Guy & Co Accountants

21/10/2026

Who’s going to be paying for it? Comment your thoughts below 👇🏼

20/10/2026

The lesson here isn’t really about heritage. It’s that your tax position depends on the law and the facts, not simply what you believe it to be.

He’d built his life, his family and a household-name business in England. The tribunal considered his family history, where he’d established his life and the legal rules surrounding domicile.

And notice the timing: the dispute involved tax returns going back to 2013. Depending on the circumstances, HMRC can investigate tax affairs many years after a return has been submitted.

So whether it’s residency, an expense, or how you pay yourself, the question to ask is always: if HMRC challenged this, could you justify your position?

Ever had a “creative” tax tip from a mate down the pub? 😅 Tell us below 👇

19/10/2026

17/10/2026

I will be doing a live Q&A on the day of the 2026 autumn budget (28th October). Comment “BUDGET” and I will send you a reminder to join closer to the date.

16/10/2026

So what is IR35?

It’s a tax rule that asks one question: if someone works for you through their own limited company, are they genuinely running their own business, or are they really just an employee by another name?

If they work like an employee (set hours, you control how they do the job, they can’t send someone else in their place), HMRC says they should be taxed like one. That means PAYE and National Insurance, including employer’s NI.
Get it wrong, and the business that made the decision can be landed with the unpaid tax, plus interest, plus penalties.

That’s exactly what happened here. HMRC found the Cabinet Office had been “careless” since 2017. Careless doesn’t mean dishonest. It just means not taking reasonable care, and that alone is enough for a fine.

So who does this apply to?
- Medium and large businesses: you decide your contractors’ status, so the risk sits with you
- Small businesses: the contractor usually decides, but it’s still worth understanding

Three things worth doing if you use contractors:
1. Check how they actually work day to day, not just what the contract says
2. Write down why you’ve reached your decision
3. Review it if the role changes.

Not sure where you stand? Comment “IR35” or send us a message.

15/10/2026

My budget Wishlist number 5. Comment BUDGET and I’ll send you a reminder to watch my live on the 28th October answering your questions on the budget.

14/10/2026

A buyer paid £2.4m for a detached house that had been empty for three years: damp, subsidence, asbestos everywhere. HMRC said it was still a house.

The tribunal disagreed. With that many problems, the property had lost its identity as a dwelling, so it qualified for lower non-residential SDLT rates.

One important point: “needs a new boiler and some rewiring” won’t be enough. The courts have already ruled against buyers on that. It’s the combined effect of serious problems that matters.

Buying a property in a poor state for your business or as a development project?

Talk to me before you file your SDLT return, not after. 📩

13/10/2026

Comment ‘BUDGET’ and I will send you a reminder to join my live on the day of the budget.

12/10/2026

A good accountant shouldn’t just process your numbers. They should ask awkward questions about them.

Why is this payment here? Should this really be profit? Is this money actually yours?

Those questions might feel annoying at the time, but they’re what stop a small mistake turning into a big bill years later.

If a customer, supplier or HMRC ever pays you twice, flag it straight away. It isn’t a windfall, and it will come back.

Does your accountant ever challenge you, or just file what you send?

11/10/2026

My budget wish list pt.3

On the 28th October I will be going live, answering your questions about the budget and how it affects your business. Comment BUDGET and I’ll send you a reminder.