How much State Pension you get depends on your National Insurance (NI) record when you reach the State Pension age.

Gaps in your NI record could affect how much you receive. Unfortunately, too many sole traders are still missing out on the full State Pension due to a range of factors.

Why are National Insurance Contributions important?

A full State Pension requires 35 years of NI contributions or credits.

Missing even a few years can have a significant impact on the amount you receive, leaving you with less financial security in retirement.

Furthermore, if you do not meet the minimum of ten qualifying years, you will not receive a State Pension at all.

Why are sole traders missing out?

Employees usually have their NI contributions paid for them by their employer, but sole traders must pay the contributions themselves.

Unfortunately, many sole traders do not realise that they need to make these payments to qualify for the State Pension.

How do I make National Insurance contributions?

You can make NI contributions as part of your Self-Assessment tax return.

Furthermore, if there are periods when you are out of work, you can use NI credits to cover any shortfalls in your contribution record.

You can also claim NI credits if you are out of work due to childcare responsibilities or illness.

For example, those claiming Child Benefit are eligible to claim NI credits.

You can check your NI record and top up your NI contributions through the Government Gateway.

Prepare for your retirement with a full State Pension

Your NI record plays a key role in determining the value of your State Pension, so it is essential to keep on top of your NI contributions and fill any gaps in your record.

By staying proactive about your NI contributions, you will avoid any nasty surprises when you reach the State Pension age.

If you think you might be missing out on the full State Pension, we can help.

Contact us today for further guidance on making NI contributions and protecting your State Pension.

On 8 April 2025, Companies House introduced identity verification for those who make filings on behalf of a business.

It is currently a voluntary process, but will become mandatory for new businesses by the end of the year and mandatory for everyone within 12 months of their most recent filings.

Who needs to verify their identity, and how do they do it?

You will need to have your identity verified to ensure you can file with Companies House if you are any of the following:

• A director
• A Member
• A general partner
• A managing officer
• A person with significant control
• Or someone who files for the company, like a company secretary

As with most identity verification, the accepted forms of photo ID are:

• Biometric passports from any country
• UK full or provisional photo driving licences
• UK Biometric Residence Permits and Cards
• UK Frontier Worker Permits

You may also need your current address and the year that you moved in to verify your occupancy in the UK.

Verifying your identity is free when done directly with Companies House and will involve using your GOV.UK One Login and providing the relevant evidence.

Alternatively, you can have your identity verified by an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Your accountant will likely be registered as an ACSP.

ACSPs have committed to upholding anti-money laundering regulations and can make filings on behalf of businesses, as well as verifying identities.

Those in limited partnerships must use an ACSP for identity verification and filings as of 2026.

Once an identity is verified, it will remain so until any significant details change, such as changes to your name or address.

To stay compliant with the Companies House changes, speak to our team today!

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded the UK’s 2025 GDP growth forecast to 1.2 per cent, citing a strong first-quarter performance and signs of a recovering economy.

The official figures indicate that increases in customer spending and business investment have contributed to this economic growth.

These early signs of recovery present an opportunity to reassess your strategy and position your business for growth.

Economic recovery strategies for your business

There are several strategies you may wish to adopt to capitalise on this predicted recovery.

• Review your cash flow – In a recovery, opportunities often require immediate investment. Cash reserves can support recruitment, marketing, or stock increases without relying heavily on borrowing.
• Amend your pricing strategy – A recovering economy typically brings inflationary pressures. Revising your pricing strategies helps to ensure your prices reflect increased costs without damaging customer relationships.
• Invest in tech – If you delayed technology upgrades during the slowdown, you may wish to invest in digital tools to enhance your business’s efficiency.
• Assess supplier relationships – Recovery periods can also put pressure on supply chains, as demand often outpaces supply. Strengthen relationships with key suppliers and review your contracts to reduce the risk of delays and secure competitive terms.
• Align your team – Ensure your team understands the business’s objectives during the recovery period. A clear direction helps people focus on the right priorities and act quickly when opportunities arise.

