9 Things You Can Do Now to Make Q4 Less Chaotic
The final quarter of the year tends to go one of two ways:
You’re either ahead of the curve… or chasing it all the way to Christmas Eve.
Here are 9 practical things business owners can do now to make Q4 smoother, more profitable, and (hopefully) a little less stressful.
1. Get your Self-Assessment submitted (yes, already)
We know the deadline is 31 January 2026 — but waiting until January is a guaranteed stress-fest.
✅ File it now and you’ll:
– Know exactly what you owe
– Avoid the New Year bottleneck
– Get time to budget properly
If your income is lower than last year, you may be able to reduce your payment on account — we can help with that.
🔗 Self Assessment deadline and payment info
2. Review your cashflow through to February 2026
Christmas can quietly squeeze your cashflow.
✅ Look ahead at:
– Staff bonuses and parties
– Supplier shutdowns
– Overdue invoices that need chasing
– January tax payments
Planning it now stops the January surprise.
3. Chase invoices (and automate the follow-ups)
One unpaid invoice in November can derail December.
✅ Our recommended approach:
– Set up automatic reminders in software like Xero or QuickBooks
– Include clear payment terms and late payment clauses in your Terms of Service
– Try a human-friendly nudge like:
“Let me know if there’s anything holding this up.”
– If you know someone is struggling, or they’ve gone quiet, call and check-in and open up the conversation.
It’s helped clients recover thousands in late invoices.
4. Use your tax allowances before they reset
Most personal tax allowances reset on 6 April 2026, which means Q4 is a good time to check you’re making full use of them.
✅ Here are the key ones:
– ISA Allowance: £20,000 per person
🔗 ISA allowances
– Dividend Allowance: £500
(Dropped from £1,000 last year)
🔗 Dividend tax rates
– Capital Gains Tax Allowance: £3,000
(Dropped from £6,000 in 2023/24)
🔗 CGT Allowance
– Pension Annual Allowance: Up to £60,000 depending on income
🔗 Pension contribution limits
Use them or lose them — most can’t be carried forward.
5. Review director salaries and bonuses
There is still time to adjust your setup for maximum efficiency.
✅ Now’s the time to:
– Review your salary/dividend split
– Consider end-of-year bonuses
– Maximise pension contributions while they still count
It’s all about timing — and staying tax-efficient.
6. Don’t forget what’s tax-deductible this season
Christmas isn’t just a celebration — it’s an opportunity (tax-wise, anyway).
✅ Staff parties (Annual Event Exemption)
– You can claim up to £150 per person, including VAT
– It must be an annual event (like a Christmas party)
– It must be open to all staff
– You can run multiple events per year — as long as the combined total doesn’t exceed £150 per person. Go over the limit, and the whole amount becomes taxable.
✅ Staff gifts (Trivial Benefits Exemption)
You can give employees a small gift tax-free if it meets all of the following conditions:
– It costs £50 or less (including VAT)
– It’s not cash or a cash voucher
– It’s not a reward for work or performance
– It’s not part of a salary sacrifice arrangement
– It’s not contractual
✅ Client gifts: Must be under £50, branded with your company name, and not food, drink, or tobacco
Claim what you’re entitled to — but keep it compliant.
7. Check your insurance cover (especially for tax investigations)
Two types of cover worth double-checking before year-end:
✅ Tax Investigation Insurance
– Covers professional fees if HMRC open an enquiry (which can happen randomly)
– Saves you time, stress, and money
– Unsure what this means, or you’re ready to get it set up, give us a call.
✅ Business insurance
– Has anything changed? New equipment, premises, people?
– Make sure your policy still fits the business you’re actually running
Peace of mind is worth it.
8. Get your identity verified with Companies House
From 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes mandatory for:
– Company directors
– People with Significant Control (PSCs)
– Members of LLPs
You can verify via GOV.UK using a One Login account, or we can handle it for you as an authorised agent.
Our fee is £50 + VAT per person — no faff, just done.
🔗 Identity verification changes – Companies House
9. Block time off — seriously
Rest isn’t a luxury. It’s how you start 2026 clear-headed.
✅ Make sure:
– Your out-of-office is ready
– Clients know your cut-off date
– You don’t schedule any big projects in that weird week between Christmas and New Year
Running a business is full-on. You’ve earned the break.
Need help ticking any of this off?
We’re not just here for your year-end accounts.
We help business owners make smarter financial moves all year round — and right now is a great time to make a few.
If anything on this list sounds like something you’ve been putting off, give us a shout.
Al, Dave & the ChadStone Team
IN THE MEANTIME, HERE’S SOMETHING FOR YOU…👇
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