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Mark Morton records as the nights draw in and the party conferences wrap up, with the Budget weeks away and remarkably little being said about tax. In this episode: Why the conferences produced almost no detailed tax comment from anyone, the government includedBig promises on the personal allowance from the Lib Dems and Reform, and the awkward question of how they get fundedA hundred billion of a 1.2 trillion income going on debt interest, and what thirty years of never balancing the books has left behindWhether this government is quietly reaching George Osborne's conclusion of 80% cuts to 20% tax risesThe triple lock watered down rather than tackled, and public sector pay quietly driving average earningsWhy a VAT escalator on fuel could take ten pence off a litre, and why nothing has been doneMercia will be covering the Budget in full on the day, with Mark and Norman mulling over what was actually said, and why, the morning after. Autumn Budget 2026 For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

Lee Eagling, A&A and Compliance Technical Consultant at Mercia Group, gives his initial reaction to the government's long awaited consultation on modernising corporate reporting. Seventy pages, sixty questions, and just about everything on the table. In this episode: Bringing company law and financial reporting requirements under one roofReshaping the frameworks: UK endorsed IFRS, FRS 102, UK GAAP for SMEs and FRS 105Diluting true and fair for SMEs, and what that could mean for the quality of financial statementsMedium entities moving closer to the small company regime, with knock on audit implicationsReplacing distributable profits with a solvency test for declaring dividendsRedefining headcount on a full time equivalent basisThe consultation closes on 30 November. You do not need to answer every question, so pick the ones that matter most to you. Mercia will be submitting a response and would welcome your views. Join us this autumn: Accounting: what's new for autumn 2026 Accounting and audit: what you need to know in autumn 2026 For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

Recording from a hotel room ahead of our Autumn Tax Update course, Mark Morton reflects on the Chancellor's first major speech and everything it didn't say about tax. In this episode: An awkward day in Coventry, as Jaguar Land Rover announces significant job cuts down the roadThe letter to MPs signalling less consultation, and whether HMRC consultation ever really meant consultationFiscal devolution: high on the government's agenda, but is it high on anyone else's?A growth message set against national insurance and minimum wage risesHigh borrowing costs, a spent surplus, and no stated tax policyWhy two months of Budget speculation leaves businesses unable to planMercia will be covering the Budget in full detail on Wednesday, 28th October 2026, followed by Pat's rapid reaction webinar the morning after. https://www.mercia-group.com/marketing/budget-and-tax-rates/ For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

Mark Morton explores the upcoming Autumn Budget, examining rumours around stamp duty, council tax reform, social care funding, inheritance tax, defence spending, and Making Tax Digital (MTD). He shares practical observations on housing affordability, government policy challenges, and what advisers and businesses should be watching ahead of the Chancellor's October announcement. The next UK Budget is scheduled for Wednesday 28 October 2026. Chancellor John Healey confirmed the date, and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish its accompanying economic and fiscal forecast on the same day. For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

Mark Morton reviews the first major announcements from the new government, explores the implications of potential tax changes, and discusses how policy leaks, cost-of-living measures and public finances could shape the upcoming Autumn Budget. For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

Mark Morton shares his reaction to a recent BBC Radio 4 Money Box interview on Making Tax Digital (MTD), questioning its effectiveness, highlighting concerns about low taxpayer engagement, and discussing whether the initiative is delivering any real benefits for self-employed businesses and HMRC. Based on current uptake figures and industry feedback, Mark argues that MTD may be creating additional costs and complexity without achieving its original objectives. https://www.mercia-group.com/courses/making-tax-digital-where-are-we-now/ For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

In this episode, Lee Eagling (Technical Consultant at Mercia Group) discusses the new ICAEW requirements effective from July 2026, requiring authorised training employers to implement formal annual appraisals for partners, directors, audit staff, and students. The podcast explores the background to the changes, compliance expectations, practical implementation options, and why effective appraisal processes can deliver benefits beyond regulatory compliance. For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

In this episode, Mark Morton unpacks HMRC’s latest Tax Update 26, exploring proposed changes to self-assessment, ISAs, national insurance, and debt collection. He questions whether these reforms truly simplify the system or add further complexity, while highlighting the real-world impact on taxpayers, businesses, and financial planning. Blog: https://www.mercia-group.com/insights/tax-update-2026-reform-and-changes/ For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

Mark Morton breaks down the latest HMRC update on payrolling benefits, highlighting delays, phased rollouts, and growing complexity for businesses. With uncertainty around timelines, compliance, and reporting, the episode explores why the system may become even more confusing before it improves. For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

Mark Morton reviews the chancellor's pre-bank holiday announcements, covering free children's bus travel, reduced VAT on family activities and meals, fuel duty, mileage allowance changes and what they mean in practice for businesses and families. Mark offers a candid take on whether these measures are likely to make a material difference and who they really benefit. For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

In this episode, Mark Morton explores the complexities of tax penalties, prompted by a recent high-profile case involving a significant understatement with no penalty applied. He breaks down key concepts like reasonable care, voluntary disclosure, and HMRC’s approach to enforcement, highlighting the nuances that often go unnoticed by both taxpayers and advisors. For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

In this honest and relatable episode, mental health first aider Louise Conner shares her personal journey and practical tips for maintaining wellbeing. From breaking stigma to finding what truly works for you, this episode offers simple, real-life ways to build resilience, prioritise self-care, and ask for support when you need it most. For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

In this short Mercia podcast, I take a look at Associated Companies, an area that's quietly become a hot topic again. With Corporation Tax rates and bands shifting, HMRC are clearly paying attention, and we're seeing a steady stream of "nudge" letters landing on agents' desks asking them to revisit their associated company position. I walk through why the rules feel particularly tricky right now, the remit for direct or indirect control is extremely broad, the attribution rules pull in family members anywhere in the world, and the "substantial commercial interdependence" test hasn't been tested in court for over a decade, leaving a lot of subjectivity in play. With interest rates where they are, getting your quarterly instalment payments wrong could be an expensive mistake. If you'd like to go deeper, I'm running a one-off course on this on 21 May, available live or on-demand. https://www.mercia-group.com/courses/associated-companies-with-mark-morton/ For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

In this post‑Easter episode, Mark Morton shares his reflections on recent tax developments and policy decisions. From frustration with Making Tax Digital and fuel duty at the pump, to mileage rates that offer little real‑world help, Mark also highlights growing concerns around the recovery of winter fuel payments from pensioners and the risks of PAYE coding errors. A candid look at the increasingly baffling world of UK tax. For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.

In this episode, Mark Morton explores the complex and often misunderstood world of UK state pensions. From the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women issue to voluntary contributions, contracting-out, personal tax accounts and looming policy changes, Mark breaks down the key pitfalls people face and why checking your state pension record early matters more than ever. For more information on this topic and more, please visit www.mercia-group.com for further details.