Although signs of economic recovery are emerging, the outlook remains uncertain, especially as many of the recent figures fail to factor in the impact of new employment costs.

If your business begins to see an upswing, you will need to prepare for the potential tax implications that may follow renewed profitability.

Proactive tax planning with your accountant can help you make the most of available reliefs and avoid any unwelcome surprises.

Contact us today to put a forward-thinking tax strategy in place for your business.

Public borrowing hit £20.5 billion in April, the highest level for that month since 1993 and nearly £3 billion above forecast.

Economists warn the Chancellor may have little choice but to plug the gap with tax rises, spending cuts or changes to fiscal rules if elevated levels of borrowing persist.

While nothing is confirmed, several areas are drawing speculation.

Income Tax

Extending the Income Tax threshold freeze beyond 2028 could push millions of people into higher tax brackets, because inflation-driven wage increases are not being matched by rises in tax thresholds.

More retirees are also being caught out with the full new State Pension edging closer to the £12,570 personal allowance.

Those with additional income from private pensions or savings could soon face basic rate tax, or higher, where none applied before.

Utilising allowances, such as the starting savings rate or Marriage Allowance, can help mitigate the impact.

Cash ISAs

There is widespread speculation that the £20,000 annual tax-free allowance will be reduced to encourage people to invest in the stock market.

A lower limit would reduce options for cash savers and expose more of your savings interest to tax.

Making full use of the allowance early in the tax year could offer some protection against mid-year rule changes.

Inheritance Tax

A revision to the seven-year gift rule is also reportedly under consideration.

Individuals planning to transfer wealth should consider acting while current rules remain in place.

On top of this, many families will also have to contend with the nil-rate freeze until 2030 and the inclusion of unspent pensions within the scope of IHT from 2027, which could already bring many more estates within the tax regime.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Surcharges on second homes have already risen to five per cent in England and Wales.

A further rise to match Scotland’s eight per cent is not out of the question.

Buyers should factor in potential changes before committing to new property investments.

With so much uncertainty, now is the time to seek expert guidance and ensure your finances are as future-proof as possible.

Contact us for a thorough tax review and proactive advice tailored to your needs.

Receiving a Kittel VAT notice is something that many businesses dread.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can demand the repayment of tax already reclaimed, and this can sometimes amount to a significant amount of money.

The notice comes when a trader “knew or should have known” their transaction was linked to fraudulent evasion of VAT.

This makes it ineligible for a deduction of input tax.

Kittel VAT can seem like an ever-present threat hanging over traders, but there are ways to reduce the risk.

How do Kittel VAT notices get issued?

To issue a Kittel VAT notice, HMRC must establish three key elements. They need to determine that:

• VAT was fraudulently evaded
• The trader’s transaction was connected with that fraud
• The trader knew, or ought to have known, of this connection

If any of these components is missing, a Kittel VAT notice will not be issued.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgement in the case of Axel Kittel & Recolta Recycling SPRL is the originator of the term, and the ruling left the exact definition of “knew or should have known” undefined.

Defining the term could have opened loopholes that businesses may have attempted to exploit, which could have jeopardised HMRC investigations.

How to avoid Kittel VAT notices?

Due diligence is the best way to avoid Kittel VAT notices.

Conducting the necessary checks that should be part of your anti-money laundering processes should allow you to avoid engaging with conduct that will leave you vulnerable to Kittel VAT notices.

You should, therefore, always conduct robust supply-chain due diligence and ensure you understand the nature of all transactions made by your business.

If you ever have any doubts, it is best to raise concerns immediately, as it may not just result in a Kittel VAT notice, but more severe instances of fraud.

You may be treated as an accomplice to this fraud if you do not perform sufficient due diligence.

Reduce the threat of the Kittle VAT Notice, speak to our team today.