HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed it uses AI to scan social media posts as part of criminal investigations into suspected tax and benefits fraud.

That means, if you are posting content that could be viewed as advocating for, admitting to, or describing tax avoidance, you could find yourself at the centre of legal action.

Why is HMRC browsing social media?

HMRC says AI tools have been used for several years to compile and analyse data.

It is keen to assert that it is only in criminal cases where fraud is suspected that social media checks are being conducted.

The move comes as the department is expanding compliance resources following the Government announcement of 5,500 new compliance staff.

The technology supplements human judgement and operates under legal oversight, and it is intended to free up staff to focus on helping taxpayers and targeting evasion.

Does AI help to catch fraud?

AI can pull together publicly available information from platforms and flag pieces of evidence that merit human review.

In practice, investigators have long read suspects’ social posts to spot discrepancies.

Automation speeds the collation and helps prioritise cases for investigators, but the process is not entirely without risk.

Experts caution that fake, hacked or misattributed accounts could generate false leads.

Automation may also miss context that a human reviewer would catch, so robust oversight is essential.

Be mindful of what you post online, as even jokingly describing the steps to avoid tax might put you on HMRC’s radar.

If you have any concerns about under-declaring your tax, speak to a professional confidentially rather than posting about it on social media.

This will let you get control of the situation without automatically being detected by HMRC.

If you are unsure about your position, seek professional advice before making voluntary disclosures or amending returns.

We can help make sure your tax filings are fully compliant, so please speak to our team today.

After months of uncertainty, Companies House has set the identity-verification deadline as 18 November 2025.

From that date, all new company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) must verify their identity.

Existing directors and PSCs will then have 12 months to complete verification, which means 18 November 2026 is the true identity verification deadline.

How should directors prepare?

If you are a new director, verify your identity before your first filing.

If you are an existing director, 18 November 2025 begins a transition year as you must be verified before your company’s next confirmation statement.

You will need to supply Companies House with your personal code and a verification statement for each director listed.

If any directors or PSCs are overseas or likely to be delayed, contact them now.

Directors with multiple companies must link the same personal code to each role separately.

Check your next confirmation date on the Companies House website, and if you need help, get in touch with our team.

How should PSCs prepare?

PSCs must provide their personal code via an online service.

Each PSC has a 14-day window to submit their code, and exact dates depend on when the PSC was registered and whether they are also a director.

If you have already verified your identity, you still need to supply your personal code and a verification statement for each role.

How do you verify?

You can use the DIY option via GOV.UK One Login or use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

However, using an ACSP is the easy option if you want to ensure that there are no issues with getting your identity verified.

ACSPs can manage the entire process, reduce errors and submit filings on your behalf.

Only registered ACSPs may verify identities, so be sure to avoid unregistered third parties.

Speak to our team to make sure you are ready for the identity verification deadline!

The Treasury is reportedly revisiting Inheritance Tax (IHT) as ministers hunt for extra revenue.

While the Chancellor considers several options, IHT reforms remain a likely avenue, and now may be a good time to restructure your assets to avoid a larger IHT bill.

How could Inheritance Tax change?

No decisions have been finalised, but several serious proposals are circulating.

The clearest change already announced is that unused pension pots will be brought into the IHT net from April 2027.

That single change will bring many more estates into scope and has already altered planning strategies.

Gifting, a common tool to reduce IHT exposure, is under particular scrutiny.

Policymakers are discussing measures to curb or restrict gifting and may adjust the tapering that currently applies.

At present, gifts made within seven years of death remain relevant to IHT and are taxed at a tapered rate, while those made earlier are generally ignored.

The current rates are:

• 32 per cent for gifts made three to four years before death
• 24 per cent for gifts made four to five years before death
• 16 per cent for gifts made five to six years before death
• 8 per cent for gifts made six to seven years before death

It is believed that these rules could be subject to change in the Autumn Budget, although nothing is confirmed yet.

What can I do to lower an Inheritance Tax bill?

