MTN Limited

01/09/2026

🚨 *Running Multiple Businesses? HMRC Might Be Watching* 🚨

Ever wondered if you can split one business into several smaller ones to stay under the VAT threshold? 🤔

It's a question we get asked a LOT — so let's break it down 👇

💷 *The £90,000 Question*
The VAT registration threshold is currently £90,000. Once your turnover crosses that, you MUST register — no way around it.

Some business owners try to get clever by splitting operations across multiple companies to keep each one individually below the line.

⚠️ *But here's the catch...*

HMRC can step in and issue a "Notice of Direction" — treating all your separate businesses as ONE, if they find:

✅ Financial links
✅ Economic links
✅ Organisational links

(All three need to be proven — not just one!)

🟢 *Is splitting ever OK?*

Yes! If it's done for real commercial reasons — not just to dodge VAT. You'll need proper proof like:

👉 Separate bank accounts
👉 Independent invoicing
👉 Distinct record-keeping
👉 Genuine operational separation

🔴 *What raises red flags?*

🚩 Shared bank accounts
🚩 Same management team
🚩 Same premises
🚩 Customers can't tell the businesses apart
🚩 Businesses can't survive on their own

Fun fact: just being a family business doesn't automatically make it "artificial" in HMRC's eyes! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

⚖️ *The bottom line*

Your paperwork needs to match reality. If HMRC believes it's just a tax dodge, they CAN and WILL investigate — and reverse your VAT-free setup.

📚 *Want to check the official rules?*
🔗 VAT registration thresholds: https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration-thresholds
🔗 Register for VAT: https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat
🔗 HMRC VAT manuals collection: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vat-manuals

⚠️ This is general guidance only — always speak to a qualified tax adviser about your specific situation.

💬 Know someone juggling multiple business ventures? Tag them below! 👇

Find VAT technical guidance.

01/09/2026

😱 Did you know your business could be LOSING money on VAT you're entitled to claim back?

Most business owners either miss legitimate VAT reclaims… or accidentally claim things they shouldn't. Here's your quick cheat sheet 👇

✅ SIMPLIFIED RECEIPTS (Under £250)
Fuel, parking, retail buys? A basic receipt is all you need — supplier name, VAT number, date, total & VAT rate. Your company name doesn't even need to be on it!

✅ STAFF TRAVEL & MEALS
Away from your usual workplace? Hotels & meals = reclaimable.
🚫 Normal commuting to work = NOT reclaimable

⚖️ MIXED USE (Business + Personal)
Mobile phone bill, home utilities while working from home — only the business % of VAT can be reclaimed.

⏳ JUST REGISTERED FOR VAT?
You can still claim on earlier costs:
📦 Goods/assets you still have → up to 4 years back
🛠️ Services → up to 6 months back

🚫 CLIENT ENTERTAINMENT
Sorry — this one's a hard NO. Zero VAT recovery on entertaining clients or suppliers, no exceptions.
🎉 BUT your staff Christmas party? That IS reclaimable! 🎄

🚩 FLAT RATE SCHEME (FRS)
Generally no VAT reclaim on purchases — UNLESS it's a single capital asset costing £2,000+ (including VAT).

⚠️ Please note: this is general guidance only. Always check your specific situation with a qualified accountant or tax advisor before making any claims.

📚 Official GOV.UK / HMRC guidance:
🔗 Charge, reclaim & record VAT: https://www.gov.uk/charge-reclaim-record-vat
🔗 Keeping VAT records: https://www.gov.uk/charge-reclaim-record-vat/keeping-vat-records
🔗 VAT Flat Rate Scheme: https://www.gov.uk/vat-flat-rate-scheme
🔗 Business entertainment (Notice 700/65): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/business-entertainment-and-vat-notice-70065

💬 Which of these caught you out before? Let us know in the comments!

👍 Like & share to help another business owner avoid a costly mistake!

Find out how to account for VAT on entertainment provided by your business.

14/08/2026

🚨 IMPORTANT UPDATE: HMRC to Automatically Sign Up MTD Taxpayers from September 2026 🚨

Are you a sole trader or landlord who should already be using Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax… but haven't signed up yet?

Here's what you need to know 👇

📌 WHAT'S CHANGING
From September 2026, HMRC will start automatically signing up taxpayers who should be using MTD for the 2026–27 tax year but haven't enrolled. This will happen in stages over the coming months.

