We don’t like to jump the gun but it feels like Spring is here and bringing with it some welcome optimism for the year ahead. 

Hopefully your and your clients businesses are enjoying a boost too but there is still lots of time left if they’re just getting going.

Over the past month there’s been plenty of news for accountants that you might have missed so we’ve gathered together in one place.

You can also catch up on all the other business and insolvency news stories from the week right here. 

We also have our Accounts Hub so you’ll be able to access the most important and timely insolvency information whenever you need it. 

We’re always keen to hear what you think so please email us at ask@businessrescueexpert.co.uk because we really want to write what you really want to read!

75% of accountants stressed in Jan

More than three in four accountants reported feeling stressed about returning to work in 2026. 

Research from the chartered accountants charity CABA surveyed 500 accountants and 74% reported feeling more stressed in January than in any other month with end-of-year workloads and post-holiday period backlogs being identified as the primary stressors. 

Personal financial strain and seasonal factors such as reduced daylight hours and bad weather also contributed with 32% of respondents admitting that this culminated in feelings of burnout. 

The data also showed that 41% of accountants believed burnout has become a normalised part of their working culture. 

Cristian Holmes, chief executive of Caba, said: “Chartered accountants uphold exceptionally high professional standards, but we have seen that it can make it difficult for them to ask for help.

“But accountants are only human. They face challenges just like everyone else. 

“We urge anyone who is struggling to reach out – whether to a loved one, a friend, a member of their community or to us. No matter how you’re feeling, there is always someone ready to listen, offer support and help you find a way forward.

He added: “We know that the right support can make a real difference. Last year alone, we delivered nearly 5,700 instances of support, including financial grants and donations, totalling almost £2 million.”

Accountants Salaries are increasing

Some good news to report from the past 12 months is that accountant’s salaries are up 4.3% to £42,100 with the average finance director being paid £117,000 with more accountants stressing that salary is more important to them than other benefits such as free parking or cycle to work schemes.

The benefits that were preferred were onsite parking, hybrid working, longer holidays at Christmas and free refreshments but these are also considered secondary to cash according to the latest Reed Accountancy & Finance Salary Guide. 

11% of respondents said they would happily give up soft benefits for higher pay – even benefits like health insurance were not seen as attractive by 6% of respondents. Only 21% of employees worked in organisations with annual salary increments although the majority of staff across the accountancy sector received pay rises in the last year.

The report said: “While offering a higher salary remains the most direct way to attract and retain employees, the benefits package also plays a role, especially for businesses unable to match top-tier salaries. However 15% of respondents currently say they receive no workplace benefits at all.

Paula Gallagher, regional director at Reed, said: “There was a growing emphasis on fringe benefits, even for junior roles. Healthcare plans and extended notice periods, such as three months for accounts receivable positions, became more common as employers sought to retain their workforce in a fiercely competitive market.

“However, while hybrid working remained an expectation, younger professionals, especially at entry level, showed a surprising preference for office-based roles, valuing the social interaction and learning opportunities it provided.”

The report also found that accountancy faces an “imbalance in the talent pool”, which is affecting top salaries due to increased competition. 

“One of the most notable trends is the growing importance of roles that bridge the gap between finance and strategy. Positions like finance business partners and commercially focused finance directors are increasingly in demand.” said Ms Gallagher.

“There’s a clear trend away from roles that simply manage day-to-day finances. Instead companies are prioritising the recruitment of strategic finance leaders who can add tangible value and drive growth”.

Look ahead to April 6th

Several practitioners and wise accounting heads are looking ahead to April this year as something of a “compliance cliff”. 

They see the next few weeks as the final window to prepare clients for a convergence of digital reporting and capital gains hikes, as well as a fundamental restructuring of inheritance tax relief. 

This isn’t just a “software update” but a structural shift in how the industry defines compliance. 

  1. MTD for ITSA: The £50,000 Gross Income Reality

On April 6th 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD for ITSA) finally became a reality for sole traders and landlords with gross qualifying income of over £50,000.

The gross element needs particular consideration. Several landlords previously considered small-scale due to high mortgage interest suppressing net profits are suddenly in scope with HMRC using 2024/25 tax year figures to determine mandation. If your clients hit the £50,001 mark last year then they must be digital by April. 

The first quarterly update is due by August 7th 2026 and replaces the “one and done” annual scramble with a continuous data-ingestion model. For clients still using traditional accounting, bridging software is a temporary fix but native cloud integration is the only way to protect a company’s recovery rates.

  1. The 18% BADR Threshold: The End of Cheap Exits

Following the trajectory set in the Autumn Budget of 2024, the rate for Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) and Investors’ Relief (IR) will rise from 14% to 18%.

While the lifetime limit remains capped at £1 million, the 4% increase represents a steep increase. For a client disposing of a business at the full limit, the tax bill will have climbed from £100,000 in 2024 to £180,000 in 2026. 

Profit & Loss filing shake-up for small businesses

Small businesses and micro entities will no longer be required to file their profit and loss accounts with Companies House from April 2027. 

An update from Companies House said: “Changes to accounts filing will not be introduced in April 2027. The reforms are still under review and a final decision will be announced shortly. Companies will receive at least 21 months’ notice to prepare. 

Companies House didn’t release a statement but said the accounts reforms are under review following stakeholder concerns about the need to “strike the right balance between tackling economic crime and avoiding undue burden on business.”

Companies House increasing prices

Certain fees for registering a business on Companies House are rising with costs for incorporation nearly doubling and paper submissions becoming much more expensive.

The key changes are:-

  • Incorporation digital filing will rise from £50 to £100
  • Confirmation Statement digital filing from £34 to £50
  • Filing paper confirmation statements from £34 to £110
  • Registering as an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP) from £55 to £63
  • Same day change of name from £83 to £85
  • Voluntary strike off submitted digitally from £33 to £13
  • Registration of a charge from £15 to £14
  • Administrative restoration from £468 to £341

Number of charities filing late accounts up by a half

Some charities are delaying filing accounts that might highlight “undesirable results” because they don’t want to shake donors’ confidence according to new data from the Charity Commission. 

This could be a factor in the number of charities filing their accounts late jumping by more than 50% in 2023/24 from 11,778 to 17,773.

The sector has been facing increasing financial stress compounded by falling donations and government funding. The reductions in funding had put a strain on charities’ finances forcing them to cut spending and jobs including in their finance and accounts departments. 

Hazra Patel, partner at Lubbock Fine who undertook additional research for the study said: “This reduced manpower, as well as the complexity of charity accounting regulations, means they’re struggling to meet deadlines or delaying the filing of accounts. 

“Delaying also raises concerns among donors who don’t want to donate to a charity with weak internal controls and processes that may put the use of the donated funds in jeopardy. That loss of confidence can reduce general donor support for a charity, making a tough financial situation even worse.”