This episode of the Ledger Lounge is hosted by Matthew Taylor and Katie Allan from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Scott Accountants⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

It is recorded at and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUPOD Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ⁠⁠⁠⁠Become Content⁠⁠⁠⁠ in Oldham.

The Ledger Lounge – Friendly Disclaimer

Everything we chat about on The Ledger Lounge (and in these show notes!) is meant to be helpful, interesting, and easy to understand — but it’s not personal tax, accounting, financial, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so always speak to a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything you hear in the show.

We do our best to keep things accurate and up to date, but rules and regulations can change. The views shared by our hosts and guests are just their own, so please don’t take them as official advice from any organisations we’re connected to.

Basically: enjoy the conversation, learn something new, but don’t make big decisions without proper guidance!

In this episode of the Ledger Lounge, we speak with a charity that is very close to our hearts. At James Scott we are patrons of local youth charity Madhlo, a state of the art youth zone in the centre of Oldham. We welcomed CEO Lucy Lees to discuss not only the brilliant work they do for the community of Oldham, but how supporting a charity works in terms of helping you and your business from a tax planning perspective.

This episode of the Ledger Lounge is hosted by Matthew Taylor and Katie Allan from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Scott Accountants⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

It is recorded at and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUPOD Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ⁠⁠⁠Become Content⁠⁠⁠ in Oldham.

The Ledger Lounge – Friendly Disclaimer

Everything we chat about on The Ledger Lounge (and in these show notes!) is meant to be helpful, interesting, and easy to understand — but it’s not personal tax, accounting, financial, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so always speak to a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything you hear in the show.

We do our best to keep things accurate and up to date, but rules and regulations can change. The views shared by our hosts and guests are just their own, so please don’t take them as official advice from any organisations we’re connected to.

Basically: enjoy the conversation, learn something new, but don’t make big decisions without proper guidance!

In this bonus episode, we focus on what last autumn’s UK Budget means specifically for construction businesses.

From subcontractors and sole traders to limited companies and contractors, the construction industry faces unique tax, cash-flow, and compliance challenges. We break down the Budget changes that matter most to construction businesses and explain how they affect CIS, employment costs, investment in equipment, and day-to-day profitability.

If you work in construction and want clarity on what’s changed — and what you should be doing next — this episode is for you.

The Ledger Lounge is hosted by Matthew Taylor and Katie Allan from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Scott Accountants⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

It is recorded at and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUPOD Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ⁠⁠Become Content⁠⁠ in Oldham.

The Ledger Lounge – Friendly Disclaimer

Everything we chat about on The Ledger Lounge (and in these show notes!) is meant to be helpful, interesting, and easy to understand — but it’s not personal tax, accounting, financial, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so always speak to a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything you hear in the show.

We do our best to keep things accurate and up to date, but rules and regulations can change. The views shared by our hosts and guests are just their own, so please don’t take them as official advice from any organisations we’re connected to.

Basically: enjoy the conversation, learn something new, but don’t make big decisions without proper guidance!

In this episode, we break down the key announcements from autumn’s 2025 UK Budget and explain what they actually mean for business owners.

Budgets can be packed with headlines, but the real impact often lies in the detail. We cut through the noise to highlight the changes that matter most — from tax allowances and National Insurance to investment reliefs and payroll considerations.

Whether you’re a sole trader, company director, or growing SME, this episode will help you understand what’s changed, what actions to take, and what to plan for next.

The Ledger Lounge is hosted by Matthew Taylor and Katie Allan from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Scott Accountants⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

It is recorded at and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUPOD Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ⁠Become Content⁠ in Oldham.

The Ledger Lounge – Friendly Disclaimer

Everything we chat about on The Ledger Lounge (and in these show notes!) is meant to be helpful, interesting, and easy to understand — but it’s not personal tax, accounting, financial, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so always speak to a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything you hear in the show.

We do our best to keep things accurate and up to date, but rules and regulations can change. The views shared by our hosts and guests are just their own, so please don’t take them as official advice from any organisations we’re connected to.

Basically: enjoy the conversation, learn something new, but don’t make big decisions without proper guidance!

Handling payroll in-house can be a massive drain on time, energy, and headspace – and getting it wrong isn’t an option. In this episode, we’re joined by Natalie from Payroll Sorted to unpack the real benefits of outsourcing your payroll, what it actually looks like in practice, and how to know if your business is ready to make the switch.

The Ledger Lounge is hosted by Matthew Taylor , Katie Allan and Lauren Thompson from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Scott Accountants⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

It is recorded at and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUPOD Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in Oldham.

The Ledger Lounge – Friendly Disclaimer

Everything we chat about on The Ledger Lounge (and in these show notes!) is meant to be helpful, interesting, and easy to understand — but it’s not personal tax, accounting, financial, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so always speak to a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything you hear in the show.

We do our best to keep things accurate and up to date, but rules and regulations can change. The views shared by our hosts and guests are just their own, so please don’t take them as official advice from any organisations we’re connected to.

Basically: enjoy the conversation, learn something new, but don’t make big decisions without proper guidance!

With the 2025 Autumn Budget behind us and the final calls for MTD for Income Tax to be scrapped a distant memory, it’s time to turn to the practicalities.

