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Business tax

Practical guidance, commentary and support on the taxation of businesses, including: capital allowances, corporation tax, the taxation of partnerships, the self-employed and charities.

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Webinar

EU CBAM trader responsibilities

ChamberCustoms is hosting a free webinar on the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and what it means for exporters, outlining responsibilities for businesses whose goods fall within scope.
Watch now

Practical points: business tax 2024

Every month, the Tax Faculty publishes short, practical pieces of guidance to help agents and practitioners in their day-to-day work.
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Off-payroll working and IR35

Off-payroll working, commonly referred to as "IR35", is the name given to the anti-avoidance legislation that ensures individuals providing services through an intermediary company are taxed correctly. Here you will find practical guidance, webinars and other resources related to IR35 and the taxation of intermediaries.
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Corporation tax

HMRC asks companies and agents to check tax returns
  • Article
  • 03 Dec 2025
Letters are being sent where HMRC believes that the corporation tax liability declared by the company in its most recent company tax return is much lower than expected compared to similar companies.
Budget: Key changes impacting business taxation
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2025
ICAEW’s Tax Faculty provides a summary of some of the changes affecting businesses announced at the Budget, including capital allowances and business rates as well as adjustments to penalty rates for late corporation tax filings and increasing the limits for venture capital reliefs.
Exclusive The complicated world of loans to participators
  • Article
  • 20 Nov 2025
Stephen Relf explains the lessons to be learnt from recent decisions of the First-tier Tribunal, including where a loan to participator is transferred intra-group, a debt is left uncollected post liquidation and cash takings go missing.
New process for indirect exports from 15 December 2025
  • Article
  • 14 Nov 2025
From next month, businesses may need to change how they move goods through indirect exports from Northern Ireland. Guidance shared by HMRC explains why this is the case and sets out the options for traders.
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Employment taxes

Practical guidance, commentary and support on employment taxation, including: benefits and expenses, company car tax, national insurance, PAYE and real-time information, and the taxation of intermediaries.

Latest articles

Budget 25: Do the tax changes meet the tenets?
  • Podcast
  • 01 Dec 2025
In this episode, we rate the Budget against ICAEW’s ten tenets for a better tax system, focusing on the government’s decision to freeze the personal allowance and tax thresholds for an additional three years, the new tax on electric vehicles and changes to the NIC treatment of salary sacrificed pension contributions.
Budget: Key changes to income tax administration, payments and penalties
  • Article
  • 27 Nov 2025
Easements for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax, penalty reform announcements and changes to self assessment payments.
Budget: NIC saving on salary sacrifice pension contributions capped
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2025
At the Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced that employers and employees will be required to pay national insurance contributions (NIC) from April 2029 if the amount of salary sacrificed for pension contributions exceeds £2,000.
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National Insurance

Budget: NIC saving on salary sacrifice pension contributions capped
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2025
At the Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced that employers and employees will be required to pay national insurance contributions (NIC) from April 2029 if the amount of salary sacrificed for pension contributions exceeds £2,000.
Public finances continue to disappoint ahead of the Budget
  • Article
  • 24 Nov 2025
The cumulative budget overrun has widened from £7bn to £10bn in seven months, reveals latest data from the Office for National Statistics.
Tax return class 2 NIC issue is resolved, says HMRC
  • Article
  • 20 Nov 2025
HMRC has confirmed that SA302 tax calculations for 2024/25 issued since 29 September 2025 will show the correct class 2 national insurance contributions (NIC). This follows a fix implemented by HMRC on 27 and 28 September 2025.
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VAT

Exclusive Reclaiming VAT charged by a supplied not registered under the Construction Industry Scheme
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 04 Dec 2025
FAQ about a client who is both VAT and CIS registered and meets all the other criteria to treat purchases under the CIS DRC, but using materials from a supplier not registered under the Construction Industry Scheme. The supplier insists on charging 20% VAT as normal, which may affect the client's ability to reclaim this VAT as input tax.
Import VAT recovery by a non-owner
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 01 Dec 2025
TSI Instruments Limited imported scientific equipment into the UK for repair and servicing. TSI claimed the import VAT it paid on importation as input tax. HMRC considered that, in accordance with its internal manual VIT13300, TSI was not entitled to input tax recovery...
Budget: Changes made to VAT rules and processes
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2025
A new VAT relief for business donations of goods to charity and a significant change affecting suppliers of private hire vehicle (PHV) and taxi services were among the announcements made at the Autumn Budget 2025.
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Business rates

