Thousands of British exporters chasing US tariff refunds through the CAPE system may walk away empty-handed, warns Blick Rothenberg, as ineligibility and filing errors plague claims.
Category: Finance
Financial advice for owners and managers of small and medium sized business SMEs in the UK All your tax, borrowing and administration advice
HMRC loses landmark £584,000 tax battle as referees ruled self-employed
HMRC has been defeated in the landmark £584,000 PGMOL employment status case, with a tribunal ruling football referees were genuinely self-employed — casting fresh doubt over the tax office’s CEST tool.
Employers hit with £28bn National Insurance Shock as rate rise bites harder than treasury forecast
Employers’ National Insurance Contributions have soared by £28bn in a single year, £4bn above the Government’s own forecast, triggering redundancies in hospitality and retail and slowing hiring across the UK private sector.
BADR hike branded a ‘tax-grabbing assault’ as Britain’s founders eye the exit
Founders and advisers warn the latest hike in Business Asset Disposal Relief to 18% is squeezing entrepreneurs and pushing Britain’s homegrown talent abroad.
US tariff refund backlog leaves UK exporters in limbo as Washington scrambles to process billions in claims
Thousands of importers face an open-ended wait for US tariff refunds as CBP’s new CAPE portal covers only 63% of claims. UK SMEs trading transatlantically could be owed a share of up to $166bn.
Thousands of growing firms freed from IR35 burden – but freelancers warned not to underprice
New IR35 rules from April 2026 raise the small company threshold, shifting tax compliance back to freelancers. Here’s what contractors and scaling businesses need to know.
Budget tax breaks worth £100m come into force for founders and start-ups
Budget measures expanding EMI scheme eligibility, EIS and VCT limits now in force, with the government expecting £100m in additional investment for Britain’s fastest-growing companies.
NI pension cap risks hitting middle earners hardest, analysis warns
New analysis warns the £2,000 NI cap on salary sacrifice could disproportionately hit middle earners and reduce pension benefits for millions.
Individual insolvencies surge 18% as experts warn households are at ‘breaking point’
UK individual insolvencies have surged 18% year-on-year, with experts warning households are at breaking point as high interest rates, inflation and debt pressures intensify.
Experts warn pension tax cap risks undermining retirement savings as pressure mounts on Chancellor to rethink
Financial experts urge Rachel Reeves to rethink plans to cap National Insurance relief on pensions at £2,000, warning it could damage retirement savings and employer schemes.
HMRC investigations into big businesses now last nearly three and a half years on average
HMRC tax investigations into the UK’s largest businesses now last an average of 41 months, with more than 2,100 open cases as the tax authority intensifies efforts to close the £47bn tax gap.
Taskforce aims to unlock £1bn in small business lending
A new government-backed taskforce is seeking to unlock £1bn in additional lending for small businesses through community development finance institutions.
Post Office to receive £104m taxpayer bailout to cover historic IR35 breach
The UK government will cover a £104m IR35 tax bill at Post Office Limited after historic off-payroll working failures left the public body unable to pay.
Labour urged to raise private pension access age to curb early retirement
Labour is being urged to restrict access to private pensions from age 55, with the Resolution Foundation arguing reforms could boost employment and ease pressure on the public finances.
Festive filers sleigh their Self Assessment returns as thousands log on over Christmas
More than 4,600 people filed their Self Assessment tax return on Christmas Day, with over 37,000 submitting returns across the festive period, according to HMRC.
