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Wednesday 1 July 2026 | 09:00am | Online The UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) are on the horizon, but organisations don’t need to wait for final regulation to take meaningful action. Join our upcoming webinar to gain practical insights into the immediate steps your organisation can take to start preparing for UK SRS today. Even as requirements continue to evolve, there are clear, proactive measures that will help you build a strong foundation for future compliance.

Buying an existing company can accelerate growth, but success hinges on planning and disciplined execution. This guide covers the essentials: building an acquisition business plan that aligns with wider strategy, forming a robust valuation, transaction structuring considerations (including how earn‑outs can protect buyers), evaluating funding options, and running risk-based financial, tax and legal due diligence (DD) with red‑flag DD for smaller, lower‑risk deals.

When preparing VAT returns businesses often identify purchase invoices that are dated in an earlier VAT accounting period, and unless cash accounting, when the VAT is then being reported as recoverable input tax, these are likely to be seen as late claims. HMRC’s guidance for how to treat late claims for input tax has recently been updated to include examples of practical reasons for claims for input tax in later periods.

Saffery in Edinburgh has added 15 staff across corporate tax, accounting and audit, taking its headcount to more than 75. In its corporate tax team, Saffery has appointed Louise Anderson as senior manager, Aimee O’Hara-Wilson as manager and Sophie Murray joins as a tax assistant. George Dickson and Oliver Kelly join the firm’s audit division as senior associates and Max Venditti has been appointed as an associate.

What’s changed – and what’s grown? Over the past year, we’ve built on the strong foundations laid by our Responsible Business (RB) Cornerstone group, evolving our strategy and expanding our reach. We’ve strengthened governance by establishing RB Groups across the firm, empowering teams to engage locally and forge meaningful charity partnerships that deliver real, local impact.

At Saffery, we’re committed to anticipating our clients’ needs and investing in our people to deliver innovative, high-quality solutions. As part of this commitment, we’re delighted to announce that Tolley+ AI is now available to everyone working in tax. This powerful new tool enhances the way we work and supports our teams in delivering high-quality advice with even greater confidence.

The current economic landscape presents significant challenges for charities. Income generation, particularly through fundraising, is becoming increasingly difficult, while operational costs continue to rise. In this climate, preparing and then sticking to a balanced budget is demanding for charities of all sizes. As a result, charities are beginning to ask whether the needs of their beneficiaries could be better met through a merger with another charity.

A year after opening its doors at Wellington Place in Leeds, Saffery is marking a successful 12 months of strong client demand and rapid growth. Saffery has grown its Leeds team to more than 80 people and continues to recruit across all levels to meet rising client demand from businesses and individuals throughout Yorkshire and the North. The firm plans to double the size of its corporate tax team over the next four years, as part of its long-term investment in the region.

HMRC has launched a targeted campaign aimed at UK holding companies of overseas subsidiaries that claim deductions for management expenses. This initiative, often referred to as a ‘nudge’ campaign, is designed to encourage businesses to review their approach and ensure compliance with the rules. Why is HMRC sending nudge letters on management expenses? HMRC is sending letters to holding companies it believes may have incorrectly deducted management expenses.

The agricultural sector is facing challenges like never before, the impact of climate change is becoming more pronounced, coupled with recent changes to the UK tax regime. Consequently, careful and detailed budgets have come to the forefront of discussions with our agricultural clients. Impacts on the agricultural budget In June, the performance of this year’s harvest was widely anticipated, with concerns over both quality and yield following an unseasonably dry and hot Spring.