Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA) is approaching fast, and HMRC’s advertising push is only adding to the noise. In this episode, Simon and Laura cut through the confusion and explain exactly who MTD ITSA applies to, when it starts, and what the practical impact will be for sole traders and landlords. You get the key thresholds (and how they step down each year), what quarterly reporting really means, what software you’ll need, and where people are most likely to get caught out, especially non-resident landlords and internationally mobile taxpayers.

Key topics covered:

• What “MTD ITSA” actually is (and how it differs from MTD for VAT)
• Start date: 6 April 2026 — who must join first
• The staged income (turnover) thresholds:
• £50,000+ from 6 April 2026
• £30,000+ from 6 April 2027
• £20,000+ from 6 April 2028
• It applies to sole traders and landlords (not partnerships, yet)
• Turnover means income/receipts, not profit
• Multiple sources add together (e.g., trading + rental income)
• The 'quarterly update' reality: unadjusted/cash-style reporting, with year-end adjustments later
• The admin shock for landlords and those below the VAT threshold who haven’t kept digital records before
• Practical considerations: separate bank accounts, receipt capture, and staying 'MTD-ready'
• Who may be outside the system (e.g., certain non-residents without a National Insurance number; digitally excluded individuals)
• Non-residents: reporting focuses on UK-taxable elements, not worldwide income
• Why HMRC is doing it (and why it may feel like more admin than 'business insight')
• What still isn’t clear: how HMRC will calculate payments/tax due during the year

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Self Assessment shouldn’t be scary, but the rules are easy to miss, especially if you’ve lived or worked abroad. In this episode of the Tax Compass Podcast from LSR Partners, Simon Roue and Laura Sant explain, in plain English.

We cover:

• Tax year & deadlines: 6 Apr–5 Apr; 31 Oct (paper), 31 Jan (online), 30 Dec (collect via tax code if <£3,000)
• Who must file now: self-employment/partnerships, UK property income, dividends/investment income over reporting thresholds, higher income child benefit charge, foreign income, remittance basis claims, etc.
• Residency & SA109: when Govt Gateway won’t cut it; why non-residents/remittance basis users usually need commercial software or an agent.
• Leaving the UK: when P85 is helpful (and when it isn’t); split-year treatment; getting your filing requirement withdrawn so penalties don’t snowball.
• Refunds from UK payroll while abroad: why HMRC may resist opening Self Assessment; PAYE vs SA systems; practical routes that actually work.
• Simple Assessment letters: what they mean and how they interact with Self Assessment (and refunds).
• Payments on account: triggers, dates, and what’s excluded (e.g., CGT, Class 2 NICs, student loans).
• Getting out of the system: when HMRC auto-removes you, and when you need to be proactive.
• Penalties & appeals: common pitfalls (address changes, missed notices, late filings) and how to prevent/resolve them.

Key Takeaways:

• File earlier for cashflow clarity and faster refunds; tax is still due 31 Jan.
• If you claim the remittance basis or are non-resident, expect to need SA109 (not available via basic Govt Gateway).
• Tell HMRC you’ve left and actively withdraw filing requirements. Don’t assume the system will.
• Payments on account can sting the first year but self-correct over time.
• When in doubt, get specialist support so you get clarity and confidence and avoid unnecessary penalties.

lsrpartners.com

Subscribe for more tax guidance for expats and globally mobile individuals.

Brought to you by LSR Partners – helping you pay the right tax in the right place at the right time.

📲 Book a call with us to talk about your situation: https://lsrpartners.com

🎧 Catch up on all past episodes: https://lsrpartners.com/podcast-videos

In this immediate post-statement breakdown of the Autumn Budget 2025, you get a clear, structured explanation of the tax changes announced by Rachel Reeves, with a focus on how they affect expats, non-UK residents, and globally mobile individuals.

You’ll hear straightforward guidance on:

What fiscal drag means for your long-term tax position.

How the High-Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) works and who pays it.

Why Class 2 NI is ending for those abroad, and how Class 3 replaces it.

What the 2% rise means for investors and landlords from 2026/27.

What your new two-option framework looks like if you receive UK dividends from overseas.

Why repatriated dividends from certain 'closed companies' will now be taxable.

What changes for employers and employees.

How the new £12,000 cash limit applies, and the exception for over-65s.

At LSR Partners, you get clarity and confidence in navigating these changes, ensuring you pay the right tax in the right place at the right time, stay compliant across borders, and plan strategically for the years ahead.

If the Budget raises questions about your own tax position, we’re here to guide you.

lsrpartners.com

Subscribe for more tax guidance for expats and globally mobile individuals.

Brought to you by LSR Partners – helping you pay the right tax in the right place at the right time.

📲 Book a call with us to talk about your situation: https://lsrpartners.com

🎧 Catch up on all past episodes: https://lsrpartners.com/podcast-videos

The Tax Compass Podcast is now 1 year old!

To celebrate, Simon Roue and Laura Sant from LSR Partners look back at the past 12 months, sharing clips and stories that show how tax is really about life choices, from moving house to starting a new job, or even returning to the UK.

