We are delighted to announce that Dr. Anjulika Salhan has been selected to receive the Editor’s Choice award from CEO Insights (visit them at https://www.ceoinsightsindia.com). This award recognizes outstanding leaders who have demonstrated innovation and excellence across several key parameters while delivering high levels of customer satisfaction.

It is an annual distinction that showcases the exceptional leadership skills of individuals who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. We are honoured to have Dr. Salhan as part of our community and applaud her achievements in advancing her profession.

Dr Anjulika Salhan is currently the Managing Director at System Holdings, Salhan Accountants, and Xpert Technologies.

System Holdings are fintech specialists who use the latest tech to help all sorts of businesses across the world to be more flexible and meet their customers’ needs. System Holdings (system-holdings.co.uk)

Salhan Accountants offer an outstanding and comprehensive accountancy service that encompasses every aspect of finance from investment advice, HR outsourcing, budgeting, yearly accounts and tax litigation support to name a few. Services – Accountants Birmingham and Droitwich (salhanaccountants.co.uk)

Xpert Technologies provide software solutions that are changing the game for small and medium-sized businesses all over the UK. Xpert Technologies – Accountancy software for small businesses (xpert-technologies.co.uk)

As a fintech entrepreneur and two-time recipient of the English Women’s award, Anjulika is a dynamic individual who consistently pioneers new technological and software solutions to address complex challenges within the accountancy industry.

Her unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and service excellence is the hallmark of her professional approach. We take great pride in having her as a valued member of our team, and we eagerly anticipate a promising future with her at the helm, driving progress through her innovative ideas and approaches.

Salhan Accountants are delighted to announce the acquisition of PA Chartered Accountants and we warmly welcome Paul and all the clients he brings with him.

PA Chartered Accountants, which has been led by Paul Alton, has a strong client base in the Midlands and offered an advisory service to families and businesses and a consultancy service to other accountants.

This acquisition is part of  Salhan Accountants continued strategy to increase its client base and continuously enhance its offerings to its clients. PA Chartered Accountants clients will gain from these service offerings and our years of experience.

We excited to announce today the launch of Xpert Training – https://xpert-training.xyz/

With the economy suffering, the job market has never been so competitive. Potential employees need to stand out from the crowd if they hope to secure a position. Alternatively, many individuals are turning to self-employment, creating their own position.

With this in mind, we at Xpert Training have created an e-learning system, offering a wide range of courses, aimed at providing specialised skills. Users can choose from over 800 courses, with content covering various aspects of entrepreneurship and professional development.

Everyone is different, and it’s for this reason why we have compiled an extensive platform of courses, covering many different essential skills. We built Xpert Training with eight categories of people in mind, in the hope of offering something for everyone. These categories include:

• Getting ready for a job
• People Skills
• Entrepreneurs
• Managers Training
• Employee Management
• Sales Training
• Logistics and Supply Chain
• Marketing Training

It’s worth noting that these are just starting points, and we recommend that users take a look at the course list as we offer a diverse portfolio.

Education can play a vital role in changing lives, and we want to play our part in this, utilising the power of online learning. Online courses offer flexibility and can be completed at home and with the advent of lockdown, this is more important than ever before. We believe that education is empowering, motivating and can really level the playing field, ensuring that everyone has a chance at the same opportunities in their chosen career.

Our platform provides high quality, enriching training courses, but we understand that affordability is also an important issue. Therefore, we offer competitive pricing, ensuring that our courses are as accessible to as many people as possible.

We at Xpert Training hope this is the first step in upskilling the nation!

If you have any questions about our platform or you’d just like more information on what we have to offer, please feel free to get in touch with our amazing customer service team.

Visit the website and take a look for yourself: https://xpert-training.xyz/

New company car advisory fuel rates have been published and took effect from 1 June 2026.

The guidance states: ‘you can use the previous rates for up to one month from the date the new rates apply’. The rates only apply to employees using a company car.

The advisory fuel rates for journeys undertaken on or after 1 June 2026 are:

HMRC guidance states that the rates only apply when you either:

• reimburse employees for business travel in their company cars
• require employees to repay the cost of fuel used for private travel.

