Black Friday warnings, changes to B2B deliveries, and business rates reforms continue
Today we’re helping our readers to stay safe from fraud during the Black Friday season, we run through the key changes in business to business deliveries between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and we continue our updates on the business rates reforms.
Stay safe during Black Friday season
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reported that shoppers lost over £11.5 million to online criminals between November 2023 and January 2024. Each victim lost an average of £695. A total of £10.6 million was lost the previous year.
The Black Friday season can be a good time to find bargains for businesses as well as individual shoppers. However, it’s evident that online criminals are doing their best to take advantage of the increased shopping activity.
It’s important then that you and your business exercise vigilance during this time. NCSC advise that criminals will often create false urgency by using limited-time offers or promoting items that seem scarce or not widely available.
Anyone involved in purchasing should be made aware that if they see or hear anything that doesn’t seem quite right, they should immediately:
- Break the contact and don’t click on any links.
- Research the company or seller by looking at reviews on trusted review sites.
Another important step that the NCSC recommends taking is to enable two-step verification on any online accounts you have. You should also make sure that all online accounts are protected with a memorable but secure password.
By taking these essential measures you will help protect yourself and your business from fraud while you track down any bargains!
To review the report and guidance in full, see: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/black-friday-warning-figures-reveal-rising-losses-scams
Are you ready for new B2B parcel arrangements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
New arrangements will apply to business to business (B2B) parcels sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, effective from 31 March 2025. The changes were originally due to come into effect from 30 September 2024, but this was delayed to March next year.
Businesses will need to make sure they are prepared for these changes, which include distinct processes for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments.
What are the key changes?
For B2B Parcels, information must be submitted via the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). Your parcel carrier will handle this but may ask you to provide the additional information they need to do this. You may also need to pay duty. If you haven’t done so already, speak to your parcel carrier so that you are clear on how they will be handling this new procedure.
A UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) authorisation enables eligible goods to move without full customs declarations or duty. UKIMS can be used if your goods are for sale to, or final use by, end consumers located in the UK and aren’t subject to an EU trade remedy.
If you don’t hold one already you will need to apply for UKIMS authorisation. In view of the March 2025 deadline, we recommend starting this as soon as you can.
B2C parcels
When goods are sent to consumers (B2C) in Northern Ireland for their personal use, there are no individual customs declarations, duty or presentation of goods to customs authorities. However, your parcel carrier will need to collect some additional data from you, such as the recipient’s details and a description of the goods.
Next steps for businesses
In view of the different processes between B2B and B2C, you will need to know whether your customer is a business or a consumer.
You may already know whether your customer is a business, but if you don’t then the onus is on you to find out. The customer holding a business account with you, requiring a VAT invoice, or the volume or type of goods ordered from you could all be indications that they are a business.
You may also want to apply for UKIMS authorisation to simplify your B2B parcel movements and avoid unnecessary costs.
Talking with your parcel carrier is also important to ensure that you understand their systems and how you can provide the information they will need in a practical way.
To review the guidance, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/moving-parcels-from-great-britain-to-northern-ireland-under-the-windsor-framework
Business rates reforms continue: What it means for you
The government has now published the legislation to deliver the business rates changes announced in the recent Budget. These reforms, set to take effect from the 2026/27 tax year, are designed to create a more balanced system, with notable benefits for smaller retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) businesses.
Here’s what you need to know and how it might affect your business.
Relief for retail, hospitality, and leisure
Businesses in the RHL sectors with properties valued below £500,000 will benefit from “two permanently lower business rates multipliers”. This means a reduced tax bill for smaller high-street businesses, which could free up funds for growth, staffing, or other operational priorities.
Of course, RHL properties have already been receiving temporary relief to their business rates charges. However, the legislation will make permanent adjustments so this should provide greater stability of RHL businesses to plan.
Any relief here is likely to be welcome since high-street businesses are facing tough competition. The BBC recently reported that footfall in Ipswich town centre fell by a third in the past year. So, the high street is under significant pressure to find and maintain sales.
Larger properties to shoulder more
From 2026/27, properties with rateable values of £500,000 or above will see their rates increase, as a higher multiplier will apply. If you operate in higher-value premises, it’s worth factoring this into your financial planning.
This move is because the government intends to fund the reduced rates for smaller businesses sustainably by shifting some of the tax burden to higher-value properties. This may particularly be aimed at large warehouses used by the online giants, but isn’t limited to these firms.
How to prepare
Although these changes are still a couple of years away, there are steps you can take now to ensure you’re ready:
- Assess your properties: Review the rateable values of your properties to understand where you will fall under the new system.
- Review your current rates bill: Make sure that your property is currently being valued and assessed correctly. Agreeing necessary changes with the local authority can take time and effort, but will be worthwhile to make sure that you are getting any relief your business is due.
- Plan for rate increases: Larger businesses, particularly those in premium or urban locations, should start budgeting for the higher multiplier to avoid surprises when the changes take effect.
Looking ahead
Precise definitions of which businesses qualify for the lower rates, as well as the exact multipliers, will be confirmed by Autumn 2025. This clarity will be crucial for understanding the full impact of the reforms on your business.
For now, the key takeaway is that relief is on the horizon for many smaller RHL businesses, while larger property holders should begin preparing for increased costs.
If you’d like to discuss what these changes might mean for your business, please get in touch. We would be happy to help!