Many married couples and civil partners could be missing out on valuable tax savings available by claiming the Marriage Allowance. If your circumstances are suitable, this is a reminder to consider
Author: Aitch
Aitch is the visionary founder and CEO of CIGMA Accounting Ltd, a boutique accounting and tax advisory firm with offices in Wimbledon and Farringdon, London. With over a decade of experience, Aitch has built a reputation for strategic tax planning, complex HMRC compliance resolution, and innovative AI-powered accounting workflows that help SMEs, landlords, and high-net-worth clients streamline their finances.
His expertise spans corporation tax, inheritance tax planning, R&D tax credit claims, capital allowances, and international tax matters, making him a trusted advisor for clients seeking to minimise tax liabilities while staying fully compliant.
Aitch is passionate about bridging traditional accounting principles with cutting-edge digital solutions, allowing businesses to operate efficiently and future-proof their financial systems. Through CIGMA, he aims to make accounting smarter, faster, and more human-centric � empowering clients to focus on growth while staying ahead of regulatory changes.
Pension tax relief and allowances
Pensions remain one of the most tax-efficient ways to save for retirement, due to a range of tax reliefs and allowances that can help boost retirement savings. One of the key advantages of private
Are you affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge?
Families claiming Child Benefit should be aware of the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), which can apply when one member of the household has a higher income. The charge applies where an
Allowable expenses for the self-employed
If you are self-employed, claiming all of your allowable business expenses can significantly reduce your tax bill. For example, if your business turnover is £40,000 and you have £10,000 of allowable
A reminder of the tax rules for online sellers
A reminder that the tax rules for how online platforms report seller information to HMRC changed on 1 January 2024. Digital platforms such as eBay, Vinted and Airbnb are required to collect and verify
Tax on rental income
If you receive income from renting out property, it is important to understand your tax obligations and the reliefs that may be available. Rental income is generally taxable, although landlords can
Where a formal job offer effectively creates a binding contract
In the world of HR, the ubiquitous disclaimer "subject to references" is often viewed by employers as an escape clause, one which allows them to withdraw an offer at any time before
Companies House publishes its business plan
Companies House has published its business plan for 2026-27, setting out its priorities for the coming year as it continues to implement major reforms aimed at improving the quality of information
Government reviews access to face-to-face banking services
The government has announced a review into access to face-to-face banking services as concerns continue to grow over the impact of bank branch closures on local communities, older customers and small
Increase in approved mileage rates
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves updated Parliament on 21 May 2026 on the Government’s economic response to the war in Iran and the wider measures being taken to support households and
Government measures to ease rising fuel costs
The government has announced a package of measures intended to help motorists and businesses manage rising fuel costs following disruption linked to the conflict in Iran. As part of the package, the
Key person policies and tax relief
Many businesses take out “key person” insurance policies to protect against the financial impact of losing an important employee, director or other individual who is central to the success
A reminder of tax-free trivial benefits
Employers looking to provide staff with small gifts or seasonal tokens of appreciation should remember the rules for tax-free trivial benefits. A benefit can qualify as a trivial benefit where all of
IHT – gifts made with reservation of benefits
Most lifetime gifts are treated as potentially exempt transfers (PETs) for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes. In general, these gifts become fully exempt if the donor survives for seven years after
Claiming to reduce payments on account
Self-assessment taxpayers are usually required to make payments on account to pay their Income Tax liabilities. These are paid in two instalments, the first on 31 January during the tax year and the
VAT – opting to tax property
The option to tax is a VAT election that allows businesses to treat supplies of most non-residential land and buildings as taxable rather than VAT exempt. Once an option to tax is made, supplies in
Tougher action on late payments
The Government has introduced a landmark new Bill aimed at tackling the growing problem of late payments to small businesses, with ministers describing the measures as the biggest crackdown in more
New measures aimed at easing living costs
The Government has announced a new package of measures designed to help households manage rising living costs during the summer months, as concerns continue over inflation, fuel prices and household
Making Tax Digital – which software to use
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax is now in force for many self-employed individuals and landlords. Since 6 April 2026, taxpayers with qualifying business or property income exceeding £50,000
Fiscal drag explained
The freezing of tax thresholds can result in a phenomenon commonly referred to as 'fiscal drag'. This occurs when tax allowances and rate bands remain unchanged while wages and inflation increase. As
Verify your ID at Companies House
Identity verification requirements at Companies House became a legal requirement for directors and people with significant control (PSCs) from 18 November 2025. This date marked the start of a
Can you claim Business Asset Disposal Relief
Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) applies to the sale of a business, shares in a trading company, or an individual’s interest in a trading partnership. When this relief is available, a reduced 18%
VAT Cash Accounting
The VAT Cash Accounting Scheme can help businesses improve cash flow by allowing VAT to be accounted for when customers actually pay invoices, rather than when invoices are issued. This can be
Landlord tax and National Insurance considerations
When renting out property, landlords may have both Income Tax and National Insurance considerations to consider. However, rental income is generally taxable. For individuals, the first £1,000 of
New employers check list
Taking on your first employee can help a business grow, although it also brings a number of important responsibilities. Before employing staff for the first time, business owners should consider the
Covering basic business risks
Many business owners spend considerable time focusing on sales growth, staffing and profitability, although basic business risks are sometimes overlooked until a problem arises. A simple review of key
Can a tribunal be fair after all is long said and done?
Employment disputes can drag on for years, which inevitably raises the question of how long is too long for a hearing to be deemed fair. Mr. Boateng was originally employed in January 2017 by a
Reclaiming VAT on car leasing costs
Businesses that lease cars often assume they can recover all of the VAT charged on car leasing payments. In practice, the rules are more limited. Where a business leases a qualifying car, HMRC
Tax-free gifts for Inheritance Tax purposes
Making gifts during your lifetime can be an effective way to reduce the value of your estate for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes. One of the most commonly used exemptions is the annual exemption. This
Tax effects of living away from your home
Many homeowners assume that if a property has been their main residence at some point, any gain made on sale will automatically be free from Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Whilst in many cases, this is