Blogs

If you work in the UK for a company that’s based overseas, you may have heard the term DPNI scheme and wondered what on earth that means. We get asked about this a lot, and it’s one of those things that sounds far scarier than it actually is. The short version is this: a DPNI scheme is HMRC’s way of collecting tax properly when there is no UK employer to run payroll. It’s an administrative solution, not a red flag.

Let’s break it down in plain English.

As your accountant, our role is to prepare and submit tax returns that are accurate, complete, and compliant with HMRC’s rules. To do that properly, we rely entirely on the information you provide to us.

Recently, we have been involved in HMRC reviews where earlier tax returns were examined over several years. In these cases, HMRC identified issues that arose because information was missing or incorrect when the returns were originally submitted. Examples included income that had not been disclosed, pension contributions that were reported but not actually paid, and changes in circumstances that were not communicated at the time.

If you’re a subcontractor in the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), it can feel like tax is already being dealt with because deductions come off your payments each month. The good news is that CIS deductions are treated as advance payments towards your tax and National Insurance, and your Self-Assessment return is where everything gets reconciled properly.

VAT can feel like the moment your business “levels up” … and then immediately starts trying to trip you up. I’ve seen brilliant small businesses grow fast, hit the VAT point, and suddenly feel like they’re working for HMRC instead of for themselves. The good news is VAT doesn’t need to take over your business or your cash flow if you plan for it early and set up a few simple habits from day one.

Below are some of the most useful “real life” tips I see small businesses use when they become VAT registered, including a few that save a surprising amount of stress.

As we head into the 2026/2027 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027), it’s worth revisiting how dividend income is taxed and how it should be reported on your Self Assessment return.

This is especially relevant for directors and shareholders of small to medium sized limited companies, where dividends are often part of the overall remuneration strategy.

If you’re thinking about your Self Assessment tax return 2025/26, April is the perfect time to get organised early. The tax year runs from 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, and once the year ends, you can start preparing your return right away — which means less stress, fewer surprises, and better tax planning.

At Anlo, we take the worry, anxiety and time out of managing your tax. We’re not the kind of accountants who only appear once a year — we’re here to support you, talk things through, and make the whole Self Assessment process feel a lot more manageable.

In plain English, it means keeping your business records in digital form and sending updates to HMRC through approved software, rather than relying on manual processes and last‑minute paperwork.

For most people, the goal is simple: fewer errors, less stress at year end, and a clearer picture of what’s going on in your business as you go. MTD already applies to all VAT registered businesses. VAT‑registered businesses must keep VAT records digitally and submit VAT Returns using MTD‑compatible software.

We wanted to take a moment to update you on a few regulatory and compliance changes that are either already in effect or coming very soon. None of these are intended to alarm, but they are important, and we believe in keeping you informed so there are no surprises.

As we head toward the tax return deadline, I wanted to share a really simple explanation of capital allowances and some important changes that are coming in from 1 January 2026 and April 2026. I know this topic can feel complicated, but my goal is to make it easy to understand and to show how the rules apply in real situations many of you ask me about every year.