With uncertainty ahead, the smart first step is to quantify your estate so you know what might be exposed.

For pensions, consider how the 2027 change could shift the tax burden and whether drawing income or adjusting death benefits fits your plan.

It is then time to reassess gifting strategies.

While lifetime gifts still have value, their effectiveness will depend on any reforms brought in by the Chancellor.

Whatever the Chancellor decides, we are ready to help you review and restructure your assets to remain as tax-efficient as possible.

To ensure that you retain the most control of your assets even after you go, speak to our team for tailored Inheritance Tax planning.

With UK growth slowing to just 0.3 per cent in Q2, business confidence is fragile.

Momentum has faded after a surge in exports ahead of new tariffs earlier this year, while weaker consumer confidence and persistently high household savings add to the uncertainty.

The upcoming Autumn Budget is amplifying concerns with the expectation that the Chancellor will revisit a range of tax-raising measures to manage a potential £50 billion shortfall.

For businesses, this makes planning investment, recruitment and payroll increasingly challenging.

What might be on the table?

Recent reports suggest the Autumn Budget could bring a range of tax changes:

• Inheritance Tax (IHT) may be reformed, with reliefs on gifts scrapped and adjustments to the residence nil-rate band.
• Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rates could be aligned with Income Tax, potentially extending to high-value homes in a “mansion tax” style levy.
• The VAT threshold might be lowered to £30,000, bringing more small businesses into scope.
• Property taxes could be overhauled, with Stamp Duty replaced by a levy on higher-value homes.
• Pensions may face limits on tax-free lump sums.

Of course, all of these are speculative, but it is that uncertainty that has the capability to hold back investment.

How you can respond to change

The uncertainty is already affecting recruitment intentions, with more businesses relying on temporary or flexible contracts rather than investing in new, permanent staff.

Consumers are saving more and spending less due to caution around potential tax rises, which is hitting revenues in consumer-facing industries.

Major investment decisions are also being delayed until after the Budget in anticipation of more change.

However, even amid uncertainty, you can take steps to reduce risk:

• Plan for different tax scenarios, including higher employer costs or property and CGT changes.
• Review payroll and benefits to stay compliant and competitive.
• Streamline processes with technology to boost efficiency.
• Utilise short-term hiring options, while planning for long-term workforce needs.

Uncertainty does not have to stall growth! Contact our advisers today for tailored support and strategies to keep your business moving forward.

When the Chancellor unveiled £26 billion in additional taxes and higher employer National Insurance contributions (NIC) last autumn, the impact on business confidence was immediate.

Businesses are now trying to manage:

• The new adult National Minimum Wage rate, which has risen to £12.21.
• A 1.2 per cent rise in employer NIC.
• Statutory pay increases and extended family leave entitlements.

For labour-intensive industries such as retail, care, and hospitality, these measures pushed up employment costs by several percentage points almost overnight.

Is wage growth under pressure?

While mandated pay increases have provided a short-term boost to lower earners, broader wage growth is stalling.

A new survey prepared by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) points to starting salaries rising at the slowest pace in over four years.

Payroll budgets have been squeezed to the point where wage increases above statutory minimum are rare.

Between redundancies, job moves, fewer vacancies and career changes, there are more applicants in the job market for employers to choose from.

That supply-demand imbalance has eased pay pressures further, particularly outside specialist and technical fields.

Are businesses reluctant to hire?

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development reports that only 57 per cent of employers plan to recruit in the next three months, down from 65 per cent just last autumn.

Vacancies for permanent roles may have decreased, but temporary and flexible contracts are helping to fill some of the gaps. However, this reflects caution rather than expansion.

Many businesses are delaying investment until there is clarity on future tax policy in the next Autumn Budget.

What it means for you

Balancing compliance with competitiveness is now a key challenge for employers.

We are working alongside businesses like yours to ease the impact of higher costs through smarter payroll planning, reviewing benefits, and using technology to improve efficiency.

Speak to us about a tailored payroll review and discover where efficiencies can ease the pressure.