You must not use these rates in any other circumstances.

The Advisory Electricity Rate for fully electric cars is below. Electricity is not a fuel for car fuel benefit purposes.

If you would like to discuss your company car policy, please contact us.

Internet link: GOV.UK AFR

Decisive action is needed to tackle the ‘hidden threat’ of crime against businesses damaging growth, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Theft, fraud, scams and cyber-attacks are increasingly affecting firms of all sizes and across all sectors, BCC research has found.

The business group’s research shows that 42% of UK businesses experienced some form of crime in the past year.

The data reveals larger firms are more vulnerable, increasing from 32% among micro-businesses to 58% among firms employing more than 250 people. The manufacturing sector is the hardest hit, with 50% of firms reporting business crime.

The BCC report concludes that business crime is a ‘structural constraint’ and ‘measurable brake’ on UK economic performance.

The BCC is calling for a National Business Crime Strategic Assessment to properly measure the economic harm caused by crime against businesses.

It is also asking for a single cyber-attack reporting system for firms and the creation of Regional Business Crime Hubs.

Ellis Shelton, Policy Manager at the BCC, said: ‘Crime against business is now a serious barrier to growth and investment across the UK.

‘Our research shows many firms are dealing with rising levels of theft, fraud and cyber-attacks. Bosses are being forced to divert crucial time and money to tackling this anchor on growth. 

‘Crime is becoming more sophisticated and there needs to be a step change in the support businesses can count on. 

‘Reducing crime against business isn’t just about protecting balance sheets. It’s about removing structural barriers to growth.’

Internet link: BCC

The government must take the chance to fix the UK’s broken business rates system, says the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

The business group says anxiety about business rates rose to 41% in its Quarterly Economic Survey for the first quarter of 2026.

This is the highest level since the BCC started asking the question in 2017.

Companies cite cost pressure from business rates as a key reason for increasing prices and delaying expansion of their premises.

While the government made some concessions on business rates for pubs and live music venues earlier this year, BCC research shows business concerns are much wider.

Kate Shoesmith, Director of Policy and Insights at the BCC, said:

‘Reforming business rates was a key manifesto pledge of the government, but it has only tinkered around the edges.

‘The government must deliver the more ambitious root and branch reform of the whole system that it promised. 

‘As first steps, it should mitigate the steep jumps in bills across all sectors caused by the 2026 revaluation and introduce a single flat rate multiplier.

‘This shift should then jumpstart a more rigorous consultation with business on how to fully reform what is a complex and rigid system.

‘They are ready to contribute innovative thinking on change without costing the Exchequer. There are other tax mechanisms that can meet the goal of widening the tax base to allow for a lower multiplier.’

Internet link: BCC

The government will contact thousands of young people about forgotten Child Trust Funds (CTFs) in a bid to reunite account holders with their accounts that are now worth £2,200 on average.

CTFs were introduced by the government in 2005 and applied to children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.

The government is now undertaking an extensive awareness campaign urging young people to locate their CTFs through the free ‘Find My Child Trust Fund’ service on GOV.UK.

Many young people are unaware they have a CTF and over 750,000 accounts are unclaimed. The government says it is determined to act so every young person that has a CTF is aware of how to access it.

In order to build on existing efforts, HMRC will be writing to all 21-year-olds whose accounts remain unclaimed to make them aware they have a CTF.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Lucy Rigby, said:

‘Hundreds of thousands of young people in this country don’t know they have a CTF, let alone how to access it. Some will have a couple of thousand pounds sat there that would really help them as they begin adult life.

‘I’m determined that those who have CTFs are made aware they have this money.

‘Together, we will ensure funds from these Child Trust Funds can be accessed by young people to help give them the best start to adult life.’

Internet link: HM Treasury

Families travelling this summer will benefit from free bus travel for children as part of the government’s efforts to help with the cost of living.

The government is committing more than £100 million to fund the free fares scheme and also continuing to support bus services. Every child aged five to 15 in England will travel free on participating local buses throughout August – with unlimited journeys, no registration required and at no cost to families.

