Guides
Guides for directors and owner-managers
Plain-English answers to the questions owner-managers ask us most, written by a chartered management accountant and reviewed when the rules change.
How to choose the best accountant for a small business in London
What separates a good small-business accountant in London from the rest: qualifications, fixed fees, who does the work, software, deadlines and the questions to ask before you sign.
02Salary or dividends in 2026/27: how directors should pay themselves
How limited company directors should pay themselves in 2026/27 after the dividend tax rise: the £12,570 salary question, employer NIC at 15% above £5,000, and dividend rates of 10.75% and 35.75%.
03Limited company deadlines and what happens if you miss one
Every limited company deadline in one place: accounts nine months after year end, corporation tax at nine months and one day, CT600 at twelve months, confirmation statements, and the Companies House late filing penalties.
04Companies House identity verification: what directors must do
Companies House identity verification explained: mandatory for new directors and PSCs since 18 November 2025, and for existing directors with the next confirmation statement before the transition ends in November 2026.
05When do you need to register for VAT? The £90,000 threshold explained
When a UK business must register for VAT: the £90,000 threshold, the historic and forward-looking tests, the 30-day deadlines, voluntary registration and which VAT scheme to choose.
06How to switch accountants, step by step
How to change accountants in the UK: professional clearance, handover of records, HMRC agent authorisation, software access and timing. You can switch at any point in the year.
07UK tax deadline calendar 2026/27
Every UK tax deadline for 2026/27 in one calendar: self assessment, Making Tax Digital quarterly updates, PAYE, P60, P11D, VAT, corporation tax and Companies House.
Guides are general information, last reviewed 25 September 2026. They are not advice for your circumstances.
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