Sharpen your tax skills
Dates: Wednesday 3 December 2025 / Tuesday 9 December 2025
Timing: 09.30–16.00 (UK time)
AAT Masterclass: Enhance your tax skills and stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of taxation
Exclsuive discounts for AAT members: From £122 to £135 (Non-members £189)
You will be redirected to an external site for booking.
Course Type
Live online course
Date
03 Dec 2025, 09.30
Length
1 day
What you’ll achieve
- Gain an understanding of the latest tax changes and their practical implications
- Learn how to apply new rules effectively when advising clients
- Refresh your knowledge of core topics, including sole traders, employee benefits, and penalties
- Discover strategies for working efficiently with HMRC and resolving issues.
About this course
An intensive one-day course designed to equip you with the latest tax updates.
Led by tax expert Barry Jefferd, who has over 30 years of experience in areas like Capital Gains and Inheritance Tax, and ATT experts: Emma Rawson, Helen Thornley, Chris Campbell, Autumn Murphy, David Wright and Steven Pinhey, each bringing their specialised knowledge.
Designed for busy practitioners, this one-day course delivers up-to-date tax updates with expert-led advice you can apply to your client work.
Meet the Speaker(s)
Barry Jefferd
Tax PartnerBarry Jefferd
Tax PartnerBarry trained with a City of London practice where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Tax Adviser and became a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
Subsequently he joined George Hay and became responsible for establishing the Tax Department, which he still heads. He became a Partner in the firm in 1990 and was instrumental in establishing the firm’s Huntingdon office in 1994. In April 2020, Barry became Senior Partner.
Barry advises on the complete range of taxes, although he particularly enjoys Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax and property and land transactions.
Another of Barry’s strengths is providing reports as an expert to Court. These reports are often required on marital breakdown or to resolve shareholder disputes. He has appeared in both the County Court and the High Court as an expert witness on share-valuation matters.
Barry became one of the first accountants in the country to pass the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ probate qualification, which means that George Hay via GH Probate Ltd is now licensed to carry out probate services.
He lectures widely on taxation on behalf of Taxation Institutes, providing training for other taxation professionals. He starts every presentation with a slide saying“Tax is Fun”reflecting his enthusiasm for the planning opportunities available.
He is also co-author of two books; Tax Planning, a joint publication between the UK200 Group and the Daily Telegraph, and the Innovation Handbook, which is endorsed by the Intellectual Property Office.
Read moreOverview
Live online course |
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1 day |
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Autumn Tax update |
Syllabus
Topical tax update: 9.30-12.00 (break: 10.30–11.00)
Speaker: Barry Jefferd, Tax Partner, George Hay Chartered Accountants
Recent political announcements indicate that tax changes are due in the autumn budget. In the morning session, you will gain up-to-date knowledge of all recent tax changes. The session will not just be technical, but will also look at the practical implications for the busy practitioner
Lunch: 12.00–13.00
Sole Trader update 13.00-14.00
Speakers: Emma Rawson, Director of Public Policy, Autumn Murphy and David Wright, ATT technical officers.
A reminder of what’s topical when preparing accounts and tax returns for sole traders. We’ll be looking at:
- The cash basis – now the default for sole traders, but might accruals be more suitable for some clients?
- Basis Period Reform isn’t over yet – don’t forget about spreading
- Motoring expenses – simplified or actual costs?
- Making Tax Digital – what’s involved, which sole traders it will apply to and when
Break: 14.00-14.15
Employee benefits – back to basics 14.15-15.15
Speakers: Chris Campbell and Helen Thornley, ATT technical officers
This session will be a useful refresher of how and when different types of employee benefits are taxed in the UK. It will cover:
- Overview of Benefits in Kind (BiKs) and how they are treated by HMRC
- How to calculate the value of common taxable benefits such as company cars, private medical insurance and loans.
- How benefits are taxed (including those which need to be reported directly via payroll)
- Role of Forms P11D and how they affect employee's tax codes
- Tax-free and exempt benefits
- Payrolling of benefits from April 2027 – what you need to know
Penalties and getting help from HMRC 15.15-16.00
Speakers: Steven Pinhey and Helen Thornley, ATT technical officers
This session will look at two areas of tax administration – penalties and how to get help from HMRC. The session will cover:
- The breadth and depth of the current penalty landscape
- What does the future have in store for penalties
- What to do when communication breaks down with HMRC.
We will also cover how and when to use services like HMRC’s Agent Account Manager Service and Personal Tax Query Service, and how to report issues with HMRC systems or guidance.
How to access
Purchase securely online, and we’ll send you further instructions and your receipt explaining how to access the training ready for the live training.