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Hancock & Hastings Accountants Dunstable

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Hancock & Hastings Accountants Dunstable

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Chartered Certified Accountants and Auditors in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, working across the UK. Helping you feel confident with your numbers.

Friendly, practical accountants and tax advisors for small businesses. Our friendly chartered certified accountancy practice, based in Dunstable, thrives on helping businesses understand their finances, along with saving money and reducing personal and business tax bills. Say goodbye to the frustration of trying to decipher complex financial terminology – we communicate in plain English, ensuring that you understand every aspect of your accounts and tax obligations. From business accounts and external audits to specialist expertise in sectors such as construction, consultancy, and property, we offer a comprehensive range of services to meet your accounting and tax needs. Let us streamline your accounting processes, save you time and money, and empower you to make informed financial decisions with confidence.

04/11/2026

If selling your business is somewhere on the horizon, 6 April 2027 is a date worth knowing.

Business Asset Disposal Relief can cut the Capital Gains Tax rate on selling all or part of your business from 24% to 18%. At the moment it covers the first £1 million of qualifying gains across your lifetime. From 6 April 2027, that limit halves to £500,000. For a higher rate taxpayer with a £1 million gain, that’s £30,000 of extra tax.

It might be tempting to rush a sale through before the deadline, but there are special rules for contracts that haven’t completed, so a contract signed in haste won’t automatically protect the old limit. Please talk to us before you commit to anything.

03/11/2026

Baking, crafting, dog walking or doing a bit of photography at weekends? The Budget had some genuinely good news for side hustles.

From 6 April 2027, the Trading Allowance triples from £1,000 to £3,000. That means you can receive up to £3,000 a year from trading and miscellaneous income without having to declare it or pay tax on it. If you earn more than that, you can choose to deduct the £3,000 allowance instead of your actual expenses.

If you’re wondering about VAT on your Vinted or eBay sales, the new marketplace rules from October 2027 are aimed at VAT-registered businesses and sellers with more than £90,000 of sales on one platform, not people clearing out their wardrobes.

Not sure where your side hustle stands? Get in touch and we’ll help you work it out.

02/11/2026

The Budget landed last Wednesday, and the honest answer to “what does it mean for me?” is that it depends on who you are.

An employee watching their pay, a landlord, someone with savings outside an ISA and a business owner thinking about selling one day will each find something different in it.

So we’ve split the main points by situation. Swipe through and see which one sounds like you (or, like most of us, which few).

Most of what was announced still has to pass into law, and most changes start from April 2027 or later, so there’s time to plan.

If you’d like to talk through how it affects you, get in touch.

28/10/2026

The Budget is out! 💷

So, what does it actually mean for you and your business?

There’s been plenty announced, and while the big numbers might grab your attention, it’s understanding how those changes could affect your business that really matters.

We’ve picked out six announcements worth knowing about, covering everything from wages and mileage rates to side income, business rates, selling a business and Making Tax Digital.

Some of these changes won’t come into effect until April 2027, and not every announcement will affect every business. But knowing what’s coming gives you a chance to prepare.

👉 Swipe through for a look at what’s changing and what it could mean for you.

There’s still plenty more to unpack, and we’ll be working through the finer details over the coming days.

In the meantime, if you’ve spotted something in the Budget and you’re wondering how it might affect your business, get in touch.

We’re always happy to talk things through! 🩵

26/10/2026

A few minutes now could save you a LOT of head-scratching later 😂

We've all done it. Forgotten what a payment was for, shoved a receipt somewhere 'safe' or put off asking a question because it didn't seem that important.

The problem is, those little things have a habit of becoming bigger jobs further down the line.

So here's your friendly reminder to keep on top of the small stuff.

If you're ever unsure whether we need to know something, just ask!

We'd much rather have a quick conversation today than spend hours playing detective with your bookkeeping six months from now 🔎

22/10/2026

There’s an accountant called Amy, you see,
Who’s not quite what you’d expect her to be.
She’s bubbly, she’s funny, she’s always got chat,
And somehow gets excited discussing VAT! 😂

For over twenty years, she’s been doing her best,
Putting her accounting knowledge to the test.
An FCCA with a very sharp eye,
If the numbers don’t add up, she’ll soon tell you why!

She loves a good audit, she’ll proudly declare,
She’ll follow the evidence with meticulous care.
From checking the records to finding each clue,
There’s not much in an audit that Amy can’t do! 🔍

With years of experience and plenty of drive,
She’s built up a business that’s continuing to thrive.
With Hancock & Hastings, she’s built something great,
And she’s always got plans for what she’ll create.

But running a practice? That wasn’t enough,
Our Amy just loves getting involved in more stuff!
So along came a podcast, with James by her side,
Sharing the lessons they’ve learnt on the ride. 🎙️

From Bean Counter to Boss, they’ve plenty to say,
About building a business and finding your way.
With laughter and stories and advice to share,
There’s always a funny conversation in there!

Then came invitations to speak at a show,
From vendors and organisers keen for her to go.
With a microphone ready and plenty to say,
She’s making accounting more fun every day! 🎤

She’s travelled to events and met people galore,
And somehow comes home with ideas for more!
She cheers others on and is happy to share,
Her knowledge and wisdom with genuine care.

