HMRC
Reporting covers tax policy, compliance requirements, enforcement activity, and guidance relevant to hospitality operators, including VAT rules, PAYE obligations, National Insurance, furlough audits, and Making Tax Digital. Designed for restaurant groups, pub companies, and catering businesses, this coverage helps finance leads and owners navigate responsibilities, avoid penalties, and stay informed on changing legislation.
-
Jul- 2025 -21 JulyBusiness
HMRC names and shames 98 restaurants in tax crackdown
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has identified 98 restaurants and takeaways for underpaying taxes, as part of an enforcement campaign that recouped £10.4m in unpaid tax and imposed £9.2m in penalties. The businesses, which were rounded up in a single day, include A La Turka in Grimsby, which owes £492k;…
Read More » -
8 JulyFeatures
Brace for impact: how hospitality must prepare for the Employment Rights Bill
The government has set a phased timeline for rolling out changes under the Employment Rights Bill. The most complex reforms, including guaranteed hours and enhanced protections from unfair dismissal, will not take effect until 2027. Before then, employers will face a series of earlier reforms. From April 2026, new rules…
Read More » -
Jun- 2025 -10 JuneRestaurants
‘Negative press’ caused collapse of Gino D’Acampo chain
Negative press around celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo has been named as a reason for the collapse of his restaurant chain, according to a filing on Companies House from administrators Begbies Traynor. The filing stated that in early February of 2025, “there was a swathe of negative national and local press…
Read More » -
Mar- 2025 -26 MarchGovernment
Chancellor resists calls for business relief in Spring Statement
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has resisted calls from businesses for relief ahead of the upcoming tax changes this April, as part of her Spring Statement today (26 March). UK businesses had been hopeful the chancellor would raise the relief rate for retail, hospitality, and leisure after cutting it to 40% in…
Read More » -
Jan- 2025 -28 JanuaryFeatures
How will the Scottish budget affect businesses?
On 4 December 2024 first minister John Swinney announced the budget for Scotland for the period of 2025-2026. It followed the announcement of the budget for the rest of the UK by chancellor Rachel Reeves in October. As part of devolution powers introduced under the Tony Blair administration, the Scottish…
Read More » -
Oct- 2024 -4 OctoberAdvice
What hospitality operators should know about the new tipping act
As of 1 October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act is being enforced, bringing significant changes to the way hospitality businesses must handle tips and service charges. This new legislation mandates that all customer tips be passed directly to staff without deductions. A recent study has revealed that only…
Read More » -
Jan- 2024 -15 JanuaryFeatures
Why are insolvencies more likely to affect the hospitality sector?
According to PwC’s outlook for 2024, there will be a significant rise in corporate insolvencies in 2024, just shy of 30,000 with smaller businesses accounting for the lion’s share. However, it further added that industries most impacted are likely to be hotels and catering, along with manufacturing, and transport and…
Read More » -
Dec- 2023 -14 DecemberNews
Today’s news in brief – 14/12/23
HMRC has initiated a crackdown on restaurants that use illegal software to manipulate sales records. Following an amnesty deadline, raids have begun at 24 restaurants and takeaways. This software, known as Electronic Sales Suppression (ESS), hides or reduces card sales to evade tax. Businesses not coming forward could face criminal…
Read More » -
14 DecemberBusiness
HMRC raids 24 restaurants amid crackdown on till fraud
The HMRC has commenced a crackdown on electronic till fraud, with its Fraud Investigation Service having already raided 24 restaurants and takeaways, Pinsent Masons has reported. These raids follow the end of an amnesty earlier this year, which allowed businesses to make a disclosure to HMRC and pay any tax…
Read More » -
Jul- 2023 -17 JulyComment
Loans repayment, inflation, staff shortages: what else we can expect from hospitality insolvencies?
What are the potential reasons for the continued increase in the number of hospitality insolvencies we’ve seen recently? Glyn: I think it goes back to the pandemic. Covid was a big thing for the sector and rightly, both the government and HMRC stepped in to help companies with furlough and…
Read More »