Minimum Wage

Tax Thresholds

Pensions

Individual Savings Accounts (ISA)

Dividends, Savings Interest and Property Income

It’s the beginning of November and we’re working our way through the many self-assessment returns we have on the desk at the moment. That board is super filling up.

It’s the season for starting to think about Christmas, the weather is changing, the leaves are golden brown and reds. Its one of our favourite times of year. The Pumpkin soup is made, the Christmas parties been booked.

We are all working through a year of uncertainty.  Seems like this has gone on for years.  We’ve moved from Brexit, the Covid pandemic, to energy crisis and the crazy interest rates. We’re not alone, big countries like France, Germany and America are going through the same. But guess what we are all still here. We’re leading our lives and running our businesses. Goals are taking a little longer and we are seeing a number of clients taking their businesses into their own hands and putting long awaited goals into practise. So, wishing them all the success with these.

The delayed budget has not helped anybody, so many rumours and you can’t tell if it’s the newspapers scaring everyone and selling papers, or if stories and tax consultation is being tested in the marketplace.

It’s hurting our retail industry and people are waiting to buy Christmas presents. Retail is not just about big corporation but about small business owners working hard to make a living for themselves, in the town centres and the local villages. So please support your local business, the local gift shop, the card shop, even the little baker on the corner. They all need you right now. 

Hospitality has taken a beating over the past couple of years, they employ a lot of people and need your support too. Again, please give your family run local a try, bring the festive cheer to the community. We see several of them bringing and supporting local brewers, and artisan baking is a very popular thing. They are not all dealing with large corporations for their stock, but local family run businesses, preparing quality food and drink. Supporting these businesses you are supporting a whole community.

Preparing for time off or gearing up for it to be your businesses main time of year. Try to take some time for yourself, its all too easy to work late days and full on at weekends.  

The staff maybe wanting time off too, to spend with their families. It’s definitely a juggling act. Here at Cross Accounting, we always have a team discussion about holidays and put in place a buddy system, in that they need to discuss with their holiday buddy who is taking time off when. To ensure they are not all off together at the same time and someone with the same skillset as another staff member aren’t both off together, causing delays for the client base.  

We have a very colourful holiday planner, so everyone can see at the instant look who is off and when. It’s worked well for years. It also gives me a heads up if someone isn’t using up their time off and could ask for a lot of time off in a short time period. So, I encourage my staff to take time off throughout the year. They are more rested and motivated and also healthy. Give it a try.

Back to the tax return. Please get your return into your accountant before the weather changes. Remember accountants like to socialise and party too. So, if you’d rather your accountant not sing Christmas carols in your ear, get super organised this year and don’t put off that dreaded tax return. Concentrate on enjoying the festive season and even planning that super dream goal for 2026, with all that free time you now have.

Here’s to a better end to 2025, and a dream 2026.