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Business News Archive

May 2026

Iran war could cost Treasury up to £8 billion a year
Record number of taxpayers file self assessment in April
Economy grew by 0.6% in first quarter of the year
'Disproportionate tax burden' closing two pubs a day
Government must fix 'broken business rates'
ICAEW encourages taxpayers to sign up to Making Tax Digital
HMRC reminds parents to extend Child Benefit claims
Long-term borrowing costs reach highest level since 1998
Chancellor's tax on EVs 'could create hole in Treasury's finances'
Small businesses 'frozen out of EU markets'
Bank of England faces dilemma after holding interest rates

April 2026

UK economic security at risk, says business group
Business rates system 'major brake on investment and growth'
Higher fuel, energy and food prices could linger following Iran war
UK borrowing tumbles to lowest level in four years
Sentiment among UK manufacturers has 'deteriorated sharply'
Inflation rate rises to 3.3%
Pensioners urged to be alert to Winter Fuel Payment scams
Pension wealth statistics 'overstated inequality between old and young'
Skills planning 'vital' to better engage Gen Z in workplace
Exporters toiling before outbreak of Iran war
Data shows UK economy grew faster than expected
Higher energy prices could leave British households worse off this year
New employment law creating recruitment challenge
Countdown to taxation of benefits-in-kind via the payroll underway
UK businesses should apply now for Vaping Products Duty
New procurement rules offer SMEs hope
Gains in business confidence 'at risk'
BCC warns of growing threat to entry-level jobs in the age of AI
Middle East conflict drives economic confidence to new record low
Tourist tax would hit consumers with £1.6 billion tax rise

March 2026

Government unveils crackdown on late payments
UK government to review mileage rates
Save on Easter childcare with Tax-Free Childcare
New tax year brings contentious changes
Inflation rate unchanged in February, but figures 'already old news'
Hundreds of employers handed penalties for illegally underpaying workers
HMRC website seeks to close tax knowledge gaps
Bank of England holds interest rates at 3.75%
Regulation reform offers £9 billion opportunity for small firms
Government unveils package of youth employment initiatives
Expansion of Jobs Guarantee scheme needed now to tackle NEETs crisis
HMRC takes £137 million in late payment interest
UK economy saw zero growth in January
Self-employed gender pay gap is £51 per day
Tax system must truly back UK entrepreneurs
HMRC investigations double additional tax from large businesses
Grant boost for installing EV chargers for households and businesses
Growth in living standards threatened by war in Middle East
Self-employed finances in 'fragile' state, warns IPSE
Chancellor says plan is right despite uncertain backdrop to Spring Forecast Statement
2026 Spring Statement - the business reaction
2026 Spring Statement - the economic picture
2026 Spring Statement - what to expect
2026 Spring Statement - the political reaction
Chancellor should make a NEET exception to her 'policy-free' Spring Forecast

February 2026

Government publishes UK Sustainability Reporting Standards
Government urged to cut business energy costs
Warning over April cost crunch for small businesses
Uptick in tax receipts helps boost government finances
Employment Rights Act risks being a handbrake on hiring
Fiscal policy 'needs a rethink', says business group
Uncertainty hanging over UK trade prospects
Inflation rate falls to 3% in year to January
Government urged to scrap 'unfair holiday tax'
Vaping businesses urged to prepare for Vaping Products Duty registration
HMRC urges young people to claim Child Trust Funds
Economy grew by 0.1% in final quarter of 2025
Get tax affairs back on track if you missed the self assessment deadline
Apprenticeship system reform must go further
Sole traders and landlords given MTD warning
Further rate cuts crucial to support growth, says BCC
EU reset must reverse trade slump, says BCC
One million miss self assessment deadline
Business confidence jumps in January
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax biggest tax change since self assessment

January 2026

HMRC confirms helpline will be open on self assessment deadline day
UK lenders agree £11 billion SME package
Pubs get 15% business rates relief
UK inflation will fall in 2026
Clock ticking on self assessment deadline
Figures reveal significant fall in CGT receipts
Tax timebomb poses existential threat to high streets, government warned
Inflation rises to 3.4%
Government must ramp up its growth strategy, says think tank
HMRC app sees 65% rise in self assessment payments
Cost hikes denting small business confidence
UK economy grew by 0.3% in November
Employment Rights Act 'will deliver £10 billion in benefits'
Over 4,800 self assessment scams reported
Anxiety over business rates hits record high
Trading with EU getting harder, firms say
HMRC app usage surged in 2025
More clouds gathering over business confidence
Millions yet to file self assessment returns
Spring Statement set for 3 March 2026
Public told to be wary of 'spoofing' scams

