The Government has announced a £50m support package for low-income and vulnerable households that rely on heating oil, as prices have risen sharply following the conflict in the Middle East. Kerosene, which is used in heating oil systems, has increased more quickly than petrol and mains gas in recent weeks. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is not covered by the energy price cap. That means households who are off the gas grid are more exposed to sudden price changes, often having to pay large upfront amounts to refill their tanks. How the support will be distributed The funding will be distributed through local councils from 1 April , using the new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) . The allocation has been split based on regional demand: £27m for England £17m for Northern Ireland £4.6m for Scotland £3.8m for Wales Northern Ireland is expected to be most affected, with up to 60% of homes relying on heating oil . Why this matters One of the main challenges with heating oil is how it’s paid for. Unlike monthly direct debits for gas and electricity, heating oil often requires lump sum payments , which can put pressure on household finances, particularly when prices rise quickly. Ministers have acknowledged that this creates additional financial strain for vulnerable households trying to maintain heating and hot water. Wider review of the heating oil market Alongside the support package, the Government has announced a broader review of the heating oil market. This includes: Looking at introducing sector-wide regulation for the first time Improving consumer protections Working with suppliers to improve service standards The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is also investigating the market to assess whether pricing is fair. Further proposals include appointing a formal regulator — potentially Ofgem — and introducing an ombudsman under the proposed Energy Independence Bill . Final thoughts For households affected, this support may help in the short term. Longer term, the focus is likely to shift towards how the market is regulated and how exposed off-grid households remain to price volatility. As with most cost pressures, the key is understanding how rising costs affect your overall finances and planning accordingly. If you’re reviewing your household or business finances in light of rising costs, I’m always happy to chat.

What online sellers must record and report Online selling can scale quickly. That’s great for revenue, but it puts pressure on record-keeping, VAT decisions and how you report to HMRC. Unlike a traditional business with one sales ledger and one bank account, online selling usually involves multiple moving parts: your website or marketplace, a payment processor, fulfilment providers and often advertising platforms driving demand. Each of these produces its own reports, timelines and deductions. They don’t always line up neatly with what actually lands in your bank. At the same time, visibility has increased. Digital platforms now report seller income and activity to HMRC each year. That means HMRC can compare platform data against your tax returns, VAT submissions and digital records. Selling online doesn’t create a problem by default, but it does mean inconsistencies show up more easily. Why this matters more than it used to Online retail remains a significant part of the UK economy. The Office for National Statistics reported that 28.3% of retail spending was online in December 2025 , up from 28.0% in November , with online sales values 11.1% higher than December 2024 . For businesses, that growth usually means: More transactions (and more refunds and chargebacks) More intermediaries (platforms, processors, fulfilment providers) More cross-border sales affecting VAT More third-party data that HMRC can cross-check The goal is simple: keep records clean and consistent so you can run the business properly and support your tax position if needed. What counts as “selling online”? From a compliance point of view, it doesn’t matter whether you sell: Through your own website (e.g. Shopify) Through marketplaces like Amazon, eBay or Etsy Through social platforms Via payment systems like PayPal or Stripe What changes is where the data sits, and whether the platform has reporting obligations to HMRC. The core principle Tax is based on profit. Sales income (turnover), less allowable costs, equals taxable profit. But HMRC expects evidence. That means your records need to show: What you sold When you sold it What you were paid (and what was deducted) What it cost you Any VAT charged or reclaimed How your tax figures were calculated The key point: you need to record gross activity — not just what hits your bank. What to keep 1. Sales records (gross, not payouts) For each sales channel, keep: Order dates and numbers Customer location Items, quantities and prices Delivery charges Discounts and vouchers Refunds and cancellations VAT charged Common issue: treating payouts as sales. Payouts are usually sales minus fees and refunds , so relying on them can understate turnover. 2. Platform reports Keep: Monthly statements Transaction-level exports Settlement reports VAT invoices for fees Save these regularly — platform data can change after refunds or disputes. 3. Payment processor records Include: Payout reports Chargebacks and disputes Fees and currency charges Any reserves held 4. Cost evidence Keep invoices and receipts for: Stock and imports Shipping and packaging Fulfilment costs Software and subscriptions Advertising Professional services Staff and subcontractors 5. Bank records Alongside statements, keep: Reconciliation schedules Notes for unusual items Separate accounts or clear tracking makes this much easier. 6. Stock records Keep track of: Stock received Inventory movements Returns and write-offs Stock counts This supports both operations and profit accuracy. How long to keep records Self assessment: at least 5 years after the filing deadline VAT: typically 6 years (10 years for OSS/MOSS) Limited companies: generally 6 years from the end of the financial year In practice, many businesses keep six years plus the current year . Platform reporting to HMRC From 1 January 2024 , digital platforms must report seller income and details to HMRC annually. This includes: Name and address Date of birth (for individuals) Tax identifiers (e.g. NI number or company number) There is an exemption for low activity (fewer than 30 sales and under €2,000 - about £1,700). What this means in practice HMRC can see platform-level data Differences between your returns and platform figures may trigger questions Keeping accurate records is more important than ever A simple control: Reconcile platform totals to your accounts regularly. VAT considerations UK threshold For 2025/26, the VAT threshold is £90,000 (rolling 12 months). Common VAT issues Cross-border sales Marketplace VAT rules (especially under £135 consignments) Import VAT documentation Missing paperwork is one of the most common reasons VAT reclaims are challenged. Making Tax Digital (MTD) MTD for VAT All VAT-registered businesses must: Keep digital records Submit VAT returns via compatible software Late submissions now operate under a points-based penalty system . MTD for income tax (from April 2026) Applies to sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000 (2024/25). This means: Quarterly updates Digital record-keeping Even now, it’s worth preparing your systems to handle this. A practical workflow Monthly Import sales and fees Reconcile payouts to bank Check refunds Store invoices and receipts Quarterly Review VAT position Check margins by platform Reconcile platform totals Annually Download full reports Review stock Check VAT position Confirm business details across platforms Common mistakes Mixing personal and business transactions Recording payouts as turnover Missing VAT evidence Ignoring overseas stock rules Not saving data regularly Most issues come from small inconsistencies building up over time. Final thoughts Selling online can look simple from the outside, but the record-keeping behind it rarely is. The biggest risks aren’t usually major errors, they’re small gaps that build over time. Missing a month of fees, recording net instead of gross, or losing track of returns. With the right structure in place, though, it becomes manageable. Clean records don’t just keep HMRC happy — they make the business easier to run.