Business News England – November 2025: Key Tax, Legal, and Compliance Updates for UK Businesses
Welcome to our round-up of the latest business news for our clients. In this update, we highlight key developments that could affect business owners, employers, and individuals across the UK.
If you’d like to discuss how any of these updates may impact your business or personal finances, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
At Naseems Accountants, we’re here to help you make informed decisions, stay compliant, and plan effectively for the months ahead.
Book your free consultation today.. Let us help you stay informed, compliant, and confident about your financial future.
Is It Time to Prepare Your Self-Assessment Tax Return?
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has reminded taxpayers that there are now fewer than 100 days left to file their Self-Assessment tax return and pay any tax due for the 2024–25 tax year.
The online filing deadline for most taxpayers is January 31 2026.
According to HMRC, over 3.5 million people have already submitted their tax returns. However, with over 11.5 million returns filed last year, many individuals are yet to complete theirs. HMRC is encouraging taxpayers to start early to avoid the usual last-minute rush.
Why file early?
Filing your Self-Assessment early offers several benefits. It provides a clear picture of your tax liability, enabling you to budget for your January payment with confidence. If you are due a tax refund, filing early means you’ll receive it sooner.
Getting started now also provides peace of mind, there’s less stress and more time to address any issues that may arise.
Things to be aware of for this year’s return
• Capital Gains Tax (CGT):
CGT rates changed partway through the tax year, and these changes are not automatically calculated on the Self-Assessment return. If you sold assets, such as shares, after October 30, 2024, you’ll need to account for the change in rate manually.
• High-Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC):
A new digital PAYE service means that if you only complete a tax return to pay this charge, you may no longer need to. Eligible taxpayers can now opt to have the charge collected directly through their tax code.
If you qualify, HMRC can deregister you from Self-Assessment, either for this tax year or the next, depending on whether you’ve already submitted your return.
• Winter fuel and heating payments:
You do not need to include your Autumn 2025 Winter Fuel Payment (or Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in Scotland) on your 2024–25 return. These will instead be included in your 2025–26 return, due by January 31 2027.
Making Tax Digital
Looking ahead, from April 6 2026, sole traders and landlords with an annual turnover exceeding £50,000 will be required to comply with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax.
This will involve submitting quarterly updates of income and expenses through MTD-compatible software.
If this applies to you, it’s wise to begin preparing now. Setting up the right digital systems early will ensure a smooth transition when the new rules take effect.
Need help getting ready for MTD? Our team at Naseems Accountants can guide you through software setup, record-keeping, and compliance to ensure you’re fully prepared. Book your free consultation today.
Watch out for scams.
HMRC continues to warn taxpayers to remain vigilant against scams, particularly during the Self-Assessment season.
Remember, never share your HMRC login details with anyone.
You can find HMRC’s official advice on how to spot and report scams here:
HMRC guidance on scams and phishing
Getting started
With fewer than 100 days to go, now is the perfect time to get started. Filing early provides peace of mind, allows time to resolve any queries, and helps you plan your tax payment well in advance of the deadline.
Need help filing your return? Let Naseems Accountants handle your Self-Assessment and ensure everything is filed accurately and on time.
Get in touch today to book your free consultation
Source: HMRC – The countdown begins: Self Assessment deadline is 100 days away.
Stress Awareness Week: Five Tips on Managing Stress
The International Stress Management Association (ISMAUK), a registered charity, is highlighting International Stress Awareness Week, taking place from November 3 to 7, 2025, with Stress Awareness Day on Wednesday, November 5.
While good stress management applies to all organisations, it’s especially relevant for small business owners and company directors who often face the dual pressures of running a business and supporting their teams.
Stress management is vital for your health and your business.
Running a business can be deeply rewarding, but it can also be highly demanding.
When stress isn’t managed effectively, it can negatively affect concentration, decision-making, health, and team performance, ultimately impacting the success and stability of your business.
Employers also have a legal duty to protect staff from work-related stress. The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Working Minds campaign offers practical information and tools to help employers meet this responsibility.
If you’re an employer or business owner, now is a good time to review your stress management and wellbeing policies.
Recognising the signs
The NHS notes that stress can trigger a wide range of symptoms, physical, mental, and behavioural.
These might include stomach problems, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or struggling to make decisions. Recognising these early warning signs makes it much easier to take proactive steps to manage stress before it escalates.
Taking a strategic approach
So, what can you do to reduce stress in yourself and your team? Here are five practical tips to help you manage stress more effectively.