Since recording HMRC have confirmed that there will be no late submission penalties for quarterly updates during tax year 2026-27. This means that the first wave of taxpayers joining MTD in April 2026 won’t need to worry about being late with their quarterly updates, at least in their first year.

In this episode of The Ledger Lounge, Katie and Matthew sit down with Paul from Xero to unpack one of the biggest upcoming changes in UK tax compliance: the next phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD).

Whether you’re a sole trader, landlord, or small business owner, MTD will shape how you maintain records and submit returns – and Xero is gearing up to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Paul demystifies what’s changing, when it’s happening, and what small businesses need to do now to get ready. He also shares insight into Xero’s toolkit, automation features, and practical workflows that will help business owners stay compliant with ease and turn MTD into an opportunity that can help your business.

The Ledger Lounge is hosted by Matthew Taylor , Katie Allan and Lauren Thompson from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Scott Accountants⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

It is recorded at and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUPOD Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in Oldham.

The Ledger Lounge – Friendly Disclaimer

Everything we chat about on The Ledger Lounge (and in these show notes!) is meant to be helpful, interesting, and easy to understand — but it’s not personal tax, accounting, financial, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so always speak to a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything you hear in the show.

We do our best to keep things accurate and up to date, but rules and regulations can change. The views shared by our hosts and guests are just their own, so please don’t take them as official advice from any organisations we’re connected to.

Basically: enjoy the conversation, learn something new, but don’t make big decisions without proper guidance!

The Ledger Lounge is hosted by Matthew Taylor , Katie Allan and Lauren Thompson from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Scott Accountants⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

It is recorded at and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUPOD Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in Oldham.

The Ledger Lounge – Friendly Disclaimer

Everything we chat about on The Ledger Lounge (and in these show notes!) is meant to be helpful, interesting, and easy to understand — but it’s not personal tax, accounting, financial, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so always speak to a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything you hear in the show.

We do our best to keep things accurate and up to date, but rules and regulations can change. The views shared by our hosts and guests are just their own, so please don’t take them as official advice from any organisations we’re connected to.

Basically: enjoy the conversation, learn something new, but don’t make big decisions without proper guidance!

The Ledger Lounge is hosted by Matthew Taylor , Katie Allan and Lauren Thompson from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Scott Accountants⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

This week on The Ledger Lounge, Matthew and Katie chat with Zoe Bordiuk, the powerhouse behind The Card Machine Queen — a UK-based independent consultant who’s made it her mission to help small businesses stop overpaying on their payment systems.

Zoe breaks down the mysteries of card machines, merchant fees, and payment contracts in plain English. You’ll learn what every accountant, bookkeeper, and business owner should know about payment processing — including how to spot hidden fees, choose smarter payment options, and integrate systems seamlessly with your accounting software.

If your clients (or your own business) accept card payments, this episode could literally save you money.

It is recorded at and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠KUPOD Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in Oldham.

The Ledger Lounge – Friendly Disclaimer

Everything we chat about on The Ledger Lounge (and in these show notes!) is meant to be helpful, interesting, and easy to understand — but it’s not personal tax, accounting, financial, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so always speak to a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything you hear in the show.

We do our best to keep things accurate and up to date, but rules and regulations can change. The views shared by our hosts and guests are just their own, so please don’t take them as official advice from any organisations we’re connected to.

Basically: enjoy the conversation, learn something new, but don’t make big decisions without proper guidance!

The Ledger Lounge is hosted by Matthew Taylor , Katie Allan and Lauren Thompson from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Scott Accountants⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

It is recorded at and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠KUPOD Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in Oldham.

The Ledger Lounge – Friendly Disclaimer

Everything we chat about on The Ledger Lounge (and in these show notes!) is meant to be helpful, interesting, and easy to understand — but it’s not personal tax, accounting, financial, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so always speak to a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything you hear in the show.

We do our best to keep things accurate and up to date, but rules and regulations can change. The views shared by our hosts and guests are just their own, so please don’t take them as official advice from any organisations we’re connected to.

Basically: enjoy the conversation, learn something new, but don’t make big decisions without proper guidance!

Cybersecurity isn’t just for big corporations — small businesses are one of the top targets for hackers in 2025. But how can you protect your business without a massive IT budget?

In this episode of The Ledger Lounge, Tom, Katie and Matthew talk to Steve Cockcroft about the real-world cyber threats facing businesses today and the simple steps you can take to protect your data, your customers, and your reputation.

Steve is the founder of Cysec Professionals , a cybersecurity consultancy helping organisations protect against modern digital threats. With years of hands-on experience and a passion for educating businesses, Steve is known for making complex cyber issues simple and practical.

The Ledger Lounge is hosted by Matthew Taylor , Katie Allan and Lauren Thompson from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Scott Accountants⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

It is recorded at and produced by ⁠⁠⁠KUPOD Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in Oldham.

The Ledger Lounge – Friendly Disclaimer

Everything we chat about on The Ledger Lounge (and in these show notes!) is meant to be helpful, interesting, and easy to understand — but it’s not personal tax, accounting, financial, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so always speak to a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything you hear in the show.

We do our best to keep things accurate and up to date, but rules and regulations can change. The views shared by our hosts and guests are just their own, so please don’t take them as official advice from any organisations we’re connected to.

Basically: enjoy the conversation, learn something new, but don’t make big decisions without proper guidance!