Exclusive The Budget and spending – a new direction?
  • Article
  • 03 Dec 2025
Ros Rowe assesses the impact of the Budget proposals on construction and real estate.
Budget: Key changes impacting business taxation
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2025
ICAEW’s Tax Faculty provides a summary of some of the changes affecting businesses announced at the Budget, including capital allowances and business rates as well as adjustments to penalty rates for late corporation tax filings and increasing the limits for venture capital reliefs.
Budget: why the government should reform business rates
  • Article
  • 12 Nov 2025
The Chancellor should use this month’s Budget to push ahead with planned reforms of the “poorly designed” business rates system, says ICAEW.
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Capital allowances

Budget: Key changes impacting business taxation
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2025
ICAEW’s Tax Faculty provides a summary of some of the changes affecting businesses announced at the Budget, including capital allowances and business rates as well as adjustments to penalty rates for late corporation tax filings and increasing the limits for venture capital reliefs.
Exclusive Fixtures: the importance of working together
  • Article
  • 30 Sep 2025
Bryan Crawford explains why cooperation and planning are fundamental when dealing with fixture sales if both the buyer and the seller are to secure the desired tax result.
Exclusive Classification of double cab pick-up vehicles
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 01 Aug 2025
FAQ on changes to the rules around classification of double cab pick-up vehicles, and whether they are classified as a car or van for capital allowances and benefit in kind purposes.
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Environmental taxes

Budget: New levies include charge on electric vehicles
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2025
The Chancellor announced a number of changes to levies and duties at the Autumn Budget 2025, including the introduction of a new levy on drivers of electric cars from April 2028.
EU CBAM trader responsibilities
  • Webinar
  • 09 Jul 2025
ChamberCustoms is hosting a free webinar on the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and what it means for exporters, outlining responsibilities for businesses whose goods fall within scope.
Tolley's orange tax handbook, 2025-26
  • Library book
  • 31 May 2025
Annual two-volume work containing the latest indirect tax legislation. It includes up-to-date legislation and technical material relating to value added tax, stamp taxes, insurance premium tax, landfill tax, aggregates levy and climate change levy.
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Partnership taxation

NICs for LLPs: a policy that risks shrinking the tax base, not growing it
  • Article
  • 30 Oct 2025
This week I wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to express ICAEW’s concern about reports that the government may apply a charge equivalent to employer national insurance contributions (NICs) to members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs).
Small business tax saving tactics: tax planning for sole traders and partnerships, 13th ed.
  • Library book
  • 01 Oct 2025
A practical guide to tax saving techniques that can help self-employed business owners (sole traders and partnerships) to pay less tax on their profits. Includes numerous easy-to-follow examples.
Exclusive Changes in company size thresholds and directors’ report requirements
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 28 Mar 2025
New regulations that increase company size thresholds and remove certain requirements from the directors’ report are effective from 6 April 2025. The Corporate Reporting Faculty provides an overview of the changes.
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Self-employed and tax

Claiming relief for a trade loss
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2025
ICAEW’s Tax Faculty explains the options for claiming relief for a loss made by an individual in their trade and how to give effect to the claim in a tax return.
Tax return class 2 NIC issue is resolved, says HMRC
  • Article
  • 20 Nov 2025
HMRC has confirmed that SA302 tax calculations for 2024/25 issued since 29 September 2025 will show the correct class 2 national insurance contributions (NIC). This follows a fix implemented by HMRC on 27 and 28 September 2025.
More tax return tips for sole traders
  • Article
  • 17 Nov 2025
In the run up to the 31 January 2026 deadline for filing the 2024/25 tax return, ICAEW’s Tax Faculty highlights key points for applying the tax year basis, non-business expenditure and Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax.
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Devolved taxes

Devolved taxes
  • Hub page
  • 27 Apr 2018
Support and guidance on taxation under the devolved governments of the UK; Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Bloomsbury Accounting and Tax Service - eBooks on devolved taxes
  • Listing
  • 21 Apr 2021
Browse Bloomsbury Accounting and Tax Service eBooks on devolved taxes.