December 2025

Have you made your financial New Year's resolutions?
Don't forget to file your self assessment tax return
Seasonal workers urged to check their pay
IHT reliefs threshold to rise to £2.5 million for farmers and businesses
Wages flatline and unemployment rises as jobs market softens
Public contract bids disappearing into a black hole, say small firms
Interest rates cut to 3.75%
UK Treasury to regulate cryptocurrency under new legislation
UK inflation falls to 3.2% in November
Weaknesses holding UK economy back, CBI warns
Budget unlikely to be growth game changer
HMRC offers time to help pay self assessment tax bills
£725 million package unveiled to support apprenticeships
Covid fraud cost UK taxpayers £10.9 billion
Most sole traders are not ready for MTD changes
Firms reducing headcount at 'fastest pace since pandemic'
E-invoicing will be fundamental change for VAT-registered businesses
Still time to start self assessment returns, says HMRC
Spending cuts and tax rises to serve as headwinds to economy
Director confidence 'near record low'
MTD penalties waived for first year of Income Tax

November 2025

Chancellor 'choosing to spend more and borrow more', says think tank
View our 2025 Autumn Budget Report
2025 Autumn Budget - what to expect
2025 Autumn Budget - the political reaction
2025 Autumn Budget - the business reaction
2025 Autumn Budget - the economic picture
UK announces billions more investment in AI
VAT reform could raise £80 billion a year, claims ICAEW
Bank deposit protection limit to be increased to £120,000
AI tools giving risky consumer advice, warns Which?
UK inflation rate falls for first time since March
Christmas crafters urged to check tax rules
Outdated rules could dim UK's creative spirit, warns FSB
Chancellor rules out cutting tax-free pension lump sum limit in Budget
Budget 'make or break' after sluggish growth figures, says BCC
UK jobs market weakens as unemployment rises
Employers expect AI to shrink workforce over coming year
Think tank urges Chancellor to prioritise prices in Autumn Budget
Interest rates held at 4%
Urgent action required to help small firms unlock trade benefits
Chancellor refuses to rule out raising taxes in Autumn Budget
CIOT calls for implementation of IHT transitional gifting rule
More small firms expect to shrink than grow

October 2025

UK could fall behind in net zero race, BCC warns
Expert advisory panel to provide industry insight on R&D tax relief
Small business owners 'fear consequences of Budget announcements'
Budget should tackle hiring issues, says BCC
Give State Pension its own PAYE scheme, says LITRG
Real Living Wage rates increase for half a million workers
Chancellor announces 'blitz on business bureaucracy'
UK inflation rate remains at 3.8%
Employers named and shamed for minimum wage breaches
Chancellor must avoid 'doing bare minimum' in Budget
UK will be second-fastest growing G7 economy, IMF predicts
UK economy grew 0.1% in August
Unemployment rate rises as job vacancies fall
Chancellor should use Budget to reform tax system, IFS says
HMRC brings in extra £4.6 billion using 'big data' system
Countdown to Vaping Products Duty begins
Study finds 'increased openness' to using external finance amongst firms
New tax avoidance law risks missing target, warns CIOT
HMRC to resume taking tax owed by debtors directly from bank accounts
Over 750,000 young people yet to claim savings
Budget must give UK business a competitive edge
Business confidence falls to new record low
Digitally excluded taxpayers urged to consider MTD exemption

September 2025

UK losing £2 billion annually as result of 'Tourist Tax'
More SMEs 'unlocking AI'
Business group says long-term sickness 'blighting' economy
Slowdown in living standards 'so large that families today would be £20,000 richer'
Chancellor urged to cut National Insurance but hike Income Tax in Autumn Budget
AI to boost trade by nearly 40% by 2040 if gaps are bridged
Failed housing transactions cost £1.5 billion a year
Bank of England leaves interest rate unchanged
British household energy debt has tripled in a decade
Inflation heaping pressure on firms, warns BCC
Covid repayment window opens
Chancellor to explore reforms to business rates on second premises
'More must be done' to reform Lifetime ISAs
Budget Board must focus on easing the cost of doing business, says IoD
Four million calls to HMRC unanswered every year, MPs told
Changes to 'sugar tax' could damage business confidence
Economic outlook remains subdued
Lowering VAT threshold would be manifesto breach, warns IPSE
Autumn Budget to be delivered on 26 November
Companies face prosecution risk as new fraud law comes into force
Business confidence rises but concerns over taxes remain
Nearly 5,000 scams reported to FCA in first half of 2025

