Number Crunchers (Sheffield) Ltd

23/05/2026

🚗 HMRC Mileage Allowance Update 🚗

Good news for employees and businesses — HMRC has announced updated mileage allowance rates for 2026/27, including an increase to the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) for cars and vans.

✅ 55p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles
✅ 25p per mile thereafter

HMRC has also updated its Advisory Fuel Rates for company cars from 6 April 2026, including revised rates for petrol, diesel, LPG and electric vehicles.

If you claim business mileage or reimburse employees for travel, now is the perfect time to review your mileage records and expense policies to ensure they’re up to date.

Need help understanding how the changes affect you or your business? Get in touch with Number Crunchers (Sheffield) Limited — we’re happy to help.

21/05/2026

💼 SELF-EMPLOYED NATIONAL INSURANCE – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 💼

If you’re self-employed, you’ll usually need to pay Class 4 National Insurance contributions (NICs) if your profits are £12,570 or more per year.

📌 Current Class 4 NIC rates:
✔️ 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270
✔️ 2% on profits over £50,270

Some people are exempt from paying Class 4 NICs, including:
🔹 Under 16s
🔹 Those over State Pension age at the start of the tax year
🔹 Certain trustees, executors and administrators

Since 6 April 2024, mandatory Class 2 NICs have been abolished for the self-employed. However, making voluntary Class 2 contributions can still be worthwhile for some people, helping protect entitlement to benefits such as the State Pension.

📌 Voluntary Class 2 NICs for 2026/27 are £3.65 per week.

This may be particularly relevant for certain self-employed individuals who do not pay NICs through self-assessment, including:
✔️ Examiners
✔️ Moderators
✔️ Invigilators
✔️ Ministers of religion without a salary

Before making voluntary contributions, it’s important to check whether this would benefit your individual circumstances.

24/04/2026

📢 Self-Assessment 2025–26: Don’t Leave It Too Late

The 2025–26 tax year ended on 5 April 2026, which means it’s time to start thinking about your self-assessment tax return.

The deadline for filing online is 31 January 2027 — and this is also when any tax due must be paid, along with your first payment on account for 2026–27.

While that might feel a long way off, there are real advantages to getting your return done early:

✔️ Know exactly how much tax you owe sooner
✔️ Plan ahead and budget with confidence
✔️ Receive any refund more quickly
✔️ Avoid the January rush and last-minute stress

Filing early doesn’t mean paying earlier — it simply puts you in control.

If you’d like help getting started, feel free to get in touch.

10/04/2026

📢 Working from Home – Tax Relief Changes from April 2026

From the 2026–27 tax year, the rules on claiming tax relief for working from home are tightening.

👉 What’s changing?
Most employees will no longer be able to claim tax relief for homeworking unless it is a requirement of their job (not just a personal choice or flexible arrangement).

👉 Who can still claim?
You may still be eligible if:

Your job requires you to work from home, or
Your employer does not provide a suitable workplace

👉 What can be claimed?

Additional household costs (e.g. extra gas/electricity, business calls)
Either £6 per week flat rate or actual costs (with evidence)

❌ You cannot claim for shared personal costs like rent or broadband.

💡 Good news: You can still make claims for the previous 4 tax years, so it’s worth checking if you’re due anything.

🔗 Claims can be made via HMRC or through your self-assessment tax return.

These changes bring us back to pre-pandemic rules, where relief is only available when working from home is required, not optional.

If you’re unsure whether you qualify, feel free to get in touch.

02/04/2026

31/03/2026

Employing Young People in Your Business

If you’re thinking about bringing young people into your team, there are a few key responsibilities to keep in mind.

From age 13, young people can work—but there are strict rules around the hours they can work and the type of work they can do. Once they turn 18, they’re classed as adult workers and different employment rules apply.

👉 If the worker is under compulsory school age, you’ll usually need to obtain a child employment permit from their local council.

As an employer, you must:
✔ Ensure the correct tax is deducted
✔ Make them aware of their rights
✔ Pay the correct National Minimum Wage (rates vary for young workers and apprentices)
✔ Carry out a risk assessment to provide a safe working environment

Young employees may also be entitled to certain rights, such as:
• Statutory maternity and paternity pay (if eligible)
• Paid time off for study or training
• Redundancy pay

Even if you’re engaging volunteers, your responsibilities don’t disappear—health & safety, proper training, and a thorough induction are essential.

Bringing young people into your business can be hugely rewarding—but getting the basics right is key.

23/03/2026

We’re delighted to share that Number Crunchers is celebrating its 30th birthday! 🥳

To mark this special milestone, our office will be closed on Wednesday 25th March so the team can celebrate together.

We’ll be back to business as usual the following day. In the meantime, thank you for your continued support over the years – we truly appreciate it.

Here’s to the next 30! 🥂

06/03/2026

Changes to Reporting of Benefits in Kind (BiKs)

HMRC has confirmed that mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind (BiKs) and taxable employment expenses will begin from 6 April 2027.

This is a significant change for employers, as most benefits will no longer be reported using the annual P11D form from the 2027–28 tax year. Instead, benefits will be reported through payroll using Real Time Information (RTI).

Originally planned for April 2026, the change has been delayed by one year to give employers, payroll teams, software providers and agents more time to prepare.

Key points to note:
• The deadline to register for voluntary payrolling for the 2026–27 tax year is 5 April 2026
• From April 2027, BiKs and expenses will be reported through the Full Payment Submission (FPS) alongside salaries
• RTI data fields will expand to include information currently reported on P11D and P11D(b)
• Employers will still be able to voluntarily payroll loans and accommodation benefits

To support the transition, HMRC will waive penalties for inaccuracies during the 2027–28 tax year, provided there is no deliberate non-compliance. However, normal late filing and late payment penalties will still apply.

HMRC has also confirmed that Basic PAYE Tools will be updated to support the new system.

If you have any questions about how these changes may affect your business, please get in touch with our team.