Smarter Blog 19/11/2025 – Pre Budget

We hope everyone is well. Winter has arrived in recent days with the temperatures taking a tumble, but at least it’s been dry. Hopefully we can avoid further rain and dry and crisp days would be nice for getting out and about.

Today’s blog is to update you on a few things that are around, not least the budget that is happening next Wednesday, 26 November.

Rachel Reeves budget is certainly worrying a number of us. It feels like pantomime season has come early with indications that she was going to raise income tax and now she isn’t! Oh yes she is, oh no she isn’t! The Government has a budget gap to fill and therefore we can expect tax rises next week. The constant rumours and speculation are very unhelpful, and it feels like the budget just needs to be released to stop these rumours circulating. Our advice is not to make decisions based on rumours but await the actual budget. As always, we will update you on the implications once we’ve heard the budget and had time to digest the reports behind it.

Other items:

• Self-Assessment Tax Returns – This is our busy time of year, and the Smarter guys and girls are working hard to make sure that we meet the deadline for 2024/25 tax returns, which must be filed by the 31 January 2026. If you haven’t yet got your records in then get them in as soon as you can please.
• New Staff – We have been busy recruiting over the last few months and have had some new faces join the team. We have been struggling to recruit for a while, a common theme in the industry and across a lot of other sectors as well we understand from people we talk to, but have done really well since August. We welcome the new staff to the team and I’m sure you’ll share in welcoming them too:
  • Elaine Ashenhurst – Office Manager based in the Teignmouth Office
  • Jodie Boyd – Accounting Technician in the Teignmouth Office
  • Anna Whittle – Senior Accountant in the Teignmouth Office
  • Claire Unsworth – Accounting Technician in the Crediton Office
  • Kayleigh O’Neill – Accounting Technician in the Crediton Office
• Companies House Identity Verification – We have previously written out about this one and just a reminder that if you are a Director or a PSC of a Limited company then you need to complete the ID Verification. From 18 November any new filings with Companies House require us to have the verification code. If you have not yet done this, please do, and let us have your resulting Personal Code. You can find the more detailed guidance HERE >
• Companies House Fee Increases – Over the last couple of years with the new responsibilities given to Companies House to properly monitor Limited companies, certain filing fees have increased already but further increases have been announced from 1 February 2026. We pay these on behalf of clients, where relevant, and charge them on. The notable increases that will be coming through are:
  • Confirmation statement fee – will increase to £50 per filing (currently £34)
  • Incorporation fee – will increase to £100 per new company (currently £50)

We provide more regular updates via Facebook. Therefore, if you want the latest news, please like our Facebook page HERE >

Best wishes, take care