In this special episode, you’ll hear highlights from across the series, including:

• Repatriation from Asia during COVID, and the tax traps of coming home.
• Pension over-contributions, HMRC disclosures, and the sting of penalties.
• Property rules: quality of occupation, SDLT on gifting, and allowable absences.
• Payroll problems for non-residents and expats owed refunds.
• Remote work abroad, including NHS employees based overseas.
• How fiscal drag and NI increases quietly raise the UK tax burden.
• Stamp duty, beneficial ownership, and making the most of allowances.
• And finally, how double tax treaties can give peace of mind and extra time with loved ones.

The message is clear: tax isn’t just spreadsheets and forms, it’s about life.

lsrpartners.com

Subscribe for more tax guidance for expats and globally mobile individuals.

Brought to you by LSR Partners – helping you pay the right tax in the right place at the right time.

📲 Book a call with us to talk about your situation: https://lsrpartners.com

🎧 Catch up on all past episodes: https://lsrpartners.com/podcast-videos

The Budget has been pushed back from October to November 26th, and that delay alone has raised eyebrows.

In this episode of the Tax Compass Podcast, Simon Roue and Laura Sant from LSR Partners explore:

• Why the Budget delay could signal big changes
• How income tax bands, personal allowances and fiscal drag might evolve
• The likely changes to pension reliefs and lump sums
• VAT reforms, including the £90k registration threshold
• Property taxes: stamp duty, capital gains, and the 'mansion tax' debate
• Inheritance tax, gifting, and the residence nil-rate band
• Speculation on wealth taxes and council tax reform
• And the elephant in the room: could the UK introduce an exit tax?

This is a wide-ranging, sometimes tongue-in-cheek discussion of what the government might do to fill its £50bn fiscal gap.

lsrpartners.com

Subscribe for more tax guidance for expats and globally mobile individuals.

Brought to you by LSR Partners – helping you pay the right tax in the right place at the right time.

📲 Book a call with us to talk about your situation: https://lsrpartners.com

🎧 Catch up on all past episodes: https://lsrpartners.com/podcast-videos

Pilots, cabin crew, and international transport workers have unique rules under HMRC’s Statutory Residence Test. In this episode, Simon Roue and Laura Sant of LSR Partners unpack what counts as a UK workday, how 'deemed days' impact residency, and how tax treaties affect income for internationally mobile employees.

Key topics include:

• Statutory Residence Test and international transportation workers
• Deemed days vs. physical presence
• Workday definitions under HMRC for pilots
• Section 690 agreements and payroll relief
• Tax treaty variations (Spain vs. UAE)
• Risks of UK residency assumptions

If you’re flying for a living or advising someone who is, this episode breaks it all down.

lsrpartners.com

Subscribe for more tax guidance for expats and globally mobile individuals.

Brought to you by LSR Partners – helping you pay the right tax in the right place at the right time.

📲 Book a call with us to talk about your situation: https://lsrpartners.com

🎧 Catch up on all past episodes: https://lsrpartners.com/podcast-videos

In this episode of The Tax Compass Podcast, Simon Roue and Laura Sant return with a comprehensive guide to the major changes in the 2025/26 UK tax year. Whether you're UK-based or an expat, you'll want to understand how these shifts could affect your tax position.

They cover:

• The new Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime and who qualifies
• Temporary Repatriation Facility: what it means for former remittance users
• Capital Gains Tax and Business Asset Disposal Relief
• Inheritance tax planning in a post-non-dom regime
• Employer national insurance rate changes
• Making Tax Digital for income tax and what’s coming next
• Fiscal drag and how it’s silently pushing people into higher tax brackets

lsrpartners.com

Subscribe for more tax guidance for expats and globally mobile individuals.

Brought to you by LSR Partners – helping you pay the right tax in the right place at the right time.

📲 Book a call with us to talk about your situation: https://lsrpartners.com

🎧 Catch up on all past episodes: https://lsrpartners.com/podcast-videos

Gifts can be a useful tax planning tool, but they can also come with unexpected tax bills if you don’t understand the rules. In this episode of The Tax Compass Podcast, Simon and Laura dig into the tax implications of gifting assets in the UK, from property to shares to money.

You’ll learn:

• What taxes apply when gifting property: CGT, SDLT, and IHT
• How married couples and civil partners can gift to each other tax-efficiently
• Why stamp duty can still apply even if no cash changes hands
• The 7-year rule for inheritance tax (and what happens if you die before then)
• Real-life stories where a gift unexpectedly triggered tax
• What to consider when putting property into a trust for children
• The difference between legal and beneficial ownership
• How to use Form 17 and a declaration of trust to adjust ownership between spouses
• Why timing matters and why many opportunities can’t be applied retrospectively

With upcoming changes to UK inheritance tax and non-dom status rules, this is an episode you don’t want to miss if you're planning to pass on wealth.

Pay the right tax in the right place at the right time.

📲 Book a call with us to talk about your situation: https://lsrpartners.com

🎧 Catch up on all past episodes: https://lsrpartners.com/podcast-videos