NEWS
Classic Business Films
Enterprise Links issues a list of the Best international Business Films each year. It was a list stretching back to 1992 which was the year the company was formed. We now expand our list of Classic Business Films to the 10 Best Ever and so remove the requirement that they were made in or after 1992. The list now represents the 10 best films about business as judged by the Enterprise Links family of business owners.
The definition of a 'film about business or enterprise' is broad and subjective with room for any film involving an issue or character relating to business. In the final analysis to receive the accolade classic a film should have a meaningful message about business people or business activity. Critical acclaim has been demonstrated by all as they have either won oscars, baftas, golden globes or critics choice awards. To be a 'classic' the requirements are very high and the passage of time can increase or diminish the rating of a film. For this reason is is possible that a film can be added to or deleted from the previous years list. Remarkably, there has been no addition to the list since 2013. After discussion these are the classic films about business that Enterprise Links considers have stood the test of time:
Citizen Kane 1941
Its a Wonderful Life 1946
The Godfather 1972
Wall Street 1987
Glengarry Glen Ross 1992
Jerry Maguire 1996
The Devil Wears Prada 2006
The Social Network 2010
Margin Call 2011
Dallas Buyers Club 2013
Many will disagree with the choice and criteria. If you believe a film should be added or removed from this list let us know and your view will be take into consideration for our review in November.
In 2026 we are considering a range of critically acclaimed films. There were some superb movies in the last 12 months like 'One Battle After Another' but it is hard to find any films about business however loosely we define it that might be added to the classics above. Let us know if you have any other suggestion from films released April 2025 to March 2026.
The six for consideration this year are 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' 'Bugonia' 'Sentimental Value' 'Sinners' 'No Other Choice' 'Train Dreams'. Descriptions are on Wikipedia, and they will all be streamed by November on Sky Cinema, Netflix, Prime, HBO Max or Disney+
Budget November 2025
The most important measure in the Budget was the commitment to hold Income tax thresholds at their current level until 2030/31. Though widely condemned, this is a way of gaining 'fiscal headroom' so that government spending now can be financed by future revenue without higher tax rates. This has provided for more planned spending on the NHS, child benefit and pensions. Dividend tax rising in April is important for small business owners. According to the independent office for budget responsibility (OBR), inflation is expected to end the year at 3.5 per cent this year. In 2026, the economy is expected to grow by 1.4 per cent.
Permanently lower business rates will be brought in for small retail, leisure and hospitality business. The plan is to place a higher tax on properties with a rateable value of £500,000 or more. A £4.3 billion support package will also be available to those hit hardest by revaluations in April 2026.
The Minimum Wage for workers over the age of 21 will rise to £12.71 in April 2026, a 50p increase on the current figure. Those aged 18-20 will get 85p per hour extra, going up to £10.85 per hour. The rate for under 18s and apprentices will be going up by 45p to £8 per hour. Employers paying the Real Living Wage will have to increase staff pay to £13.45 per hour for outside London. SMEs will have apprenticeships for eligible under 25s fully paid for by the Government.
From April 2027, the basic rate of tax on Capital Gains on property will be 22 per cent, the property higher rate will be 42 per cent, and the property additional rate will be 47 per cent. The government said it will also increase the regular and upper rates of tax on dividend income by two percentage points from April 2026.
Imported packages of £135 or less will now be subject to Customs Duty by March 2029 in line with all imports
Salary sacrificed pension contributions above £2,000 threshold will not be exempt from National Insurance from April 2029.
The main rate of corporation tax will remain on the current 25 per cent. However, the main writing down allowance has been reduced, meaning that it will take businesses longer to deduct the cost of equipment and machinery from their taxable profits.
Income tax thresholds will be frozen for employed and self-employed workers at their current level for another three years from 2028-2031. The current £1 million Annual Investment Allowance is retained.
Fuel Duty is frozen until September 2026. However, there will be a staged increase from 2026. Regulated train fares (including season tickets and some off-peak returns) in England are to be frozen until March 2027. A new mileage-based charge on electric and plug-in hybrid cars will apply from April 2028 at around half the fuel duty rate paid by drivers of petrol cars. Hybrid plug-ins will pay 1.5p per mile while fully electric vehicles will pay 3p per mile.
Best Business Films 2025 Announcement
Enterprise Links considered four films for it's award of Business Film of The Year 2025. We can announce that no film passed the criteria to be added to the list we maintain of the seven best business films since the start date of 1992 (See Below).
The four were The Brutalist , Emila Perez, Nickel Boys and The Substance. They were all 'genre defying', yet each had a message about business or enterprise alongside other themes. While none will ever be classed strictly as a business film, all were excellent movies touching on enterprise for good or ill. Our film choice for best of the year 2025 is:
NICKEL BOYS (Available on Amazon Prime) just ahead of The Brutalist (Sky Cinema).
Making Tax Digital
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT) is a campaign by HMRC to increase the use of accounting software by sole traders, business partners and landlords.
Tax Information
Making Tax Digital
From April 2026 all business owners with sales turnover in excess of £50,000 a year will have to keep their records digitally, unless exempt.
This will mean accounting software or a spreadsheet that has a digital link to HMRC. The £50k limit will fall to £20k by 2028.