1. Talk
The saying “a problem shared is a problem halved” still holds.
Having a strong support network, and taking time to relax with friends and family, can help you unwind and gain a fresh perspective.
At work, it’s essential to foster a culture where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. However, some employees may find it difficult to discuss “stress” or “mental health” directly.
Instead, you might open conversations by asking:
- “How’s your week going?”
- “Is there anything getting in the way of your work?”
These questions can spark helpful discussions without putting people on the spot.
2. Have some “me time”
Try to schedule regular personal time each week to do something you enjoy, away from work pressures.
Setting personal goals, such as learning a new skill or taking up a sport, can help you mentally disengage and refresh your thinking.
3. Time management techniques
Simple, low-effort time management strategies can go a long way in reducing stress when you’re juggling priorities.
For example:
- Spend the last 10 minutes of your workday writing down what needs to be done tomorrow, helping you draw a line under the day.
- Use the “big three” rule: identify the three most important tasks that will move your business forward and focus on completing those first.
The key is consistency. Even minor adjustments to your daily structure can make a noticeable difference over time.
4. Plan ahead
Some stressful situations are unavoidable. If you know a challenging day or event is approaching, try to plan to prepare.
Create a checklist or timeline to help you feel more in control, and schedule lighter tasks before or after major stress points.
Avoid stacking multiple high-pressure activities back-to-back, and allow small breaks or recovery periods throughout the day.
5. Don’t try to change what you cannot change
Focusing on what you can control, rather than what you can’t, helps reduce feelings of helplessness.
When we worry about things beyond our influence, such as a client’s reaction or an unexpected policy change, it consumes energy without producing results.
Try writing down two lists:
- What’s within your control
- What’s not
Then, focus your efforts on the things you can realistically influence.
In conclusion
Stress Awareness Week serves as a timely reminder that managing stress should be an ongoing part of effective business practices, not just a one-time exercise.
Why not choose one small action you can take this week to lower your stress levels and improve your wellbeing?
At Naseems Accountants, we understand the pressures that come with running a business.
If financial or operational stress is affecting you, our team is here to help, from managing your accounts and tax obligations to giving you greater peace of mind.
Book your free consultation today to discuss how we can help you run your business with less stress and more confidence.
See: https://isma.org.uk
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/stress/
Directors’ Report Requirement to Be Removed
As part of ongoing efforts to reduce administrative burdens and support business growth, the government has announced plans to remove the legal requirement for companies to include a directors’ report within their annual accounts.
Currently, micro-entities are already exempt from including a directors’ report. However, under the new proposals, this exemption will be extended to all companies, potentially benefiting around 440,000 businesses across the UK.
Further simplifications for medium-sized and subsidiary companies
In addition to this change, medium-sized private companies will no longer be required to prepare a strategic report as part of their annual report and accounts.
Wholly-owned subsidiaries will also be exempt from preparing a strategic report, provided that the relevant disclosures are already included in their UK parent company’s annual report and accounts.
These updates are part of a broader government initiative to streamline corporate reporting and reduce unnecessary paperwork, enabling businesses to focus more on operations, innovation, and growth.
Estimated impact and savings
The government estimates that these measures could save UK businesses around £230 million per year in compliance and reporting costs.
Legislation to bring about these changes is expected to be introduced as soon as possible, marking a significant step toward simplifying reporting requirements for limited companies.
What this means for your business
For company directors, these changes could lead to simpler annual reporting, reduced administrative costs, and less time spent on preparing non-essential documentation. However, businesses should continue to ensure they meet all remaining statutory obligations and maintain transparent financial practices.
If you’re unsure how these changes might affect your company’s filing requirements or future reporting obligations, get in touch with Naseems Accountants.
Our team can help you stay compliant while taking full advantage of new regulatory simplifications.
Book your free consultation today to discuss how we can support your business.
ICO Consultation Opens on New Email and Text Marketing Rules for Charities
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a consultation on how charities can benefit from new rules that will allow greater flexibility in using electronic marketing to contact their supporters.
From January 2026, the Data (Use and Access) Act will introduce a new ‘charitable purpose soft opt-in’. This will enable charities to send marketing emails and text messages to individuals who have expressed interest in or offered to support a charity, even if they haven’t explicitly checked a consent box, provided that specific conditions are met.
How the new rule will work
This change aims to make it easier for charities to stay connected with supporters, raise funds, and promote their causes, while maintaining strong protections for individuals’ data privacy rights.
