{"id":33310,"date":"2025-02-27T14:28:47","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T14:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?post_type=knowledge&#038;p=33310"},"modified":"2025-08-12T11:01:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T11:01:19","slug":"legal-changes-for-small-businesses-2025","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-structure\/legal-changes-for-small-businesses-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"10 legal changes impacting small businesses in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new government always brings big change and Labour have certainly been busy since they came into power last year. But a new year brings even more opportunities to shake things up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From privacy concerns to discrimination in the workplace \u2013 what legal changes could impact your small business in 2025? Keep reading to learn more about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex has-2-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#recycling\">new recycling regulations<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#wage\">National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage increases<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#national-insurance\">employer&#8217;s National Insurance increases<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#employment-allowance\">employment allowance increase<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#company-size\">changing the company size thresholds<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#cgt\">capital gains tax adjustments<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#rates\">business rate changes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#privacy\">Companies House privacy updates<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#rights\">Employment Rights Bill updates<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#law\">discrimination law developments<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-001\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"recycling\">New recycling regulations \u2013 31 March<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your business has more than ten employees, it\u2019ll soon be a legal obligation to separate your waste into the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">dry recyclables<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">food waste<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">black bin waste<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your next steps are to make sure you\u2019ve spoken to your team to make sure they\u2019re following the new rules \u2013 as well as making sure you have enough bins to accommodate the changes. Failing to follow these rules could result in fines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should also speak to your waste management company to see if they have any specific requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have less than ten employees, these rules won\u2019t apply to you yet \u2013 but they will from 31 March 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"wage\">Increases to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage \u2013 1 April<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From 1 April 2025, the National Living Wage is set to rise for staff over 21 years of age. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/what-is-the-national-minimum-wage\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1588\" >National Minimum Wage<\/a> will also increase for workers 18-20. Rates will also change for apprentices and those under 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These rates change on 1 April every year. The table below shows the current and new rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Rates each year<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>21+<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>18-20<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Under 18<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Apprentices<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2024<\/strong><\/td><td>\u00a311.44<\/td><td>\u00a38.60<\/td><td>\u00a36.40<\/td><td>\u00a36.40<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2025<\/strong><\/td><td>\u00a312.21<\/td><td>\u00a310.00<\/td><td>\u00a37.55<\/td><td>\u00a37.55<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"national-insurance\">Increasing Employer&#8217;s National Insurance \u2013 6 April<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a legal requirement for businesses to pay <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/employer-national-insurance\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"27179\" >employer National Insurance contributions<\/a> for each of their employees \u2013 and several changes are due to take effect from April 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The amount you pay in National Insurance for each employee is set to increase from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent. The secondary threshold will also be reduced to \u00a35,000 a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><\/td><td><strong>2024-25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2025-26<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>National Insurance rate<\/strong><\/td><td>13.8%<\/td><td>15%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Annual threshold<\/strong><\/td><td>\u00a39,100<\/td><td>\u00a35,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Monthly threshold<\/strong><\/td><td>\u00a3758<\/td><td>\u00a3417<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Weekly threshold<\/strong><\/td><td>\u00a3175<\/td><td>\u00a396<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"employment-allowance\">Employment allowance increase \u2013 6 April<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The employment allowance for the 2025\/26 tax year will increase from \u00a35,000 to \u00a310,500, which can significantly reduce your tax bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an employer, you can claim the employment allowance in order to reduce your secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check your eligibility for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/what-is-employment-allowance\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1164\" >claiming the employment allowance<\/a> in our guide ahead of the new tax year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"company-size\">Changing the company size thresholds \u2013 6 April<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Are you a small business or a medium business? New government legislation will increase the turnover thresholds for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. The average total number of employees in your business will remain unchanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out the new thresholds below and see where your business stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Business size<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>New turnover threshold<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Previous turnover threshold<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>New balance sheet total<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Previous balance sheet total<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Number of employees<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Microbusiness<\/td><td>\u00a31m<\/td><td>\u00a3632,000<\/td><td>\u00a3500,000<\/td><td>\u00a3316,000<\/td><td>10<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Small business<\/td><td>\u00a315m<\/td><td>\u00a310.2m<\/td><td>\u00a37.5m<\/td><td>\u00a35.1m<\/td><td>50<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Medium business<\/td><td>\u00a354m<\/td><td>\u00a336m<\/td><td>\u00a327m<\/td><td>\u00a318m<\/td><td>250<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cgt\">Capital gains tax adjustments \u2013 6 April<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/capital-gains-tax\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1361\" >Capital gains tax<\/a> applies when you dispose of an asset that\u2019s increased in value. The total amount of money you make from selling an asset isn\u2019t taxed, but the profit you make is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re a sole trader, your gains may qualify for the business asset disposal relief. But from April, the lower rate of capital gains tax that applies to this relief will increase from 10 per cent to 18 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So if you have assets you plan to dispose of, you may want to do so before this date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rates\">Business rates are changing \u2013 April<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two changes surrounding business rates are due this April. First is business rates relief for retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses \u2013 which will be cut to 40 per cent (from 75 per cent) for the upcoming tax year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Secondly, the figure you use to calculate your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/what-are-business-rates\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1560\" >business rates<\/a> (known as the standard multiplier) will increase to 55.5p.