All VAT registered businesses are already required to keep digital records and submit a VAT return through MTD-compliant software or bridging software if they wish to continue to use spreadsheets. Exemptions can be given by HMRC for reasons of age, disability, religion, or lack of broadband access. Remeber the sales turniver threshold £50,000. Contact Enterprise Links if you are in any doubt that you are affected.
Important Dates
The significant dates to remember are the dates that tax returns should be submitted and tax paid to HMRC
Sole traders must complete a tax return and pay the tax due on business profits for the previous Tax Year by the following 31st January. For example, the tax year 2026-27 runs from 6.4.2026 to 5.4.2027, and any income tax not deducted at source (Pay as you Earn) must be paid by 31.1.2028 under self assessment and a tax return. Digital records must be kept by individuals and landlords with gross revenue of £50, 000 or more.
Directors of limited companies must make a personal tax return of any income they receive from their company .
Directors of limited companies are also responsible for the submission of a Corporation Tax return by 12 months after the end of the company's accounting year. Corporation Tax must be paid within 9 months of the end of the accounting year (when the accounts end). They must also submit accounts and a confirmation statement to Companies House each year on behalf of their company. They must prove their identity to Companies House.
VAT must be paid and a VAT return made to HMRC by the 7th day following the end of the month after the VAT quarter.
Enterprise Links Ltd can be engaged to act a your agent for the above on your behalf. Although personal tax returns can still be made on paper, 97% of them are now made electronically.
Tax Allowances and Rates 2026-27
The personal allowance, which is the amount any man woman or child domiciled in the UK is allowed to earn tax free, is £12,570 and the income tax basic rate of 20% applies to income from £12,570 to £50,270. 40% applies to income from £50,271 to £125,140. Any income above £125,140 is Taxed at 45%.
The transferable tax allowance for married and civil partners (aka the marriage allowance) is £1,257 The capital gains tax annual exempt amount is £3,000.
For businesses the annual captial investment allowance has been temporarily increased to £1 million. The tax free Individual Savings Account annual subscription limit is £20,000. Trading allowance is £1,000 and Savings allowance in £1,000. Dividend allowance is £500.
Self Assessment - a guide
Self assessment is the system under which taxpayers are required to account for tax that has not been deducted at source. You will need to submit a tax return to HMRC if you are:
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working for yourself and your income from self-employment was more than £1,000 - anything under this amount falls within the ‘trading allowance’.
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renting out a property and your rental income is more than £2,500 - you will need to phone HMRC to give them the figures if you receive between £1,000 and £2,500.
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a company director (except for directors of a not-for-profit organisation and those not receiving any pay or benefits, like a company car or medical insurance).
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a trustee of a trust or registered pension scheme or the executor of an estate.
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living abroad and have a UK income - this includes non-UK resident landlords.
or if you receive:
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income from savings and investments of more than £10,000.
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dividend income of more than £10,000.
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other ‘untaxed income’ of more than £2,500. This could be tips or commission. If the income is less than £2,500 a year you might not have to complete a tax return but it is still your responsibility to report such income.
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taxable foreign income, even if tax was paid in the country of origin, whether or not you are resident in the UK.
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a taxable annual income of more than £100,000.
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A P800 form from HMRC showing tax due at the end of the year that cannot be collected via your PAYE income and you did not make a voluntary payment.
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regular annual income from a trust or settlement, or income from the estate of a deceased person and further tax is due.
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state pension which is more than your personal allowance and is your only source of income, except in cases where your pension commenced on or after 6th April 2016.
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income over £100,000 (or your partner’s income was over this amount) and one of you claimed child benefit.
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or have a capital loss but your gains net of any losses are more than the annual exemption
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or have no losses to claim but your gains are more than the annual exemption
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and you may also want to complete a tax return if you:
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want to claim for expenses of employment which total £2,500 or more.
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want to claim tax relief for donations made to charity or private pension contributions.
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want to prove you are self-employed, for example to claim tax free childcare.
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want to make voluntary national insurance payments to qualify for benefits.
If HMRC have sent you a tax return, or a notice to complete one, the return must be completed and submitted by the following 31st January.
National Insurance and the State Pension
There are complex rules regarding state pension entitlement as a result of national insurance contributions. Basically the present rules are that you need 10 years NI contributions to get a state pension at all, and 35 years for a full state pension. People retiring could have their state pension provided under three state pension systems: the basic state pension, State Earnings Related Pension (Serps), and State Second Pension. Only the basic state pension is available now.
In April 2016, a calculation was done to work out what pension you have earned under the old rules and the new rules. Pensioners will get the higher of the two, less any deductions from "contacting out". If you have opted out of either Serps or the State Second Pension, or both, your state pension will be reduced.
If this "foundation" pension is less than the maximum state pension then further NI contributions will increase it, at the rate of 1/35 of the maximum state pension, for each further year until you reach the maximum or state pension age.
If you had a private pension that replaced part of your state pension, then by paying more NI in future you could gain a higher state pension than you would have achieved under the old state pension system while keeping the private pension.
Personal Tax Accounts
The Personal Tax Account gives taxpayers information on their tax affairs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Services include:
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filing a Self-Assessment tax return
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claiming a tax refund directly into your bank account
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checking and managing tax credits
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checking your State Pension and national insurance contributions
For information visit www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account where you can sign up for free.
MB