What did the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2025 actually deliver, and how will it affect you or your business?

In this episode of Optimum: LIVE, recorded the morning after the Budget announcement, host Chris Dawes of Visual PR Productions sits down with Michael Blaken (Accounts Director) and Jon Lacey (Finance Director) from Optimum Professional Services to explore the key takeaways and their real-world impact.

This is a free-flowing, one-take conversation that cuts through the headlines and soundbites to bring you practical insight and plain-English analysis. Whether you're a business owner, company director, landlord, employee or self-employed, this episode breaks it all down into bite-sized, easy-to-digest chunks.

We cover:

· Headline tax and allowance changes for individuals and businesses

· What it means for employers and the self-employed

· National Insurance, pensions and investment-related updates

· Impacts on property, inheritance, and capital gains

· What steps should you consider now and in the months ahead

This is your opportunity to hear professional insight from Optimum’s finance experts just hours after the Autumn Budget was delivered.

To speak to the team or find out how the Budget changes may affect your circumstances, visit www.optps.co.uk

Subscribe, comment and share for more timely financial insight and guidance.

#AutumnBudget2025 #UKTaxUpdate #BusinessFinanceUK #OptimumLive

The episode can be watched and listened to from any of the following locations:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1xHt43HDhn7SipOn9euUTx?si=bd239b1d0dc2497d

This is a Visual PR Productions broadcast – “At Visual PR Productions, we produce authentic, engaging, conversation-led video content and broadcasts. No scripts, no hard sell, just genuine, credible dialogue. Whether it’s for marketing, podcasts, training, panel shows, live events, or inductions, we help everyone feel at ease on either side of the camera. Then, with smart automation, we repurpose and share your content across the platforms that matter.”

https://www.visual-pr.co.uk/
enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

Optimum: LIVE Episode 22 - MTD for ITSA – What it really means for you

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD for ITSA) is coming, and if you’re self-employed or a landlord, the rules are changing significantly. In this episode of Optimum: LIVE, hosted by Chris Dawes from Visual PR Productions, we are joined by Optimum’s Kaci Luker (Accountant) and Mandy Gibson (Tax Supervisor) to explain what this major change means for you.

From whom it affects to what you’ll need to do differently, we break down MTD in simple, practical terms. This is essential viewing for anyone earning income outside of PAYE, especially sole traders, property landlords, and anyone currently submitting self-assessment tax returns.

In this episode, we cover:

• What MTD for ITSA actually is
• Who needs to comply and when it starts
• What quarterly submissions will look like in practice
• The impact on software, bookkeeping and deadlines
• Why acting early could save you time, money and stress

Whether you’re an individual preparing for the change or a business advising clients, this conversation will give you clarity and confidence ahead of the new requirements.

For help getting MTD-ready, visit www.optps.co.uk to speak with the team at Optimum Professional Services.

Subscribe, follow and share if you found this useful, and let us know your questions in the comments.

The episode can be watched and listened to from any of the following locations:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1xHt43HDhn7SipOn9euUTx?si=bd239b1d0dc2497d

This is a Visual PR Productions broadcast – “At Visual PR Productions, we produce authentic, engaging, conversation-led video content and broadcasts. No scripts, no hard sell, just genuine, credible dialogue. Whether it’s for marketing, podcasts, training, panel shows, live events, or inductions, we help everyone feel at ease on either side of the camera. Then, with smart automation, we repurpose and share your content across the platforms that matter.”

https://www.visual-pr.co.uk/
enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

Optimum: LIVE Episode 21 - How Much Can You Actually Earn Tax-Free in the UK?

In this slightly tongue-in-cheek episode of Optimum: LIVE, Chris and Michael take a clear and practical look at one of the most common questions asked by individuals and small business owners alike:
"How much money can I actually earn without paying tax?"

It’s not just about the personal allowance. With multiple thresholds and tax-free bands across income, dividends, savings and capital gains, understanding what you can really earn tax-free in the UK has never been more important.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Personal Allowance
• Trading Allowance
• Property Allowance
• Rent-a-Room Relief
• Dividend Allowance
• Savings Allowance
• Starting Race for Savings
• Capital Gains Tax Allowance
• ISA Savings Interest
• Premium Bond Winnings
• With an overarching discussion of how to structure your income for maximum tax efficiency

Whether you're self-employed, employed, drawing dividends, or earning from multiple sources, this episode offers simple, up-to-date guidance to help you keep more of what you earn.

Need tailored tax advice? Visit www.optps.co.uk to speak with the team at Optimum Professional Services.

Like, subscribe, share and comment if you found this useful — and let us know what tax topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes.

#TaxFreeIncome #PersonalAllowanceUK #DividendTax #OptimumLive

The episode can be watched and listened to from any of the following locations:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1xHt43HDhn7SipOn9euUTx?si=bd239b1d0dc2497d

This is a Visual PR Productions broadcast – “At Visual PR Productions, we produce authentic, engaging, conversation-led video content and broadcasts. No scripts, no hard sell, just genuine, credible dialogue. Whether it’s for marketing, podcasts, training, panel shows, live events, or inductions, we help everyone feel at ease on either side of the camera. Then, with smart automation, we repurpose and share your content across the platforms that matter.”

https://www.visual-pr.co.uk/
enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk