Business Services

Changes to micro-company accounts could introduce new reporting requirements for small businesses. This article explains what business owners need to know, how the changes may affect their accounts and what steps they can take to prepare.

New accounting rules could affect when income is recognised in your company accounts. Find out what the changes may mean for your business, financial reporting and future planning.

The 2026 updates to FRS 102 bring significant changes to how UK businesses account for leases, with more agreements now recognised on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. This article outlines what finance teams and business owners need to know to prepare their company accounts, avoid common pitfalls, and ensure compliance with the new standards.

Accounting rules have changed for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2026. Discover what businesses need to know about leases, income recognition and company accounts.

The Employment Rights Act reforms rolling out across 2026 and 2027 will introduce important changes for employers, including day-one rights for certain leave, updates to Statutory Sick Pay and stronger employee protections.

These developments mean businesses will need to review policies, contracts and internal processes to remain compliant and manage risk effectively. Ward Williams supports employers in aligning their HR, payroll and compliance processes with the evolving legislative landscape.

From 6 April 2026, higher dividend tax rates will increase the tax burden on company directors and shareholders, with rates rising to 10.75% for basic rate and 35.75% for higher rate taxpayers. While the increases are modest, their cumulative impact can be significant, particularly for those relying on dividends as a main source of income. As part of a wider trend reducing the tax efficiency of dividends, many business owners may need to review how they extract profits, including the balance between salary, dividends and other planning strategies, to ensure continued tax efficiency.

As we enter the 2026/27 tax year, the UK tax environment continues to evolve in ways that affect not only how much tax is paid, but how businesses are structured, how wealth is preserved and how long-term decisions should be approached. A number of changes taking effect from April 2026 are particularly significant for business owners, landlords, investors and families with intergenerational wealth considerations. While many of the headline changes will be familiar to those following recent Budgets and fiscal announcements, their practical impact is now beginning to crystallise.

As the end of your financial year approaches, attention naturally turns to what needs to be done before the deadline.

While much of the focus is often on compliance, year-end also provides an opportunity to take practical action. The decisions made in these final weeks can influence both your current tax position and how you start the next financial year.

This checklist brings together the key areas worth reviewing while there is still time to act.

For business owners and directors, year-end is often viewed through a commercial lens.

Performance is assessed, profits are measured, and attention turns to tax liabilities within the business. What can be overlooked, at least initially, is how those outcomes translate into personal financial position, both now and over the longer term.

For larger and mid-market businesses, the year-end is often defined by process. Timetables are set, audit files are prepared, and internal teams work towards delivering a compliant set of financial statements.