LCS Business Ltd - Bookkeeping & Tax

20/07/2026

Malta had been on our list for a while and didn't disappoint - apart from us all getting locked out of the room on the balcony 😁 and Connor being worryingly unwell on the last day. 😔

Whilst work was STRICTLY off the agenda, when I wasn't reading my book, there were light bulb moments, which you don't see until you step back.

Changes incoming.

Back with a bump - which I'm catching up with my emails - this week has quite a few medical appointments!

16/07/2026

VAT registered? when did you last make sure that the next VAT return agrees back to the VAT account?

On the left is my client's VAT return. On the right is their balance sheet showing the VAT account. ✅️✅️

If you use the cash VAT scheme and declare upon payment rather than invoice date, there will always be a timing difference between the two, and it might need a download of the transactions into excel and tick one against the other.

As we always say with these checks, little and often make less work in the long run. There are quite a few accounts to check in your month end process.

Need help with your reconciling? get in touch.

15/07/2026

13/07/2026

Payroll is often thought of as being an easy, quick task - just add the hours, email the payslips, and press submit to HMRC.

When clients receive their monthly payroll, we've already done this....

1. Checked to see if there have been any tax code changes or deduction notifications.
2. Applied holiday pay where applicable, compliant with the latest payroll regulations.
3. Assessed each employee for pension enrolment.
4. Dealt with starters, leavers, sick pay, maternity pay, pension, additions, and deductions.
4. Sent the payslips in a GDPR compliant format (password-protected email or uploaded to an interface).

Then, behind the scenes, we do this.........

1. Securely store the payroll records.
2. Pension administration - submitting the monthly contributions, assessing, enrolling.
3. Every 3 years, we do the re-enrolment process for the Pension Regulator.

Finally, we post the payroll into clients' accounting software.

Why?
1. The profit & loss account and balance sheet are up-to-date.
2. It could flag an under/overpayment to employees.
3. The accounts show what clients owe HMRC.
4. The accounts show what will be paid out to the pension scheme.
5. It shows your total employer costs to date.

So, from the length of this post, you can see that there's quite a lot of work to be done with payroll!

Have you missed any steps?

If it is time to outsource, get in touch, and we will send you a quote.

12/07/2026

When I started LCS, I had no idea that by 2026, about 70% of our clients would be all across the UK!

This is all thanks to digital, cloud accounting.

Whilst you won't find us on the High Street, our services are professional, reliable, and personal. It's like having your own finance department.

Never say never to the little office (that I've already decorated in my head), but at this moment, working from home brings greater flexibility as a family.

If you are within a 30-minute driving distance, we are happy to visit, and Zoom meetings make great introductions, too. It's like being in the same room!

Whilst we work on your books behind the scenes. you, too, have the flexibility to upload your documents on the move!

08/07/2026

Roll back to sumer 2021! Nervously waiting for my first Power Hour client to join the Zoom meeting. The imposter system was HUGE, but it was great.

It was 6pm at night - I shut myself away from the household noise to fully focus.

2026 - I've done quite a few since then (and changed my hair a few times 😁).

Self-Assessment.
Employing for the first time.
Setting up a payroll.
Assisting a fellow bookkeeper with systems.
Allowable expenses.
Checking calculations.
Cash flow.
Integration into Xero.
Understanding the numbers.
Running a business idea past me - margins.

It's usually on a Zoom meeting, but I've met in a pub, a client's house, and a cafe (if you happen to be in Ledbury).

If you are not ready to outsource, but wish there was someone to bounce questions from, a Power Hour is for you.

Relaxed, no jargon, calm, will repeat the explanations....
and will follow up with notes.

The link sits quietly in the bio, waiting for that SOS booking, when it's needed.

07/07/2026

We've recently received quite a few SOS calls from sole traders who have no idea if Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to them.

Here's how to find out and what to do.⬇️

1. Locate your 24-25 tax return.
Scroll down to the self-employed (and/or landlord) section. If your sales/turnover was £50k or higher as a sole trader and/or landlord, it applies to you.

2. Register with HMRC for MTD.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sign-up-for-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax

3. Choose compatible software and do a 1st April 26 to 30th June 26 catchup. Connect it up to HMRC.

4. Submit your first quarterly return before 7th August 26.

Quarterly updates are due 7th August, 7th November, 7th February, and 7th May, plus your annual return.

Payments are due 31st January and 31st July.

Unfortunately, our books are closed until 7th August, whilst we focus on our current clients, but if you need a quick reassurance chat, you know where we are.

[email protected]
Tel: 07500111483
www.lcsbusinesssupport.co.uk

05/07/2026

My favourite dog walk. My great-grandfather worked on the Ledbury railway.

Your business needs solid bookkeeping foundations to carry growth. You wouldn't build a viaduct without proper foundations, so don't build your business without groundwork.

That's where we can help you - maintaining your business history and understanding it.

03/07/2026

Are you still incredibly busy running your business whilst juggling the bookkeeping, paying bills, chasing debts, and praying that there is enough money in the bank to cover supplier bills and tax? Have you been waiting for that "quiet moment" to sort everything, but it never happens?

It's time to step into a CEO role that gives you time to work on the business, not in.

Our outsourced accounts services range from £4200-£12000/year, paying for work done. Considerably less than employing a team.

A couple of hours or committing to 1 day per week, no office space, no training, jumping straight into your cloud-based software.

We have our own experts and associates, so there is always someone here to help.

We usually manage your accounts@ inbox, liaise with suppliers and staff, and are just a WhatsApp message or Zoom meeting away.

If you would like some stress free support, book a meeting from the link in bio, or send a DM for a no pressure chat.