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"privacy\">Companies House privacy updates \u2013 throughout the year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your business is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/how-to-register-with-companies-house\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"850\" >registered with Companies House<\/a>, you know that your address is visible to anyone viewing your company information. From January this year, business owners were able to hide their business address if it was the same as their home address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But more privacy updates are coming \u2013 with the ability to hide the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">residential addresses in most instances when shown elsewhere on the register<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">date of birth for documents registered before 10 October 2015 (since this date, only the month and year of birth have been publicly displayed)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">signatures\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">business occupation\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As well at this, Companies House will also be introducing a new identity verification process in order to crack down on fraudulent businesses. From autumn 2025, you\u2019ll need to verify your identity in order to set up or control a company in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rights\">Employment Rights Bill creeps closer \u2013 TBD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last October, the UK government published the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/employment-rights-bill\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"26327\" >Employment Rights Bill<\/a>, set to be the \u2018biggest update to workers\u2019 rights in a generation\u2019. While there\u2019s no specific date announced for the changes, it\u2019s likely some of these will start to come into effect in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The changes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex has-2-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">an end to forced zero hour contracts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">day one entitlement to parental and bereavement leave<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">protection against unfair dismissal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">easier access to flexible working<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">improvements to Statutory Sick Pay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">an end to fire and rehire practices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">more protection for pregnant workers and new mothers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">establishing a Fair Work Agency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"law\">Discrimination law developments \u2013 TBD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">October 2024 saw the Equality Act become the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/worker-protection-act\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1585\" >Worker Protection Act<\/a>. And this year could reveal further developments in various workplace discrimination court cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">February already saw judgement on the Higgs v Farmor&#8217;s School case \u2013 which questioned whether employees sharing potentially controversial beliefs outside of work (including on social media) can result in fair dismissal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-else-is-changing-in-2025\">What else is changing in 2025?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/key-dates-for-small-businesses\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1469\" >Key dates small businesses need to know for 2025<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/new-tax-laws-for-businesses\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"32064\" >5 new tax laws for businesses in 2025<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/vehicles\/new-driving-laws\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1487\" >6 new driving laws for 2025: a business guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/tax-year-dates\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"33010\" >When is the UK tax year? Important dates and deadlines<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-upsell-001\" class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94e519ba wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Ready to set up your cover?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">As one of the UK&#8217;s biggest <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5152\" >business insurance<\/a> providers, we specialise in <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/public-liability-insurance\/\">public liability insurance<\/a> and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/quote.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business\">Start your quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What legal changes could affect your business in 2025.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":33323,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"","sb_review_date":"","sb_enable_content_gating":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[336,110],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[24],"class_list":["post-33310","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-structure","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>10 legal changes impacting small businesses in 2025 - Simply Business UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From recycling rules and business rates to company sizes and employment law, here are 10 legal changes businesses need to know about in 2025.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-structure\/legal-changes-for-small-businesses-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 legal changes impacting small businesses in 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From recycling rules and business rates to company sizes and employment law, here are 10 legal changes businesses need to know about in 2025.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-structure\/legal-changes-for-small-businesses-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Simply Business UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-12T11:01:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/legal-changes-for-small-businesses-2025.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"815\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"543\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Rosanna Parrish\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-structure\/legal-changes-for-small-businesses-2025\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-structure\/legal-changes-for-small-businesses-2025\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Rosanna Parrish\",\"description\":\"Rosanna Parrish is a Copywriter at Simply Business specialising in side hustles \u2013 as well as all things freelance, social media, and ecommerce. 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