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James Cowper Kreston earns 2025/2026 Great Place To Work Certification™
We’re proud to announce that for the second year in a row we have been Certified™ by Great Place To Work®, a prestigious award based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at the firm. This year, 75% of our employees said it’s a great place to work, compared to 54% of employees at a typical UK based company.
Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation.
To read our article in full, please do so by clicking below. | | Maximise your business potential - Complete our strategic business health check now!
The UK government has announced important tax and business reforms that make proactive financial planning more vital than ever for business owners. To help you stay compliant and identify opportunities, we’ve designed a short questionnaire that addresses key planning areas such as: - Business Property Relief (BPR)
- Salary sacrifice arrangements
- Employee share schemes
- And more...
Once completed, you’ll receive a tailored PDF summary highlighting areas for potential tax efficiency and strategic planning based on your responses. Don’t miss out on tailored advice for staying compliant and maximising tax reliefs - ensure your business is ready to adapt, thrive and grow, take the questionnaire by clicking below. | | | |
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AI, tax and the digital shift: what businesses need to know from the tax technology conference | |
The growing use of AI and automation in the UK tax system is set to reshape how businesses engage with compliance, reporting and reliefs. | |
That was the clear message from this year’s Tax Technology Conference, hosted by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and Association of Tax Technicians
With updates on Making Tax Digital, real-world use cases of AI by tax authorities, and warnings about ethical risks and digital readiness, the event laid out a roadmap that will be particularly relevant to SMEs, innovative businesses, and those navigating complex reliefs such as R&D tax credits. | | | |
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New wave of capital grants for England's farmers | |
Last week Defra announced the re-introduction of capital grants for farmers in England. This scheme, which follows the unexpected closure in November 2024, is part of the government's £11.8 billion commitment to sustainable farming over this parliament. | |
Funding Details The newly launched scheme includes £150 million of funding for 78 specified items across six groups of expenditure. The funding is intended to support a range of projects, including: - Tree planting
- Flood prevention
- Hedgerows for biodiversity
- New livestock equipment to improve water quality
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Four new items have been added since last year, including grants for assessing woodland condition, creating wildlife management plans, repairing drystone walls, and hosting educational visits. Funding limits have been set across four of the six groups, with a maximum of £25,000 per farm for water quality, air quality, and natural flood management, and £35,000 per farm for boundaries, trees, and orchards. | |
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Recruitment static as firms assess NICs impact | |
Recruitment at UK firms remained static in the second quarter of 2025 as businesses continued to assess the impact of the rise in employer National Insurance contributions (NICs), says the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
The BCC’s latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook (QRO) showed that 55% of firms attempted to recruit in the last three months, broadly similar to the 54% in the first quarter. | | | |
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| Pros and cons of the option to tax on a property | |
The "Option to Tax" on a commercial property or land allows commercial property developers and owners to opt to charge VAT on certain property transactions that would otherwise be VAT exempt. This choice can bring advantages in specific circumstances but also entails potential drawbacks.
By opting to tax, the property owner effectively makes transactions subject to VAT, enabling them to reclaim VAT on allowable expenses. | | | |
Pros of the Option to Tax
The option to tax on a property turns the potential exempt supply into a standard-rated taxable supply. The business is then able to reclaim the VAT incurred on the costs of construction or refurbishment and management relating to the property. It will however have to charge VAT on the subsequent sale or rental of the property. | |
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HMRC to fine crypto investors £300 for non-disclosure | |
UK-based holders of cryptoassets will have to provide personal details to crypto service providers or face penalties of up to £300 from HMRC.
The regulations will be introduced in the UK on 1 January 2026 and are part of the OECD Cryptoasset Reporting Framework (CARF). This requires crypto platforms to share detailed information with tax authorities of clients’ crypto transactions. | | | |
In addition, HMRC is already requiring full disclosure on self assessment forms for the 2024/25 tax year, so taxpayers who own crypto – like Bitcoin, Ethereum or Dogecoin –will have to include any crypto gains or income in their tax returns. | |
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More than 25% of UK businesses hit by cyber-attack in past year | |
More than one in four UK businesses have been the victim of a cyber-attack in the last year with many risking ‘sleepwalking’ into disruption, according to a new report.
The survey conducted by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) found that 27% of companies said their building had suffered a cyber-attack in the last 12 months, up from 16% a year ago. | | | |
Almost three-quarters of business leaders believe that a cybersecurity incident will disrupt their business in the next 12 to 24 months, the survey found.
The paper identifies operational technology such as building management systems, CCTV networks, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and access control systems as risk areas. | |
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Cash-flow challenges in Agriculture: proactive steps for farmers and land managers | |
As combines roll across the UK, the agricultural sector is beginning to see the impact of the dry spring and early summer on grain yields. At the same time, UK wheat futures are falling due to global pressures and high stocks carried forward from the 2024 harvest. These factors, combined with high input costs, increasing interest payments, and uncertainty around support payments, are creating significant cash-flow pressures for many farmers and land managers across the UK. | | | |
Our rural team is urging farmers not to shy away from these looming cash-flow pressures and pinch-points. Instead, they recommend taking proactive steps to manage these challenges effectively.
Rural specialist and Head of Outsourcing, Fiona Hawkins, emphasises the importance of seeking assistance with cashflow forecasting and scenario planning and commented: "While it may be tempting to avoid the cost of such services, sitting down with someone who understands the finances of the business can be an invaluable investment. This approach allows for early action to prevent problems from escalating."
To read our article in full, or to speak with one of our Rural experts, please click below. | |
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James Cowper Kreston is a leading firm of accountants and business advisers with offices across the South of England. We deliver focused, innovative advice to a diverse range of businesses and individuals helping our clients to maximise their potential.
If you have any questions about the topics covered in this newsletter or want to explore how we can help you please contact us here: Email: info@jamescowperkreston.co.uk
Call: 01635 35255 James Cowper Kreston
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The information in this newsletter must not be relied on as giving sufficient advice in any specific case.
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