The Uncommon Practice

02/09/2026

Business rates: could you be eligible for extra relief?

The 2026 business rates revaluation has changed bills for many businesses. If you’ve lost some or all of your Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief as a result, you may be eligible for Supporting Small Business Relief.

For eligible businesses, increases in 2026/27 bills are capped at £800 or the relevant percentage cap, whichever is greater.

If your business operates from commercial premises, it’s worth checking your new bill and making sure you’re receiving any relief you’re entitled to.

👉 Find out more about Supporting Small Business Relief: https://www.gov.uk/business-rates-relief/supporting-small-business-relief

If you're unsure what the changes mean for your business, speak to our team at [email protected].

GOV.UK - The best place to find government services and information.

31/08/2026

Think hiring someone will cost you their salary? Think again.

When you’re working out whether you can afford to take on an employee, the salary is only part of the calculation.

You also need to consider:

• Employer National Insurance
• Workplace pension contributions
• Holiday and sick pay
• Recruitment and onboarding costs
• Equipment, software and training
• The impact on your cash flow

That £30,000 salary could therefore cost your business considerably more than £30,000 a year.

So before you advertise that role, have you worked out the true cost of hiring?
We’ve broken down the numbers — and the questions you should be asking before you recruit — in our latest blog.

👉 Read the full guide: https://www.theuncommonpractice.com/post/can-i-afford-to-hire

28/08/2026

“My only regret is not doing it sooner.”

Changing accountants can feel like a daunting decision – especially after building a relationship with your existing adviser over many years.

But the right finance partner can make a huge difference.

Since joining The Uncommon Practice, they've experienced the difference that comes from working with strategic accountants who provide proactive advice, meaningful financial insight and support throughout the year - not just when accounts are due.

We're proud to help ambitious business owners turn accurate financial data into better business decisions.

📩 If you’re looking for an accountancy team that works alongside you, rather than just for you, we’d love to hear from you.

Email: [email protected]

27/08/2026

Making Tax Digital: 436,000+ have now submitted their first update

More than 436,000 sole traders and landlords have now successfully submitted their first quarterly update under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax.

So, what is Making Tax Digital?

MTD is HMRC's move towards keeping tax records digitally and submitting information about income and expenses through compatible software.

It currently applies to certain sole traders and landlords based on their qualifying income, with more people due to come into the scheme over the coming years.

If you're already required to use MTD, or you're unsure whether it applies to you, now is a good time to make sure your records and software are ready.

📩 Have questions about how MTD could affect you? Email our team at [email protected].

Read the latest HMRC update:

More than 436,000 sole traders and landlords have successfully submitted their first Making Tax Digital for Income Tax quarterly update.

26/08/2026

“Can I afford to hire an employee?”

This is something that comes up quite frequently when speaking with business owners.

The answer isn’t just about salary. Employer NI, pension contributions, holiday pay and cash flow all need to be considered before you recruit.

In our latest blog, we explain:

• the real cost of hiring,
• the cash-flow checks to make first,
• the warning signs that it may be too soon,
• and the indicators that your business is genuinely ready to grow.

If you’re thinking about taking on your first employee, this is a practical guide written for UK small businesses.

👉 Read the blog here: https://www.theuncommonpractice.com/post/can-i-afford-to-hire

25/08/2026

Now is a good time to review your business finances.

At this point in the year, things may have changed since you set your original targets and forecasts.

• Costs may be higher.
• Sales may be different.
• Your team may have grown.
• You may have won (or lost) a major contract.

So, does your financial forecast still reflect the business you're actually running?

A mid-year financial review gives you the opportunity to stop, look at what's really happening and re-forecast for the remainder of your financial year.

The value of your numbers isn't knowing what happened, it's knowing what to do next.

We've put together a practical guide to help you review your business finances and identify where you may need to adjust your plans.

👉 Read the full article on our website.

24/08/2026

📢 The Government is consulting on changes to the UK's distributions framework

The Government has launched a consultation exploring whether the rules governing payments made by companies to non-corporate shareholders should be modernised.

The current legislation is complex and, in many cases, has remained largely unchanged since 1965. The aim of the consultation is to ensure the rules work as intended, reduce unnecessary complexity and minimise distortions, while continuing to support normal commercial practice.

The Government is gathering views before deciding whether reforms should go ahead, making this an important opportunity for businesses and advisers to contribute to the discussion.

📝 Read the consultation and have your say before 14 September here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/modernising-the-distributions-framework

📩 If you'd like to understand what potential changes could mean for your company or discuss your wider tax planning strategy, email our team at [email protected].

20/08/2026

Is your business on track?

At this point in the year, it's a good time to step back and ask: how is your business performing compared with where you expected to be?

Your original targets may have changed, your costs may have increased and your cash position might look very different from what you expected. That’s exactly why a mid-year financial review can be so useful…

A good review should look beyond turnover and profit to consider:

📊 Are you on track against your targets?
💷 Are your margins where they should be?
💰 What does your cash flow look like for the months ahead?
📈 Does your original forecast still reflect reality?
🎯 Are your financial results supporting your wider business goals?

The important bit isn't simply finding out where you are, it's using that information to decide what to do next.

We’ve put together a practical guide to help you carry out your own mid-year financial review and identify where you may need to adjust your plans for the remainder of your financial year.

👉 Read the full article: https://www.theuncommonpractice.com/post/mid-year-financial-review

18/08/2026

📊 HMRC explores better use of digital VAT data

The Government has announced it will explore whether VAT data already held within businesses' digital accounting systems could be used to improve compliance and make the tax system more efficient.

The review will consider how existing digital records—already maintained for accounting and audit purposes—could support HMRC, while engagement with businesses and stakeholders will help shape any future decisions.

No changes have been announced yet, but it's another sign of the continued move towards smarter, more connected digital tax reporting.

📩 If you'd like advice on keeping your accounting systems compliant and ready for future changes, email our team at [email protected].

15/08/2026

⏰ Last chance to have your say on proposed changes to VAT and PAYE payments

The Government is consulting on proposals to encourage timelier VAT and PAYE payments through greater use of Direct Debit.

As part of the consultation, it's seeking views from:

• Businesses and individuals who could be affected by the changes.
• Tax agents and accountants.
• Representative bodies.
• Charities and voluntary organisations that support people with their tax affairs.

If your business has concerns or insights about how these proposals could impact cash flow, administration or the way you manage your tax payments, now is the time to share your feedback.

📝 You can read the consultation and submit your response by 16 August here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/requiring-paymentof-vat-and-paye-return-liabilitiesbydirect-debit

📩 If you'd like to discuss what these proposals could mean for your business, or you'd like proactive accountancy advice to help you prepare for potential changes, email our team at [email protected].