August 2025

Unemployment yet to peak, warns think tank
HMRC splits advisory fuel rates for electric cars
Support more young people into work, says FSB
Over 850,000 self employed to be pulled into first phase of MTD
Scams warning as self assessment taxpayers targeted
Extend Child Benefit for teenagers by the end of August
Inflation rises by more than anticipated
Homebuyers warned as HMRC clamps down on Stamp Duty claims
Uncertainty over IHT changes affecting property market
Office return picks up pace but varies across sectors
UK economic growth slows to 0.3%
HMRC urges families to save money with Tax-Free Childcare
UK labour market continues to weaken
Hospitality summer jobs down this year
Bank of England cuts interest rates to 4%
SME exporters hit by new US customs charges
Companies House confirms identity verification rollout to help combat fraud
Economic confidence plummets to all-time low
Crackdown on late payments launched in plan to back small businesses
Time for taxpayers to get ready for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

July 2025

SMEs missing out on £2.7 billion in National Insurance savings
HMRC launches online PAYE service
CGT revenue falls by 18%
IFS calls for 'decisive action' to future-proof pension system
IHT to be charged on unused pension pots from 2027
Government urged to 'harness optimism to grow economy'
Government publishes Finance Bill supporting documents
Pensioners 'set to be worse off', warns DWP
International companies 'underpaid £8.8 billion in tax'
More small firms expect to shrink than grow
Recruitment static as firms assess NICs impact
Inflation rate jumps to 3.6%
UK trade stabilises after tariff hit
HMRC warns of Winter Fuel Payment scams
UK economy shrank in May
Harsh personal guarantees will chill growth ambitions, warns FSB
HMRC to fine crypto investors £300 for non-disclosure
IHT on pensions most unpopular of Labour's tax increases
HMRC criminal tax offence plan risks going too far, warns CIOT
Pension reforms risk higher prices, fewer jobs and slower growth, FSB warns
Business confidence rises in June
More than 25% of UK businesses hit by cyber-attack in past year
Individuals paying into Lifetime ISA 'could get less out than put in'

June 2025

High earners facing rise in tax investigations by HMRC
Windsor Framework starting to fracture the UK Internal Market, warns FSB
HMRC sends side hustle warning
Brits 'spending more disposable income than a year ago'
UK government launches Industrial Strategy
Tax gap estimated at 5.3%
Bank of England holds interest rates at 4.25%
Third of businesses planning job cuts due to NI rise
UK inflation slows to 3.4% in May
HMRC system attack is a timely reminder to keep personal data safe
Global economy set for weakest run since 2008, warns World Bank
Economists warn tax hikes likely in the autumn
UK economy shrunk in April
Spending review is opportunity to back small business
FCA in international crackdown on unlawful finfluencers
Energy costs 'an anchor on our ambition', warns CBI chief
Government introduces Pension Schemes Bill
Cost of minimum retirement lifestyle has fallen amid lower energy prices
Recovery in business confidence underway
IFS outlines 'four big decisions' for Spending Review
HMRC names and shames employers failing to pay NLW

May 2025

Chancellor outlines pension 'megafunds' plans
New report outlines path to cut firms' net zero costs
IMF updates growth forecast for UK economy
Household Support Fund 'needs reforming'
Higher borrowing figures 'increase prospect of tax rises'
Chancellor confirms ISA allowance won't be cut
Household bills drive inflation increase
Almost half of sole traders unprepared for MTD changes
One in ten people have no cash savings
Parents of teens reminded to extend Child Benefit claim online
UK economy grows 0.7% in first quarter
Entrepreneurs considering selling businesses due to tax changes
One in four employers plan to make redundancies in next quarter
Record numbers file assessment in first week of new tax year
Interest rates cut to 4.25%
HMRC criticised for delays in processing tax refunds
Business confidence rises to highest level since late 2024
Government warned over 'lost generation'
HMRC launches new online help for compliance checks
New cryptoasset rules aim to protect consumers

Latest news

18 May 2026

Iran war could cost Treasury up to £8 billion a year

Prolonged conflict in the Middle East could cost the Treasury up to £8 billion a year through higher debt interest payments and lost tax revenue, warns the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

Hot Topic

28 Apr 2026

Tourist tax threatens to wash out UK holidays

A look at visitor levies and their potential impact on the UK's tourism industry.

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