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Valentine’s Day is often associated with relationships built on trust, communication and long-term commitment. While it may not seem like an obvious comparison, the same principles apply when it comes to your business finances.

A strong relationship with your accountant isn’t about last-minute deadlines or once-a-year compliance. It’s about clarity, confidence and having the right conversations at the right time.

Every business has moments of pressure — that’s normal. What matters is recognising the difference between short-term challenges and early warning signs that something needs attention.

February is a good time to pause and reflect. The year is underway, January figures are in, and patterns are starting to emerge. Spotting financial red flags early can prevent small issues from becoming costly problems later on.

January is often full of good intentions. New budgets are set, forecasts are agreed, and plans feel achievable.

February is when reality quietly checks in.

By now, most businesses have a full month of trading behind them — enough data to step back and ask an important question:
Is the business performing the way we expected it to?

April 2026 may feel some distance away, but a number of significant tax and regulatory changes are already confirmed and will have a direct impact on business owners, directors and family enterprises.

The key message is simple: these changes reward early planning. Businesses that understand what’s coming and prepare in advance will have far more flexibility than those forced to react later.

Below, we’ve outlined the main changes to be aware of — and why now is the right time to start the conversation.

Today’s businesses expect more from their financial information than a set of year-end accounts. They want clarity, speed, and real-time insight — and digital accounting is how that expectation is met.

Across Northern Ireland and beyond, businesses are increasingly turning to cloud-based accounting systems to work smarter, not harder. The goal isn’t to replace people or relationships — it’s to remove unnecessary admin and free up time for better decision-making.

After the rush of Christmas trading, year-end deadlines and festive distractions, many Northern Ireland business owners finally get a moment to pause. It’s the ideal time to step back, look at the bigger picture, and reset before the year gathers pace.

A financial reset in January isn’t about dramatic change or reacting to headlines. It’s about clarity, control and confidence — and putting the right foundations in place early.

From April 2026, proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) could have a significant and disproportionate impact on Northern Ireland farms and family-owned businesses.

For many individuals and business owners, the 31 January 2026 self-assessment deadline is one of the most important dates in the tax calendar. Yet it’s also one that often creates unnecessary stress — particularly when left until the final weeks.

As the year draws to a close, December offers a valuable — and often overlooked — opportunity for business owners to get clarity on their finances before the new year begins.

Rather than rushing through year-end adjustments in January, taking time now to tidy up your accounts can make year-end smoother, tax planning more accurate, and business decisions far more informed.

Here’s how to close the books with confidence — and how a digital approach can make the process far simpler.

In the days following the Autumn Budget, it’s understandable that many business owners feel unsettled. Headlines focus on tax rises, reforms and rising costs — but the reality is that most of the significant Budget changes won’t take effect until April 2026 or later.

That breathing space is important.

For many business owners, January has built an unfortunate reputation.
Tax deadlines. Payroll changes. HMRC letters. A full inbox before you’ve even finished the Christmas chocolates.

But it really doesn’t have to be that way.

With a bit of preparation before the end of the year, January can be clear, controlled — and even productive. Here’s how planning now can save you time, stress, and last-minute decisions later.

As Christmas approaches, many business owners are rightly thinking about rewarding staff, thanking clients, and closing out the year on a positive note.

The 2025 Autumn Budget delivered one of the most consequential sets of tax changes for directors and owner-managed businesses in recent years. While headline rates for corporation tax remain unchanged, the real impact for business owners lies in the reforms to dividends, income tax thresholds, and National Insurance on pension contributions — all of which will directly affect how directors pay themselves, how they plan, and how much tax they ultimately owe.

After numerous rumours and an early leak of the Office of Budget Responsibility’s report on their findings, Rachel Reeves delivered her 2025 Budget on 26 November 2025 which she stated took the ‘fair and necessary choices to deliver on the government’s promise of change’.

As we enter Budget Week, anticipation is building around what Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce on Wednesday, 26 November — and what it will mean for businesses across the UK and Northern Ireland.

While no tax changes have been confirmed, several clear signals from the Treasury, economic data, and recent ministerial comments point to the direction of travel. For business owners, this week isn’t about guessing outcomes — it’s about understanding the landscape and preparing for potential change.

Here are the key themes worth watching as we head into Budget Day.