HB&O awards further promotions
A leading Midlands accountancy firm has announced a series of promotions as it continues to invest in developing talent. HB&O, which has offices in Birmingham, Coventry and Leamington, has promoted eight members of staff across a range of grades, recognising their contribution to the firm’s continued growth and commitment to client service. The promotions include […]
MTD Self Assessment Penalty Changes: What You Need to Know
If you are within the scope of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, or approaching the threshold that will bring you into scope, there is an important change to the penalty regime that you need to understand. The way HMRC charges penalties for late submissions and late payments is changing under MTD for Self Assessment, […]
Major Changes Coming to UK-EU Shipping of Goods: The 2026 Customs Overhaul Explained
If your business ships goods from the UK into the European Union, an important change is coming on 1 July 2026. The EU is removing the traditional duty-free exemption for low-value imports and replacing it with a mandatory €3 customs duty on low-value parcels. Here is what that means in practice, and what you can […]
Temporary VAT Reduction on Children’s Meals and Family Attractions: What Businesses Need to Know
The government has announced a temporary VAT reduction that will affect a wide range of consumer-facing businesses this summer. From 25 June 2026 to 1 September 2026, a reduced rate of VAT of 5% will apply to certain supplies of children’s meals, children’s admission tickets, and entry to qualifying family attractions. This replaces the standard […]
Football stars sign up to HB&O’s new sports finance support
HB&O have launched a new company to provide specialist tax and financial support to professional sportspeople. HB&O Sports Management is dedicated to helping athletes, agents and clubs to manage their finances with confidence. The company aims to simplify matters like tax returns, efficiency, rebates and HMRC correspondence. Offering financial education and long-term planning so that […]
Inheritance Tax (IHT) on Pensions: What the 2027 Changes Mean for You
For decades, leaving your pension untouched has been one of the most effective inheritance tax planning strategies available. Typically, pensions sat outside of estates for IHT purposes, meaning whatever was left in your pot when you died could pass to your loved ones free of inheritance tax. However, from 6 April 2027, that strategy is […]
Young racer on track to emulate F1 heroes after sponsorship deal with HB&O
A talented young racing driver is on track to emulate his hero Lando Norris after signing a sponsorship deal with HB&O this year. Six-year-old sensation Aidan Castleman, from Wolvey, defied the odds – against older drivers and teams with bigger budgets – to finish sixth in his first season in the Super One Series, a […]
What Future Tax Reform Could Mean For Discretionary Trusts
Discretionary trusts have long been a valuable tool for estate planning, offering flexibility, control and a way to manage inheritance tax (IHT) over time. However, the UK tax landscape is now shifting, with changes significant enough to warrant a careful review. The Autumn Budget 2025 has introduced a series of reforms that will change how […]
The true cost of employing staff in Birmingham in 2026
Businesses planning for the next financial year are being urged to factor in the full cost of employment ahead of a series of changes coming into force in April 2026 which will increase the cost of hiring staff. HB&O is warning that many employers may underestimate the full cost of taking on employees when planning […]
Spring Statement 2026 – The Key Takeaways
Overview Many possible changes were the subject of speculation leading up to the Budget: this list includes things that have been ruled out, as well as changes that the Chancellor announced These key points include measures that were announced previously but are about to come into force Measures which will not take effect until future […]
Spring Statement 2026 – The Complete Summary
The purpose of the Spring Statement was to present the economic and fiscal forecast prepared by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Their report estimates economic growth, inflation, unemployment rates and other factors for the next five years, and discusses the effect on the government’s finances. The economists recognise that theirs is not a precise […]
How Our Virtual Finance Office Can Transform Your Finance Function
For many growing businesses, managing finances becomes increasingly challenging as things scale. Processes that once worked well start to create friction, and leadership teams lack the information they need to make confident decisions. HB&O’s Virtual Finance Office (VFO) is designed to solve these challenges by providing a fully outsourced, customisable finance function that integrates seamlessly […]