣ Protect your allowance – Keep adjusted net income below £100,000 or make pension/Gift Aid contributions to claw it back.

3️⃣ Invest in an ISA – Tax-free growth is always a win, but remember the full £20,000 allowance must be used before the deadline.

4️⃣ Beat the dividend tax rise – Dividend rates increase from 6 April 2026, so plan any dividends now.

5️⃣ Maximise pension contributions - Use your 2025/26 annual allowance before it’s too late and consider carrying forward unused allowances from previous years.

Planning ahead now can save you money later!

Read the full blog for all the details and examples - we have popped the link into the comments.

09/03/2026

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax - time is ticking

We’re continuing to work with a number of our clients as they prepare for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, which will start from April 2026.

The changes will apply to self-employed individuals and landlords with business and/or property income over £50,000 (that’s total income before expenses). From April 2026, this will mean keeping digital records and sending quarterly updates to HMRC, with the first update due by 7 August 2026.

HMRC recently confirmed that around 860,000 people will be affected by the changes. They’re encouraging people to start preparing now, highlighting the benefit of spreading tax administration more evenly across the year rather than leaving everything to the annual deadline.

It’s also important to remember that the usual self-assessment tax return will still be required for the 2025/26 tax year, due by 31 January 2027. So during the 2026/27 tax year, those affected will be submitting quarterly updates while also finalising their previous year’s return.

If you think these changes may apply to you, or you’d like to start planning your move to digital record-keeping, please do get in touch - we’d be happy to help.

04/03/2026

✅ If the expense would have been tax-deductible for the employee (for example, business travel to a client meeting), reimbursement is usually tax-free.

When employees claim back work-related costs, it’s not always automatically tax-free.

✅ If the expense would have been tax deductible for the employee (for example, business travel to a client meeting), reimbursement is usually tax-free.

❌ But if it wouldn’t qualify for a deduction (like normal home-to-work travel), reimbursing it can create a tax and NIC liability.

Good news: From 6 April 2026, new rules will mean reimbursed costs for eye tests, flu vaccines and homeworking equipment will also be tax-free - aligning them with benefits provided directly by employers.

A quick review of your expenses policy now could save headaches later.

If you’d like support, the Accountwise team is happy to help. Just drop us a DM.

26/02/2026

Sole Traders: Don’t Let Your Losses Go Unclaimed!

In challenging trading conditions, making a loss as a sole trader isn’t just tough - it can also be an opportunity. Did you know that a trading loss could qualify for tax relief? But there’s a catch: you must claim it.

Here’s a quick guide to your options:

1️⃣ Set the loss against other income –-If you have income from employment, property, or investments, you can offset your loss against the same or previous tax year. Be mindful: partial claims aren’t possible, so planning is key.

2️⃣ Extension to capital gains - If some of the loss remains unused, it may be applied to capital gains in the same year. This can be worthwhile even if it impacts your capital gains tax allowance.

3️⃣ Carry forward against future profits - Sometimes it’s smarter to wait. Carry forward your loss to offset profits from the same trade in future years, especially if claiming it now would waste personal allowances.

Special cases:

1. Opening years: losses in the first 4 years of a trade can be offset against the previous 3 tax years.

2. Closing years: terminal losses can be offset against profits from the same trade in the same year and previous 3 years.

⚠️ Remember: there are limits. Loss relief may be capped at the higher of £50,000 or 25% of your adjusted net income.

Read our full guide now - https://www.accountwise.co.uk/relief-for-trading-losses

24/02/2026

With cyber threats on the rise, a new campaign is encouraging SMEs to take some simple, practical steps to protect their businesses.

According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, 43% of businesses and 30% of charities experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last year. Across the UK, cyber threats are estimated to cost £14.71 billion annually - and for some businesses, just one serious incident could put trading at risk.

The campaign highlights Cyber Essentials, developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It focuses on five key protections that don’t require specialist IT expertise:

• Firewalls
• Secure configuration
• Software updates
• User access control
• Malware protection

These simple measures address the most common weaknesses exploited by cyber criminals. Basic oversights, like outdated software or unclear access controls, are still behind many attacks.

There are also free resources available, including a Cyber Essentials Readiness Tool and a free 30-minute consultation with an NCSC-assured advisor.

It’s easy to think “we’re too small to be targeted” - but most attacks are automated and opportunistic. Taking a few proactive steps now can reduce disruption, protect your cash flow and safeguard customer trust.

You can find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/businesses-urged-to-lock-the-door-on-cyber-criminals-as-new-government-campaign-launches

17/02/2026

Cash flow - is it the single most important issue in your business?

Many of our clients certainly think so. Managing it effectively has never been more critical.

At Accountwise, we specialise in helping businesses take control of their cash flow. Using the latest, most powerful software, we prepare and regularly update detailed cash flow forecasts - giving you greater visibility and helping you plan with confidence.

If funding is part of your strategy, we can also support you in negotiating finance, with access to a range of options tailored to your needs.

Strong cash flow supports stronger decisions, greater stability, and sustainable growth.

If you’d like expert support to strengthen your financial position, please get in touch - we’re here to help.

Address

Innovation House, Molly Millars Close
Wokingham
RG412RX

Website

http://www.accountwise.co.uk/

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