✅ WHY SIGN UP YOURSELF FIRST?
Signing up now means:
✔️ Your MTD details are correct from day one
✔️ You prepare in your own time
✔️ No surprises when HMRC gets in touch

📊 THE NUMBERS SO FAR
👥 570,000+ sole traders & landlords have already signed up
📈 70,000+ joined in just ONE week
⚠️ Around 294,000 taxpayers still haven't registered
🗓️ 436,000+ have filed their first quarterly update

⏳ WHAT ABOUT PENALTIES?
🟢 2026–27: No penalty points for late quarterly updates
🔴 From 6 April 2027: Points-based penalties kick in
▪️ 1 point per missed deadline
▪️ 4 points = £200 fine
▪️ Points expire with good compliance over time

💡 Don't wait to be contacted — check your status today and stay ahead of the deadline!

🔗 OFFICIAL GOV.UK GUIDANCE
👉 Check if/when you need MTD: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-out-if-and-when-you-need-to-use-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax
👉 Sign up for MTD for Income Tax: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sign-up-for-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax
👉 Step-by-step guide: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/use-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax/before-you-use-this-guide

📌

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax explained, an overview of your first year and a checklist before you use this guide.

14/08/2026

🤰 MATERNITY LEAVE MYTH-BUSTER 🤰

"I can't contact an employee while they're on maternity leave, right?"

WRONG! ❌

This is one of the most common misunderstandings employers have — and it can actually cause more harm than good. Let's clear it up 👇

✅ You CAN (and often SHOULD) stay in touch during maternity leave — especially if something important comes up, like a possible redundancy or a workplace transfer.

✅ Plan ahead together. Before leave starts, agree on:
📞 How best to contact them
📧 A personal email, if work systems won't be accessible
📅 Whether to use Keeping In Touch (KIT) days

✅ Redundancy? You MUST consult. Even during maternity leave. Even during pregnancy-related sickness. Even on a fixed-term contract. No exceptions.

That means talking through:
🔹 Why the redundancy is happening
🔹 Any suitable alternative roles (they get priority!)
🔹 How selection criteria were applied
🔹 How the assessment was carried out

⚠️ Here's the trap: some employers stay quiet "to avoid worrying" the employee. Kind intentions — but it can still be discrimination and make the whole process unfair in the eyes of the law.

💡 Bottom line: Communication + sensitivity + fairness = getting it right.

📚 Want to read more? Check the official guidance:
🔗 Acas — Redundancy protection for pregnancy & new parents: https://www.acas.org.uk/redundancy-protection-for-pregnancy-and-new-parents
🔗 Gov.uk — Maternity pay & leave: https://www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave
🔗 Gov.uk — Redundancy: your rights: https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights

👉 Tag an employer or HR friend who needs to see this!

Being made redundant - rights, statutory payments you're entitled to, notice periods and consultation, finding a job.

13/08/2026

💰 SIPPs Explained: 10 Things Worth Knowing! 💰

Ever wondered how much control you actually have over your pension? 🤔

A Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) lets YOU choose where your retirement money is invested — but there are some important rules to know first. Here's a simple breakdown 👇

1️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝗜𝗣𝗣?
A personal pension where you pick your own investments — shares, funds, ETFs, bonds & more 📊

2️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁?
Platform fees, fund charges & trading costs — these vary a lot, so shop around! 💸

3️⃣ 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
Get tax relief on up to £60,000 a year (or £3,600 if you earn little or nothing) 🧮

4️⃣ 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
Didn't use your full allowance the last 3 years? You may be able to carry it forward ⏪

5️⃣ 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻
From age 55 (57 from 2028) — take 25% tax-free, then draw an income while the rest keeps growing 🌱

6️⃣ 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀
25% tax-free either way ✅ But taking income drops your future allowance to £10,000/year ⚠️

7️⃣ 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻
You can usually transfer other pensions in — just check for exit fees or valuable guarantees first! 🔄

8️⃣ 𝗦𝗜𝗣𝗣 + 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻?
Yes, you can have both! Just don't miss free employer contributions first 🙌

9️⃣ 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
Some employers will pay straight into your SIPP — it doesn't hurt to ask! 🏢

🔟 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗲?
It goes to whoever you nominate 🕊️ Tax-free if you're under 75. IHT-free until April 2027.

📌 This is general guidance only, not financial advice. Everyone's situation is different — please check official sources or speak to a regulated financial adviser before making any decisions.

🔗 Helpful UK Government & guidance links:
🔹 Pensions overview: gov.uk/pension-types
🔹 Tax on private pensions: gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension
🔹 Personal pension rights: gov.uk/personal-pensions-your-rights
🔹 Inheritance Tax on pensions: gov.uk/inheritance-tax
🔹 Free & impartial money guidance: moneyhelper.org.uk

💬 Which of these surprised you the most? Let us know below!
📌 Save this post for later & share with someone planning their retirement 👇

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is paid when a person's estate is worth more than £325,000 when they die - exemptions, passing on property. Sometimes known as death duties.

