Aligned Accounting

Aligned Accounting Accountant for owner managed businesses. Based on the IOW with clients Nationwide

πŸ“… Does the 31 July deadline apply to you?It's a question we've been asked a few times recently, and the answer is... not...
27/07/2026

πŸ“… Does the 31 July deadline apply to you?

It's a question we've been asked a few times recently, and the answer is... not necessarily.

In many cases, this deadline is for people who make payments on account towards their next Self Assessment tax bill.

A payment on account isn't an extra tax billβ€”it's an advance payment towards your next one.

If you're not sure whether you have a payment due, it's always worth checking:

βœ”οΈ Your HMRC online account.

βœ”οΈ Your latest Self Assessment tax calculation.

βœ”οΈ Or with your accountant.

πŸ“Š Bookkeeping has a habit of creeping up on you.One missed receipt turns into a pile of paperwork, and before you know i...
22/07/2026

πŸ“Š Bookkeeping has a habit of creeping up on you.

One missed receipt turns into a pile of paperwork, and before you know it, you're not quite sure where your business stands.

Here are 5 signs it might be time to give your bookkeeping a little attention:

πŸ“„ 1. You're putting bookkeeping off until "later".

🧾 2. You're missing receipts.

πŸ“Š 3. You don't know your monthly profit.

πŸ“… 4. You're always rushing before deadlines.

πŸ’· 5. You're unsure what you owe HMRC.

πŸ’š If a few of these sounded familiar, don't be too hard on yourself. It happens more often than you might think.

The important thing is getting back on track before it starts causing you unnecessary stress.

πŸ‘€ "My bank statement has everything HMRC needs."A bank statement shows where money has come in and gone out, but it does...
20/07/2026

πŸ‘€ "My bank statement has everything HMRC needs."

A bank statement shows where money has come in and gone out, but it doesn't explain:
πŸ“„ what was purchased
πŸ’Ό whether it was for business
🧾 whether VAT can be reclaimed
πŸš— or provide other supporting records, such as mileage.

If HMRC ever asks you to support a claim, you'll usually need more than just a bank statement.

Keeping organised records throughout the year can make things much easier, save time and help give you peace of mind.

πŸ“… 5 key dates every business owner should knowRunning a business comes with plenty of deadlines, and keeping on top of t...
09/07/2026

πŸ“… 5 key dates every business owner should know

Running a business comes with plenty of deadlines, and keeping on top of them can save you time, stress and unnecessary penalties.

Here are five important ones to have on your radar:

🧾 31Λ’α΅— January – Self Assessment deadline
If you complete a Self Assessment tax return, this is the deadline to submit it online and pay any tax you owe for the previous tax year.

πŸ’· 31Λ’α΅— January & 31Λ’α΅— July – Payments on account
If you're required to make payments on account, these are the dates your advance tax payments are due. They're based on your previous year's tax bill and help spread the cost of your next one.

πŸ“Š VAT return deadlines (VAT registered businesses)
Most VAT returns and payments are due one month and seven days after the end of your VAT period. Missing the deadline could result in penalties and interest, so it's worth planning ahead.

🏒 Companies House deadlines (Limited companies only)
Limited companies have ongoing filing responsibilities, including Confirmation Statements and Annual Accounts. Filing these on time helps keep your company compliant and avoids unnecessary late filing penalties.

πŸ’š Not sure which deadlines apply to you? We'd be happy to help you stay on track and keep everything running smoothly.

πŸ“Š What does a bookkeeper actually do?When people hear the word bookkeeper, they often think it's just about entering rec...
02/07/2026

πŸ“Š What does a bookkeeper actually do?

When people hear the word bookkeeper, they often think it's just about entering receipts into software.

The truth? Good bookkeeping is so much more than that.

Here's just a few of the ways a bookkeeper can support your business:

πŸ“ Keep your records up to date

πŸ“ˆ Help you understand your numbers

⚠️ Spot problems before they become bigger ones

⏰ Give you back your time.

Bookkeeping isn't just about staying organised. It's about giving you the information, confidence and support to help your business grow.

If you've had a few different jobs over the years, there's a good chance you could have more than one pension pot withou...
02/07/2026

If you've had a few different jobs over the years, there's a good chance you could have more than one pension pot without even realising it. πŸ’Ό

It's surprisingly common, and it's easy for old workplace pensions to be forgotten about over time.

The good news? ✨ The Government's Pension Tracing Service is free to use and can help you locate old workplace and personal pensions, making it easier to understand what you've got and where it's held.

⏱️ It only takes a few minutes to check, but it could make a big difference in the future.

πŸ’š If you're not sure where to start or have any questions, we're always happy to help point you in the right direction.

πŸ’™ This Barbie knows her second payment on account is due on 31 July...Do you? πŸ‘€It's one of those deadlines that's easy t...
02/07/2026

πŸ’™ This Barbie knows her second payment on account is due on 31 July...

Do you? πŸ‘€

It's one of those deadlines that's easy to forget, but missing it could mean paying interest and creating unnecessary stress.

If you think you might have a payment on account due:
βœ”οΈ Check your HMRC account.
βœ”οΈ Make sure you know how much is due.
βœ”οΈ Give yourself plenty of time to budget and pay.

Getting organised now means one less thing to worry about later. ✨

Why do so many people regret leaving their tax return until January? πŸ€”It usually comes down to one thing…Leaving it too ...
02/07/2026

Why do so many people regret leaving their tax return until January? πŸ€”

It usually comes down to one thing…

Leaving it too late.

Waiting until January can mean:

πŸ’· You don't know what you owe
Discovering a tax bill just weeks before the deadline doesn't leave much time to prepare.

πŸ“… You lose valuable planning time
Filing earlier gives you longer to budget and prepare for any payment that's due.

😰 January is stressful enough
Adding tax deadlines to an already busy month only creates more pressure.

πŸ’š Filing early = less stress
Getting organised ahead of time can give you peace of mind and make the whole process much more manageable.

Your tax return doesn't need to wait until January. In fact, once the tax year has ended and you have the information you need, you can submit it well before the deadline.

πŸ’š If you'd like to get ahead this year or need a hand preparing your tax return, we're always happy to help. 😊

🏑 Something every landlord should know...One of the biggest misconceptions we come across is that your rental income isn...
02/07/2026

🏑 Something every landlord should know...

One of the biggest misconceptions we come across is that your rental income isn't the same as your profit.

Whilst your rental income is the total amount of rent you receive, your taxable profit is what's left after deducting any allowable expenses.

That means the amount of tax you pay isn't usually based on your rental income alone.

Understanding the difference can help you budget more effectively and avoid unexpected surprises when it's time to complete your tax return.

πŸ’š If you're unsure what expenses you can claim or would like some guidance on your property income, we're always happy to help.πŸͺ΄

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is one of the biggest changes to the UK tax system in recent years.If you're a sole trader or r...
02/07/2026

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is one of the biggest changes to the UK tax system in recent years.

If you're a sole trader or receive income from property, it's worth checking whether the new rules will affect you and when.πŸ“ƒ

From April 2026, April 2027 and April 2028, more people will be brought into MTD depending on their qualifying income.

Under MTD, you'll generally need to:
βœ”οΈ Keep digital records.
βœ”οΈ Use compatible software.
βœ”οΈ Submit updates to HMRC throughout the year.

It might sound like a big change, but getting prepared early can make the transition much smoother.

πŸ’š If you're unsure whether MTD applies to you or what it means for your business, we're always happy to help.

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