Blog
Welcome to the accountancy blog from ZincBooks
We love to share the latest news, views and advice with our clients and the weekly blog gives us the ideal opportunity to do this.
Feel free to get in touch with us if you wish to discuss any of the blog topics in more detail.
ZincBooks are proactive accountants that offer fantastic services to both companies and individuals. If you are looking for something more than a traditional accountancy service then why not get in touch with us today.
Choosing a Business Rates Agency
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has issued updated advice to help business owners choose and monitor business rates agents more effectively. A key message is that the name listed in the Check and Challenge service must
IHT Agricultural and Business Property Relief changes confirmed
Despite intense lobbying by the farming community, the proposed reduction in IHT Business and Agricultural Property reliefs are included in the draft Finance Bill 2025-26.
On 21 July 2025, the government published draft
Current Inheritance Tax thresholds
Married couples can pass on up to £1 million tax-free if they plan their estates carefully.
The Inheritance Tax (IHT) nil-rate band is currently £325,000. This means there is normally no IHT to pay if an estate is
Capital Gains valuations of goodwill
Who values goodwill when a business is sold? HMRC’s Shares and Assets Valuation team takes the lead.
Whether the goodwill belongs to a sole trader, partnership or limited company, HMRC’s SAV team will either accept the
VAT relief for the disabled
VAT relief is available on goods and services for people with long-term illnesses or disabilities.
There are special VAT reliefs available for certain people living with disabilities or long-term illnesses. These
Verifying your ID at Companies House
You now need to set up a verified GOV.UK One Login to confirm your identity with Companies House.
To verify your identity at Companies House, you can use the GOV.UK online verification service if you have one of several
IHT Unused Pension Funds and Death Benefits changes
It was confirmed with the publication of the draft Finance Bill 2025-26 that measures first announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 to bring most unused pension funds and death benefits into the scope of Inheritance Tax
An employee’s emergency contact details are strictly private
A recent ruling affirms that an employer is directly liable for the unauthorised disclosure of an employee’s private information. An employee worked at a JD Wetherspoon pub for approximately eighteen months, during which
Big cuts to electricity network costs for heavy industries
The UK Government has unveiled a landmark plan to reduce electricity network charges for the country’s most energy intensive industries, such as steel, ceramics, glass and chemicals, slashing costs by up to 90% from
UK Export Finance: Empowering UK Businesses to Go Global
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency and government-backed financier. Its mission is to ensure that no viable UK export fails simply due to lack of funding or insurance.
What UKEF offers
Working
Double Tax Conventions and IHT
Double tax on estates can still hit families hard, even with treaties in place. When someone dies with ties to more than one country, their estate may face inheritance tax in both jurisdictions. Fortunately, the UK has
Helping family or friends with their tax
Need to help a relative or friend with tax? HMRC’s Trusted Helper service makes it quick and easy to support someone online. Whether it is checking Income Tax, updating their personal details or reviewing taxable
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