13/08/2026

🚨 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 — 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 🚨

If you or someone you know works on a zero hours contract, this affects you. 👇

The UK government is consulting on major reforms under the *Employment Rights Act 2025* — and it could reshape how millions of people work.

✅ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱?
Qualifying workers — including those placed through agencies — could get the right to:
🔹 Guaranteed hours, based on what they actually work
🔹 Reasonable notice before a shift is added or changed
🔹 Payment if a shift is cancelled or cut short at short notice

The goal? Ending what the government calls "one-sided flexibility," where workers carry all the risk of unpredictable hours.

💷 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁?
Government figures estimate businesses could face up to *£2.9 billion a year* in compliance costs — covering guaranteed hours, shift notice systems, and cancellation payments.

📊 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴?
Many are already adapting — some are moving toward guaranteed hours voluntarily, while others are stepping back from zero hours contracts altogether or turning to agency staff instead.

⚠️ 𝗪𝗵𝗼'𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁?
Retail, hospitality and leisure sectors — plus younger and gig economy workers — are expected to be affected the most, on both sides of this debate.

🗓️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁?
The consultation is open now and closes on 25 August 2026. Whether you're an employer, a worker, or just someone who cares about fair working conditions — this is your chance to have a say before the rules are finalised.

📎 Read the official consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/make-work-pay-ending-one-sided-flexibility-reforms-of-zero-hours-and-similar-contracts
📎 Full consultation document (PDF):https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a5626546d6d5c7e2845c8e6/ending-one-sided-flexibility-reforms-zero-hours-similar-contracts-consultation-document.pdf

💬 What do you think — is this the right balance between worker protection and business flexibility, or does it go too far in one direction? Let us know in the comments, and share with anyone this could affect. 👇

13/08/2026

☀️ Working in this heatwave? Here's what employers need to know.

With temperatures hitting 38°C and amber heat alerts in force, it's not just uncomfortable — it's something employers have a duty to take seriously.

Here's the deal 👇

🌡️ There's no legal "too hot to work" temperature in the UK. But employers do have to keep things "reasonable" and look after their staff's wellbeing.

⚠️ If employees genuinely believe conditions are unsafe, they're protected by law if they refuse to work. Best to deal with heat complaints properly rather than dismiss them.

💧 Small things make a big difference:
- Plenty of drinking water
- Working air con / fans where possible
- A bit of flexibility on dress code

🏠 Working from home doesn't mean employers are off the hook either — checking in on remote staff matters just as much.

🤝 Pregnant employees and those with health conditions may need extra support — more breaks, cooler spaces, or short-term flexibility.

🚆 Heat can mess with commutes too (slower trains, road issues) — a little flexibility goes a long way.

📋 And if absences spike when it's sunny? Don't assume the worst — just check in properly first.

Stay safe out there! 🧡

📌 Official guidance:
🔗 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beat-the-heat-hot-weather-advice/beat-the-heat-staying-safe-in-hot-weather
🔗 https://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/employer/index.htm

In offices or similar environments, the temperature in workplaces must be reasonable.

12/08/2026

📢 Big news for UK businesses looking to go public! 🇬🇧

The UK's financial regulator has just made it easier and cheaper for companies to list on the London Stock Exchange.

From 5 August 2026, the FCA has scrapped the old 7-day waiting period that used to apply to connected research during the IPO process. This rule had been in place since 2018 but, according to the regulator, it was adding cost and complexity without really delivering the benefits it was meant to.

✅ Here's what's changing:
• No more mandatory 7-day wait for connected research before an IPO
• Simpler information-sharing rules for companies and firms involved
• Working with independent analysts is now optional, not required — companies can arrange this commercially if they choose

Why does this matter? 🤔
The changes are designed to lower costs, reduce risk, and make London a more attractive place to list — especially after a run of major companies chose to list elsewhere in recent years.

A senior FCA director said the aim is to make the UK's listing rules more efficient, to help UK capital markets grow and stay competitive on the world stage.

🔗 Read more:
📄 Full policy statement:https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/policy/ps26-16.pdf
📰 FCA announcement: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-overhauls-listing-rules-boost-growth-and-innovation-uk-stock-markets
🏛️ UK Gov — Listing in the UK: https://www.business.gov.uk/campaign/list-in-the-uk/

What do you think — will this be enough to bring more companies back to list in London? Let us know in the comments 👇

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