Customs duties

Budget: New levies include charge on electric vehicles
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2025
The Chancellor announced a number of changes to levies and duties at the Autumn Budget 2025, including the introduction of a new levy on drivers of electric cars from April 2028.
Four customs headaches for temporary exports
  • Article
  • 20 Nov 2025
The frustrations of customs compliance have forced one UK-based business to find an EU-based distributor to do the heavy lifting for its European customers, but shipping demo products to trade shows continues to present customs challenges.
Tax news in brief 18 November 2025
  • Article
  • 18 Nov 2025
Highlights from the broader tax news for the week ending 18 November 2025, including: new guidance from HMRC on the recovery of winter fuel payments; and a new tool for generating reports based on data held in the customs declaration service.
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Charities

ICAEW urges government to reconsider tax changes for charities
  • Article
  • 01 Sep 2025
ICAEW believes that some of the changes proposed by the government could cause uncertainty and may even discourage potential donors from leaving gifts to charities in their will.
Exclusive Baa Bar Group plc - McArthur and HMRC [2020] (part two)
  • Article
  • 22 Nov 2023
This is a gift aid case: Baa Bar Group plc had acquired an eponymous company which owned student bars in Liverpool and Manchester. The gifting of shares in Baa Bar Group plc three months after listing onto the CISX was the tax event that dragged this case to the doors of the Tax Tribunal, albeit as the culmination of a legal process taking 17 years.
Exclusive Baa Bar Group plc - McArthur and HMRC [2020] (part one)
  • Article
  • 22 Nov 2023
This is another case relating to gift aid. Readers may recall the cases of N Green and HMRC, and also J Netley and HMRC, both relating to gifts of shares to charities. These gifts were made shortly after the entry of cash shell companies onto the Channel Islands Stock Exchange or AIM. The cash shell companies had very recently acquired trading subsidiary undertakings. This case has similar features.
Maximise opportunities, minimise risks and support the tax charities
  • Article
  • 13 Nov 2023
Learn from three expert speakers on how to maximise opportunity for your clients and practice and minimise the risk of claims.
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Construction industry scheme

Exclusive Status of a company for Construction Industry Scheme purposes
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 04 Dec 2025
FAQ about the status of a client's company in relation to a house it has purchased to renovate and let, and whether it counts as a contractor for CIS purposes.
Exclusive Reclaiming VAT charged by a supplied not registered under the Construction Industry Scheme
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 04 Dec 2025
FAQ about a client who is both VAT and CIS registered and meets all the other criteria to treat purchases under the CIS DRC, but using materials from a supplier not registered under the Construction Industry Scheme. The supplier insists on charging 20% VAT as normal, which may affect the client's ability to reclaim this VAT as input tax.
New HMRC tool for R&D tax relief claims
  • Article
  • 02 Oct 2025
ICAEW’s Tax Faculty explores recent developments regarding research and development (R&D) tax relief, including the publication of a new online tool by HMRC and the latest statistics on claims for relief.
Exclusive Construction Industry Scheme update 2025
  • Webinar
  • 30 Sep 2025
The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) was introduced with the aim of tackling tax evasion in the construction industry and certain other businesses. In this webinar we will provide an overview of the CIS and how it may affect you or your clients.
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International taxes

Expert commentary and practical guidance from ICAEW related to international taxation regimes. You may also be interested in searching our tax guides by country.
BEPS
  • Hub page
  • 30 Jan 2018
Expert commentary and practical guidance from ICAEW related to base erosion and profit shifting, commonly known as BEPS, within international taxation.
Mandatory disclosure rules and DAC 6
  • Hub page
  • 03 Jul 2020
Practical guidance and support on tax disclosure around the world, including the UK's Mandatory Disclosure Rules and DAC 6.
Double tax agreements
  • Hub page
  • 30 Jan 2018
Expert commentary and practical guidance from ICAEW on issues related to double taxation and the use of tax treaties in international taxation
FATCA and CRS
  • Hub page
  • 10 May 2018
Guidance and information on the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the Common Standard on Reporting and Due Diligence for Financial Account Information (CRS).
Transfer pricing
  • Hub page
  • 30 Jan 2018
Expert commentary and practical guidance from ICAEW related to transfer pricing in international taxation.
Residence and domicile
  • Hub page
  • 30 Jan 2018
Expert commentary and practical guidance from ICAEW related to residence and domicile in the UK personal tax regime, including offshore investments.
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Sector specific and situation specific taxes

Certain industries have their own tax arrangements, while major events, such as the coronavirus pandemic, can also give rise to their own solutions.

Charities and taxation

Expert commentary and practical guidance from ICAEW related to the taxation of charitable organisations within the UK.

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Construction Industry Scheme

Expert commentary and practical guidance from ICAEW on the construction industry scheme (CIS) and how it applies for businesses within the UK tax regime.

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