Sophia Bennett

Socials and Softwares AlienSync is a term associated with AlienSync’s ecosystem of social media, software, connectivity and digital workflow content. AlienSync’s own website describes the concept in product-like terms, including centralised social management, scheduling, analytics and integrations. However, there is an important distinction for businesses evaluating it. Publicly available information does not currently provide the […]

The Labour inheritance tax changes are beginning to affect succession planning for family businesses, farms and investors, with further reforms scheduled to take effect in April 2027.  Changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief came into force on 6 April 2026. The government has also frozen the main inheritance tax thresholds until April 2031 and confirmed that […]

A UK SOC code identifies the type of work a person will perform. For most new Skilled Worker visa applications, the salary must be at least £41,700 per year or the full going rate for the relevant SOC 2020 occupation code, whichever is higher. Lower thresholds may apply to qualifying new entrants, people with relevant […]

The Trump tax immunity deal refers to a disputed agreement arising from Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the US Internal Revenue Service. The arrangement sought to protect Trump, members of his family, the Trump Organization and potentially related entities from certain existing tax audits, claims and government investigations. It formed part of a wider settlement that […]

The term DHSC social care income tax refers to reports that officials in the Department of Health and Social Care have examined a new earnings-based contribution to help fund major reforms to adult social care. No new social care income tax has been announced, approved by Parliament or added to workers’ payslips. However, one reported […]

Landlords who have received rental income without reporting the correct amount of tax should consider making an HMRC landlord tax disclosure as soon as possible. HM Revenue and Customs operates the Let Property Campaign, which allows individual residential landlords to voluntarily disclose previously undeclared rental income. After notifying HMRC, the landlord will normally have 90 […]

A sole trader does not legally need a separate business bank account in the UK. Because a sole trader and their business are treated as the same legal person, business income can technically be received into a personal current account. However, the bank’s account terms still matter. Some personal current accounts prohibit or restrict business […]

Self-employed people in the UK do not normally receive Statutory Sick Pay when illness or an injury prevents them from working. Statutory Sick Pay is an employment right paid by an employer, so sole traders, freelancers, independent contractors and self-employed agency workers usually fall outside the scheme. The main financial support available may include New […]

A foreign national can start, own and direct a business in the United Kingdom. There is no general rule requiring a shareholder or company director to be a British citizen or UK resident. However, registering a company and obtaining permission to work in the UK are two separate legal matters. A person may be allowed […]

The typical self-employed carer hourly rate in the UK is approximately £18 to £30 per hour in 2026. An experienced independent carer providing regular personal care will commonly charge around £22 to £28 per hour, while specialist dementia care, palliative support, complex care or short-notice work can cost £28 to £40 per hour or more. […]