It is part of a scheme called ‘Great British Summer Savings’, which also includes cutting VAT on family activities from 25 June to 1 September 2026.

The government says this will reduce the costs of children’s meals in restaurants, children’s tickets for theatres and cinemas and tickets for everyone for attractions like soft play, adventure centres and theme parks.

In addition, products including biscuits, chocolate, dried fruit and nuts are set to see targeted cuts to agri-food tariffs, to help to reduce pressure on food prices.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

‘We know many hard-working families are still feeling the squeeze and too often think they have to hold back.

‘By giving every child free bus travel throughout August and cutting tariffs on everyday food items, we’re putting money back into people’s pockets and making life that bit easier.

‘This government is focused on practical steps that help right now – easing pressure on household budgets, supporting parents during the school holidays and backing British businesses.’

Internet link: GOV.UK GOV.UK

The UK government’s formal commitment to legislation to stamp out late payments is an historic moment, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The FSB says small firms have spent years battling a culture of poor payment practices by big businesses towards their smaller suppliers.

The government’s plans for more stringent rules around prompt payment will go ahead in this parliament, the King’s Speech confirmed.

These will include maximum payment terms of 60 days while late payments will also be subject to mandatory interest of 8% above Bank of England base rate.

Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of FSB, said:

‘Late payment destroys thousands of viable small firms a year, damages growth, hits confidence, and keeps hardworking business owners up at night wondering how they will cover wages, bills, and tax payments.

‘For too long, large businesses have used small suppliers as a free overdraft. That’s why FSB has fought hard for these changes and worked in partnership with the government to make them happen.

‘Among the other measures, regulating unscrupulous third-party intermediaries, such as energy brokers and consultants, ending hidden commissions and cowboy sales tactics, is a much-needed move, and we hope the plans set out today will mean small firms finally get a fair deal and transparent energy prices.

‘Proposals to raise visitor levies in England come at a time when the tourism and hospitality sectors are on their knees. If the legislation goes ahead, it must be designed with small firms in mind and avoid being a deterrent to tourism itself.’

Internet link: FSB

Taxpayers who are required to use Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax from April 2026 should sign up now if they haven’t done so already, says the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

Taxpayers who had combined gross income from sole trades and property businesses of more than £50,000 for 2024/25 must use MTD for Income Tax from April 2026.

More taxpayers will be required to use MTD from April 2027 and April 2028. Taxpayers who are not required to use MTD income tax can volunteer to do so.

HMRC estimates that approximately 864,000 taxpayers are required to use MTD for Income Tax from April 2026. The ICAEW says that approximately only 280,000 taxpayers have signed up so far, with 30,000 taxpayers having done so voluntarily.

The Institute said:

‘ICAEW is encouraging taxpayers who have yet to sign up to MTD income tax to do so in good time in order to submit their first quarterly update by 7 August 2026. By signing up in advance of the first filing deadline, taxpayers and agents will give themselves more time to deal with any issues that may arise.’

Internet link: ICAEW

A record 737,891 taxpayers filed their 2025/26 self assessment returns in April, according to figures from HMRC.

The tax authority said that 86,270 taxpayers submitted their return on the first possible day, which was Easter Monday. That made 6 April, the first day of the new tax year, the most popular date for filing.

In total, 298,905 people filed their 2025/26 self assessment tax return in the first week of the tax year.

HMRC says that people who file their tax return early and are owed a tax refund, can receive it sooner.

Anyone unsure whether they need to complete a tax return can use the checker tool on GOV.UK to find out. People new to self assessment must first register to receive their Unique Taxpayer Reference, which they will need when they complete and file their return.

Myrtle Lloyd, Chief Customer Officer at HMRC, said:

‘For thousands of people, filing early and staying on top of their finances has become the norm. It takes the pressure off in January and means they can spend their time focusing on their business and doing things they love.

‘Make a start on your tax return today by searching ‘self assessment’ on GOV.UK.’

Internet link: HMRC