Good morning clients and friends,
Is it a good morning? After all the noise, this recent Autumn Statement felt more like a downpour than a hurricane, but still wet enough to soak through.
The government spent weeks warning us of the worst, only to hand out a lighter blow than expected. That said, the 2% rise in dividend tax still stings. When you crunch the numbers, that’s a 2% increase on the rate, but it equates to 23% rise in what you actually pay. It’s another frustrating move, particularly for entrepreneurs, landlords, and savers.
There’s a real sense that this Budget is designed to drive behavioural change, nudging people towards stock market investments, discouraging property ownership, and chipping away at traditional sources of income. It’s stirred a lot of emotion (and anger!) and I’ve broken it all down in our latest podcast. If you'd like to hear my unfiltered thoughts, click the links below to listen or read my article.
In other news, the Companies House verification process is now live, and, in true government fashion, it’s not gone smoothly. Many submissions are being rejected despite being completed correctly. It’s a bit of a mess, but the key takeaway is: you still need to complete the verification.
You can do this online with your passport, pop into the Post Office, or if you'd prefer us to handle it, we're offering this as a service for £75 + VAT. Just let us know.
A quick reminder! Self Assessment season is here!
There are only two months left until the deadline, so if you haven’t submitted your info or signed off your return, now’s the time. Please get in touch so we can help you avoid last-minute stress.
This month at Chadwicks:
We welcomed Charlie, our newest team member. Despite his youthful looks, don’t be fooled, he’s a fully qualified accountant and has hit the ground running. We’re excited to see what he’ll achieve!
I also had the pleasure of attending the Women in Change Winners' Lunch in London. Being surrounded by so many inspiring, successful women across different industries was incredible. I’m already looking forward to next year’s retreat with the group.
Finally, we’ve got some exciting tech developments on the horizon. Very soon, you'll be able to access your documents and information through a dedicated app on your phone, making things smoother, faster, and more accessible than ever.
And since today, when i'm writing this is Thanksgiving, a holiday I still celebrate thanks to my international upbringing- I’d like to say a big thank you to all of you. We’re grateful for your continued trust and support.
Until next time,
Rachael