She’s clever, she’s funny, with a laugh you can’t miss,
And a sense of humour that brings everyone bliss!
She’s got plenty of passion and big plans ahead,
With a hundred new ideas still filling her head.

But today’s not for working or talking of tax,
It’s time for our Amy to sit back and relax.
With cake and some cocktails and good company too,
We hope all the spoiling is saved just for you! 🥂

So here’s to the auditor, the boss and the friend,
With stories and adventures that never quite end.
Happy Birthday, Amy, from the whole H&H crew,
We hope today’s every bit as brilliant as you! 💙🎉

18/10/2026

💰 VAT registered? Here’s what you can (and can’t) claim back!

Bought a laptop? Taken a client out for lunch? Paid for the staff Christmas party?

They’re all business expenses, but when it comes to reclaiming VAT, they’re not all treated the same!

Let’s look at some everyday examples. 👇

✅ WHAT CAN YOU USUALLY RECLAIM VAT ON?

💻 Laptops, printers and office equipment used for your business.

🖥️ Business software, subscriptions and stationery.

🏨 Hotels when you’re away on a business trip.

🎄 Staff Christmas parties and team events. Yes, really! There are rules, but VAT on genuine staff entertainment can normally be reclaimed.

❌ WHAT CAN’T YOU USUALLY RECLAIM VAT ON?

🍽️ Taking a client out for lunch. Even if you spend the whole meal talking about work!

🛍️ Personal purchases. Paying through your business account doesn’t automatically make something a business expense.

🚗 Buying a car that’s available for personal use. VAT recovery is generally restricted, although there are exceptions.

💷 Insurance premiums. These are normally VAT exempt, so there’s no VAT to reclaim.

🤔 WHAT ABOUT THE GREY AREAS?

📱 Use your mobile for work and personal calls? You can generally reclaim the business proportion of the VAT.

⛽ Fuel for both business and personal journeys? Specific rules apply to what you can reclaim and the records you need.

And here’s something else worth remembering…

Just because you’ve bought something for your business doesn’t mean VAT was charged. You’ll also need appropriate VAT evidence to support your claim.

There are additional restrictions if you use the VAT Flat Rate Scheme or make VAT-exempt supplies.

The important thing is knowing the difference between a business expense and an expense you can reclaim VAT on. They’re not always the same thing!

Not sure whether you can reclaim VAT on something? Ask us! We’d much rather help you get it right than see you claim something you shouldn’t, or miss out on something you could.

17/10/2026

💰 "I've registered for VAT. Does that mean I can claim it back on everything?"

Wouldn't that be nice! 😂

You've registered for VAT, you're buying things for your business, so surely you can just claim the VAT back on everything?

Well... not quite!

Being VAT registered doesn't automatically mean every purchase qualifies for a VAT reclaim.

There are a few things you need to consider first.

🧾 Was VAT actually charged? Not everything you buy includes VAT, so there's nothing to reclaim if you haven't paid any in the first place.

💻 Is it for your business? Generally, you can only reclaim VAT relating to your business activities. If something is used personally too, you may need to make an adjustment.

📄 Have you got the right paperwork? You'll normally need valid VAT evidence, such as a VAT invoice, to support your claim. A bank statement on its own usually won't do.

🚗 Are there any special rules? Certain purchases, such as cars and business entertainment, have restrictions on VAT recovery.

There's also the question of what your business does. If you make VAT-exempt supplies, that can affect how much VAT you're able to reclaim.

The important bit?

Just because something counts as a business expense doesn't automatically mean you can reclaim the VAT.

It's one of those things that's always worth checking rather than guessing and hoping for the best!

Not sure what you can and can't reclaim? Have a chat with the team at Hancock & Hastings. We'd much rather help you get it right the first time!

16/10/2026

First things first, don’t panic. A missing receipt doesn't automatically mean a legitimate business expense can't be claimed.

You'll need to be able to evidence what you spent, when you spent it and how it relates to your business.

So, before you write it off, have a look for:

📱 A transaction on your bank statement
📧 An email or order confirmation
🛍️ A record in your online purchase history
📄 A copy of the invoice from the supplier

Just remember, VAT is a little different. The rules around supporting evidence are stricter, so a bank statement alone might not be enough.

Our advice? Get into the habit of saving your receipts as you go. Five seconds now could save you a lot of digging around later!

And if you're unsure whether an expense can be claimed, just ask us. We'd much rather you checked than missed out on something you're entitled to.

13/10/2026

Reviews like this really do make our day! 🥰

We know how important it is to have an accountant you can pick up the phone to, ask a question and feel confident you’re getting the support you need.

It’s something we work hard to get right, so hearing that our clients feel looked after means a lot to us.

A huge thank you to Jodie for taking the time to leave us such a lovely review. We really appreciate it! 💙

Address

Suite 2, Ashton Square Business Centre, 22 Ashton Square
Dunstable
LU63SN

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+441582758844

Website

https://hancockandhastings.co.uk/

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