However, the charitable purpose soft opt-in will not apply to contacts already held in existing databases. Charities must continue to provide a straightforward way to opt out, both when collecting contact details and within every marketing message sent.
ICO’s consultation
The ICO’s consultation is open until November 27 and invites input from charities, non-profits, and other organisations in the third sector.
Emily Keaney, the ICO’s Deputy Commissioner for Regulatory Policy, explained that the soft opt-in aims “to help charities stay connected with the people who want to support them, while still making sure everyone has control over how their data is used.
This marks a crucial opportunity for charities to influence how the rules are applied in practice before they take effect in 2026.
Steps charities can take now.
Although the new rule will not take effect until 2026, the ICO has shared several practical steps charities can take to prepare in advance:
- Update your privacy notice: Ensure it clearly explains how personal data will be used, stored, and protected.
- Plan your communications: Decide how you will explain the soft opt-in to new supporters and make it clear why they are receiving messages from your charity.
- Keep separate contact lists: Since the soft opt-in will only apply to data collected after the change, maintain distinct lists for existing contacts and new ones collected under the new rules.
- Train your team: Ensure staff understand the new rules and can effectively handle supporter queries or complaints about marketing messages.
Next steps
Charities that wish to have a say in shaping the future of fundraising communications can respond to the ICO’s consultation before the November 27 deadline.
If you’re a charity or not-for-profit organisation and would like guidance on how these changes might affect your data management, compliance, or fundraising strategy, Naseems Accountants can help. Book your free consultation today.
Renters’ Rights Act Becomes Law in England
The Government’s Renters’ Rights Bill has officially become law following Royal Assent last week. The new Renters’ Rights Act introduces a wide range of reforms for private landlords in England, marking one of the most significant overhauls of rental law in recent years.
While the full details of how and when these measures will take effect are yet to be confirmed, here’s an overview of some of the key provisions set to reshape the private rented sector.
End of Section 21 Evictions
The most notable reform is the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.
This means landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants without providing a specific reason for doing so. However, evictions will still be possible under certain circumstances, such as rent arrears, breaches of tenancy terms, or the landlord wishing to sell the property.
The aim is to give tenants greater security and stability, while still allowing landlords fair grounds to regain possession when necessary.
Tenancy Structure
The Act will replace most existing tenancy types with a single system of periodic (rolling) tenancies.
This means landlords will no longer be able to issue fixed-term tenancies (e.g. 12 or 24-month contracts). Instead, all tenancies will roll over on a monthly basis.
Tenants will have the right to provide two months’ notice at any time, affording them greater flexibility and control over their housing arrangements.
New Ombudsman and Registration Requirements
A new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman will be established to handle complaints from tenants.
- Membership will be mandatory for landlords.
- The ombudsman’s decisions will be legally binding.
Additionally, a Private Rented Sector Database will be established to help landlords understand and demonstrate compliance with their legal obligations.
Tenants will be able to check this database when entering into a tenancy, helping them make informed decisions.
Registration on this database may also be required before a landlord can rely on specific grounds for repossession.
Other Key Measures
The Act also introduces several further reforms, including:
- A ban on rental bidding: Landlords must advertise a fixed rent and cannot accept offers above the advertised price.
- Protection against discrimination: Landlords will not be allowed to refuse tenants because they have children or receive benefits.
- Right to request pets: Tenants will have stronger rights to request pets, and landlords must consider such requests in a reasonable manner.
- Improved housing standards: The Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law will be extended to the private sector, raising expectations for property condition and repair timescales.
- More vigorous local authority enforcement: Councils will gain expanded investigatory powers and civil penalty options, as well as new reporting duties on enforcement activity.
What Happens Next
Further details on the implementation timetable and transitional arrangements are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Landlords and letting agents should begin reviewing their current tenancy agreements and compliance processes to ensure they are prepared for the new requirements once the legislation comes into effect.
How Naseems Accountants Can Help
If you’re a landlord or property investor, these changes could affect your tax position, rental income strategy, and compliance obligations.
At Naseems Accountants, we can help you:
- Understand how the Renters’ Rights Act impacts your property business.
- Review your rental income structure and tax efficiency to optimise your financial performance.
- Stay compliant with new legal and reporting requirements.
Book your free consultation today. Let Naseems Accountants help you stay compliant, informed, and financially secure as these reforms come into effect.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/historic-renters-rights-act-becomes-law
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