21 Oct 2025

Tax when selling your business: watch our video guides

News & insights

Selling your business isn’t just a major life event: it’s a major wealth event. This means there are tax implications to consider – before, during and after the deal – to ensure the best outcome for you, your business and your buyer.

As experts in transaction taxes, we are here to help you fully prepare. Our new video series is your guide to all things tax in relation to entrepreneurs selling their businesses.

Getting deal ready

An introduction to what entrepreneurs should be thinking about in the 12-24 months before a transaction, including:

  • Inheritance tax and business property relief (IHT BPR)
  • Tax planning and wealth planning
  • Structuring for capital gains tax (CGT) reliefs: business asset disposal relief (BADR) and spousal transfers
  • Shares: management equity allocation
  • Due diligence: how we can help you to anticipate buyers’ questions and make any necessary disclosures to HMRC

Trade sales

Explaining trade sales – acquisitions that typically take place within the same industry – and the tax treatment, including:

  • Earn-outs and how they’re taxed
  • Capital gains tax v income tax: how we can help you to determine which tax applies
  • Selling assets v selling company shares: how they differ and why Heads of Terms matter

Private equity sales

Talking through business sales to private equity houses, including:

  • How the tax treatment differs from trade deals
  • Rollover stock and institutional strips
  • Sweet equity
  • Employment tax consequences

Business property relief and other post-deal considerations

Summarising the tax issues that entrepreneurs should think about post-deal, including:

How BKL can help

Selling a business is one of the biggest events of your life. We understand how daunting it can be for any entrepreneur.

Tax will be the biggest cost for most sellers. This makes it critical to get specialist advice in the early stages of the transaction.

Our team are experienced in advising businesses of all sizes, at both ends of the deal, and in liaising with HMRC. We ensure that tax considerations are not overlooked and that the end result attracts no unintended tax consequences.

For a chat about how we can help you and your business to prepare for a sale, get in touch with Emma Brown or send us an enquiry.

Read more: selling your business

Founders-meeting

Employee benefit trusts: don’t lose track of the tax

Employee benefit trusts (EBTs) can be a valuable tool for rewarding employees, supporting succession planning and managing share ownership, but regular reviews are essential to ensure they remain aligned with your business objectives and tax obligations.

What can companies learn from the ASOS data breach?

The ASOS data breach highlights the risks of stolen login details and employee impersonation, and what businesses can do to protect themselves from cyberattacks.

The Harbour Gorey

Jersey & Guernsey property unit trusts: key tax questions for trustees

 Explore the key UK tax considerations and HMRC reporting obligations for Jersey and Guernsey property unit trusts, including property income, capital gains and Trust Registration Service requirements.

Influencer

Influencers receiving goods: the tax consequences you may not have thought about

Influencers receiving gifted products or experiences in exchange for promotional content could face unexpected income tax and VAT liabilities under HMRC rules.

The Moment – October 2026

This edition has insights on our Autumn Budget predictions, what triggers an HMRC enquiry, and how we helped clients with acquisitions and business succession planning.

Webinar: Thursday 12 November – FRS 102 Emergency Toolkit

Join BKL’s experts for practical guidance on the latest FRS 102 changes, including revenue recognition, lease accounting, data requirements and the steps businesses should take to avoid year-end surprises.

Webinar: Thursday 29 October – Beyond the Headlines: Understanding the Autumn Budget 2026

Join BKL’s specialists for a practical analysis of the Autumn Budget 2026, exploring the key tax and policy changes and what they could mean for businesses, individuals, investors and families.

Payments firms and vulnerable consumers: are you meeting FCA standards?

FCA feedback highlights what payments firms and EMIs need to do to support vulnerable customers and meet Consumer Duty expectations.

Safeguarding rules for payments firms: what to do if you’re not ready yet

With the new FCA safeguarding regime now in force, payments and e-money firms can get practical advice on preparing for safeguarding audits, addressing compliance gaps and strengthening their systems and controls.

Future-proofing capital growth in a £250m property group

How we helped the owners of a £250m property group plan for succession, manage IHT exposure and pass future growth to the next generation.