Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Business news, new rules, funding and real stories for people who run a business in the UK.
Rules, tax, funding, tenders, work and the economy — each report names its official source.
Tax & money
Paper tax returns for 2025 to 2026 must reach HMRC by 31 October 2026. Online returns and any tax owed are due by 31 January 2027, and HMRC expects around 12 million people to file.
Work & hiring
An updated timeline published on 22 October 2026 puts fire and rehire protections in March 2027, bereavement leave in April and flexible working changes in October. Zero-hours rules still have no date.
Funding & grants
The government-backed Start Up Loan is open to UK founders whose business has been trading for less than five years. Here is what it costs and who can apply.
Work & hiring
Since 1 October 2026, businesses can be fined for illegal working by people they engage as workers, individual sub-contractors or through online platforms — not only by their employees.
Rules & law
Tariff suspensions on more than 250 products have been extended to December 2028, and the Treasury says reporting changes will save businesses over £600 million a year. Full details are due on 28 October.
Tax & money
Sole traders and landlords already in Making Tax Digital for Income Tax must send their second quarterly update by 7 November. People with qualifying income over £30,000 join from 6 April 2027.
Work & hiring
Longer time limits for tribunal claims started on 1 October. A stronger duty to prevent sexual harassment follows on 30 October, and the unfair dismissal changes arrive on 1 January 2027.
Rules & law
The 12-month transition for existing company directors ends on 17 November 2026. If your company's confirmation statement is still to come, your directors' identity checks must go in with it.
