Local Chartered Certified Accountants for Accounting services in UK

In the UK, self-assessment tax returns have become an annual duty that comes in silently, then suddenly screams for urgent attention. Miss a deadline, and HMRC reacts remarkably quickly, automatically applying escalating penalties for the failure to act accordingly. Knowing what the key dates are, what they mean, and how to stay ahead of them can save you stress, money, and unnecessary correspondence with HMRC. Who Is Required to File a Self-Assessment Return ? You don't have to be a business owner to be obligated to file a self-assessment. You may need to file if you are: Sole trader or self-employed A company director A landlord deriving rental income. A higher-rate taxpayer with untaxed income Somebody receiving income from abroad, investments, or freelancing. If a notice to file has been issued by HMRC, the obligation exists even if you believe no tax is due. The Key UK Self-Assessment Deadlines The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. At the end of the tax year, the clock...

  Banks are 'cost winners' of AI boom, BlackRock says European banks remain undervalued, despite a strong rally AI could add $340 billion annually to global banking, McKinsey LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - After a stellar 2025, investors expect shares in European banks to keep heading higher in 2026, supported by strong earnings and, crucially, cost savings stemming from artificial intelligence. As fears of a recession and  interest rate  cuts from the European Central Bank have subsided, investors have turned even more positive towards European banks, revising up their expectations for the sector, despite a complicated backdrop. Meanwhile, AI  https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/  has emerged as a new force drawing investors to European lenders' shares, partly because a dearth of technology companies in the region has forced many to hunt for AI beneficiaries in old-economy markets. Banks have started to use AI to improve operational efficienc...

Image caption, Roy Marsh was issued a fine for spitting in Skegness A man who was fined for spitting out a leaf after it blew into his mouth has joined calls for "responsible" litter enforcement. Roy Marsh, 86, was hit with a £250 fine after an incident in Skegness, Lincolnshire, earlier this year. The story emerged after Adrian Findley, a county councillor, said he had received a number of complaints about similar "heavy handed" incidents in the seaside resort. East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) said enforcement teams, who work on behalf of the authority, would "only approach individuals who have been seen committing environmental crime offences". Mr Marsh claimed he was reprimanded as he stopped for a rest while walking across the South Parade Car Park in February. "As I was sitting there, a gale blew a big reed into my mouth. I spat it out and just as I got up to walk away two guys [enforcement officers] came up to me," he said. Mr Marsh was...

  Apple   ( AAPL ) stock has received three price-target hikes from Wall Street analysts this week. They see the consumer electronics giant benefiting from strong iPhone sales and the launch soon of an AI-powered Siri digital assistant. Late Monday, Citi analyst Atif Malik reiterated his buy rating on Apple stock and upped his price target to 330 from 315. But on the  stock market today , Apple stock dipped 0.3% to close at 277.18. Owners of iPhone 12 and 13 model handsets bought during the Covid pandemic of 2020 and 2021 are "entering their upgrade window," Malik said in a client note. He sees robust iPhone 17 sales throughout 2026 as consumers upgrade their smartphones. Malik also noted the possibility that Apple could push the release of the base model iPhone 18 from fall 2026 to early 2027. Earlier on Monday, Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives raised his price target on Apple stock to 350 from 320. He kept his outperform rating. "2026 is going to finally be the y...

British Airways delayed the first wave of departures from London Heathrow to Belfast City, Dublin, Edinburgh and Manchester Many thousands of travellers on Tuesday and Wednesday have been hit by transport delays and cancellations as Storm Bram sweeps in. The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for parts of southwest England, south Wales and the northwest of Scotland on Tuesday. Yellow warnings for wind and rain cover Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, as well as Northumberland, Cumbria, the Pennines and northwest England, including Manchester and Liverpool. On Wednesday, the warnings are for wind covering northern England and Scotland. Dozens of flights and ferry crossings, particularly across the Irish Sea and in the Western Isles, have been cancelled. Many trains face delays and cancellations – particularly in Wales and Scotland. Air British Airways  has cancelled the first wave of departures from London Heathrow to Belfast City, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manches...

  The government says some 50,000 young people are expected to benefit from a programme to expand apprenticeships as it looks to tackle youth unemployment . The £725 million package, which was earmarked in the Budget and covers the next three years, will be used to create apprenticeships in sectors including AI , hospitality and engineering . Apprenticeships for people under the age of 25 at small and medium-sized businesses will be fully funded as part of the package, removing the 5% that they currently have to pay. The government is aiming to reverse a decline in the number of young people starting apprenticeships, which has fallen by almost 40% in the past decade. The funding also includes £140m for a pilot that the Department for Work and Pensions says will allow local mayors to connect young people with employers and apprenticeship opportunities, although it is unclear exactly how the money will be used. A programme of short courses in areas including AI, engineering and ...