# News & Insights > Stay informed with the latest tax and accounting news. We share expert insights to help you make smarter financial decisions. Updated: 2025-10-27 1. News and Insights ## Articles [](https://tspartners.co.uk/what-small-businesses-need-to-know-from-hmrcs-2025-stakeholder-conference/) ## [What Small Businesses Need to Know from HMRC’s 2025 Stakeholder Conference](https://tspartners.co.uk/what-small-businesses-need-to-know-from-hmrcs-2025-stakeholder-conference/) HMRC held its annual Stakeholder Conference in London on 16 September 2025, bringing together government officials, tax experts, and business representatives. The big message this year? HMRC wants to work more closely with businesses and advisers as it modernises the UK’s tax system. HMRC’s Three Big Priorities : In his first major speech as Exchequer \[…\] October 17, 2025 [](https://tspartners.co.uk/how-a-lost-hmrc-letter-helped-a-uk-business-avoid-a-12k-vat-penalty/) ## [How a Lost HMRC Letter Helped a UK Business Avoid a £12k VAT Penalty](https://tspartners.co.uk/how-a-lost-hmrc-letter-helped-a-uk-business-avoid-a-12k-vat-penalty/) A recent tribunal case shows the importance of monitoring communications from HMRC and having robust internal processes. The Case MBP Europe Limited, a VAT-registered company, owed £606,685 for the quarter ending 30 September 2024. The company expected HMRC to collect the payment via its usual direct debit arrangement. When the payment hadn’t gone through by \[…\] October 10, 2025 [](https://tspartners.co.uk/lessons-for-politicians-and-accountants-from-angela-rayners-tax-story/) ## [Lessons for Politicians and Accountants from Angela Rayner’s Tax Story](https://tspartners.co.uk/lessons-for-politicians-and-accountants-from-angela-rayners-tax-story/) Recent events surrounding Angela Rayner’s stamp duty land tax issue highlight just how complex UK tax rules can be and the importance of obtaining proper professional advice. Her experience offers important lessons for politicians, accountants, and anyone handling complicated tax matters. Complex Tax Rules and the Media Spotlight Rayner’s situation was complicated by trusts and \[…\] October 3, 2025 [](https://tspartners.co.uk/eots-for-family-owned-businesses-protecting-the-legacy-without-the-drama/) ## [EOTs for Family-Owned Businesses: Protecting the Legacy Without the Drama](https://tspartners.co.uk/eots-for-family-owned-businesses-protecting-the-legacy-without-the-drama/) EOTs for Family-Owned Businesses: Protecting the Legacy Without the Drama How employee ownership can offer a graceful solution to the question of “what next?” If you run a family-owned business, you’ve probably had the conversation. Or avoided it. “What happens when you want to step back?” “Is anyone ready, or willing to take it on?” \[…\] April 16, 2025 [](https://tspartners.co.uk/what-happens-when-trustees-and-directors-dont-agree/) ## [What Happens When Trustees and Directors Don’t Agree?](https://tspartners.co.uk/what-happens-when-trustees-and-directors-dont-agree/) What Happens When Trustees and Directors Don’t Agree? How to handle friction inside an Employee Ownership Trust. Setting up an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is often one of the most positive decisions a business can make. But like any structure involving multiple stakeholders, things can get tense especially when trustees and directors don’t see eye \[…\] April 16, 2025 [](https://tspartners.co.uk/eot-vs-private-equity-vs-trade-sale-which-exit-route-is-right-for-you/) ## [EOT vs Private Equity vs Trade Sale: Which Exit Route Is Right for You?](https://tspartners.co.uk/eot-vs-private-equity-vs-trade-sale-which-exit-route-is-right-for-you/) EOT vs Private Equity vs Trade Sale: Which Exit Route Is Right for You? Three options. Three very different outcomes. If you’re starting to think about your business exit, you’ve probably realised this already: There’s no single “right” way to hand over the reins. But the choice you make will shape your legacy, your finances, \[…\] April 16, 2025 [](https://tspartners.co.uk/eots-when-you-need-a-solicitor-and-a-tax-advisor-in-the-same-room/) ## [EOTs: When You Need a Solicitor and a Tax Advisor in the Same Room](https://tspartners.co.uk/eots-when-you-need-a-solicitor-and-a-tax-advisor-in-the-same-room/) EOTs: When You Need a Solicitor and a Tax Advisor in the Same Room Because selling your business to a trust isn’t a one-expert job. If you’re considering selling your business to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), you’ve probably spoken to your accountant already. Or your solicitor. Or both at different times. Here’s our honest \[…\] April 16, 2025 [](https://tspartners.co.uk/selling-your-business-to-an-employee-ownership-trust-what-actually-happens/) ## [Selling Your Business to an Employee Ownership Trust: What Actually Happens](https://tspartners.co.uk/selling-your-business-to-an-employee-ownership-trust-what-actually-happens/) By now, you’ve read about what an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is, why you might want one, and what some common misconceptions look like. But let’s say you’re seriously considering it. What does the actual process feel like? Because, for all the talk of structure and tax reliefs, there’s a very human element to this: \[…\] April 16, 2025 [](https://tspartners.co.uk/employee-ownership-trusts-5-myths-and-whats-actually-true/) ## [Employee Ownership Trusts: 5 Myths (and What’s Actually True)](https://tspartners.co.uk/employee-ownership-trusts-5-myths-and-whats-actually-true/) By now you might’ve heard a few stories about Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). They’re everywhere—from glossy business features to pub garden chat among the self-employed. But like anything that gains traction, EOTs come with a few myths attached. So, let’s separate the solid from the shaky. Myth 1: “It’s just a tax dodge.” Reality: Yes, \[…\] April 16, 2025 [](https://tspartners.co.uk/thinking-about-an-eot-heres-how-to-actually-start/) ## [Thinking About an EOT? Here’s How to Actually Start](https://tspartners.co.uk/thinking-about-an-eot-heres-how-to-actually-start/) In our last post, we introduced the concept of an Employee Ownership Trust, what it is, why you might want one, and what those in-house conversations need to cover. If that sparked some interest around the boardroom table (or over that third cup of Yorkshire Tea), this one’s for you. Because thinking about an EOT \[…\] April 16, 2025