takepayments blog.
Wednesday, 08 April 2026
What are Contactless Payments and How Do They Work?
Whether you’re a busy café serving the morning rush or a boutique shop handling a bustling weekend crowd, contactless payments have become the backbone of modern commerce. In fact, our research shows that 54% of UK shoppers' favourite way to pay in-store is by contactless. But what exactly happens when a customer taps their card or phone on your contactless terminal?
Thursday, 12 March 2026
Making Tax Digital: A Guide to What’s Changing, Deadlines, and How To Apply
HMRC is changing how self-employed people and landlords report their income. Making Tax Digital (MTD) is the new system for reporting income and filing an annual tax return. While the HMRC MTD income tax changes might feel like a big shift, it’s a great opportunity to get your business admin in peak condition.
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
10 payment trends set to shape UK businesses in 2026
The way people pay is changing. Fast. From tap-to-pay to invisible payments, what was once cutting-edge is now expected. As technology moves on and customer behaviours shift with it, staying ahead of the curve has never been more important for small businesses. To help you stay ahead, we’ve pulled together the top payment trends set to shape 2026. This year’s takepayments report combines insights from our own payment experts, exclusive consumer research, and the 2026 Global Payments Commerce and Payment Trends Report. As part of the Global Payments family, we’re bringing together the bigger picture with what really matters to UK SMEs.
Thursday, 22 January 2026
How to file a self-assessment tax return: A guide for UK small businesses
Data from HMRC revealed that over 11.5 million taxpayers submitted their self-assessment tax returns by the 31 January deadline for the 2023 to 2024 tax year, with over 31,000 people leaving it until 11-11:59pm on the day. But understanding how to navigate this isn’t as simple as filling in a form and hoping for the best — and definitely not one to leave until the final hour.
Tuesday, 30 December 2025
What is an EPOS system? A guide to faster, smarter business payments
Cast your mind back to those clunky tills that needed everything typed in manually. Staff frantically punching in prices whilst customers queued out the door, hoping they'd keyed in the right amount before hitting total. Thankfully, those chaotic days are behind us. Electronic point of sale (EPOS) systems have completely transformed how small businesses operate, turning what used to be a stressful transaction into a smooth, seamless experience for both you and your customers.
Friday, 10 October 2025
What to do when your card machine isn’t working (and how to prevent it)
In 2024, card payments accounted for 57% of consumer and business spending in the UK, so when your machine goes down, it's bad news. You're not alone, though: in 2024, the CrowdStrike software update crashed millions of systems worldwide. Nine leading UK banks and building societies, including Nationwide, NatWest Group, and HSBC, racked up over 800 hours of unplanned tech and systems outages in the last two years.
Friday, 05 September 2025
How to set up online payments: A step-by-step guide for small businesses
With ecommerce users in the UK predicted to reach 62.1 million in 2025 and online sales accounting for over a quarter of all retail sales in the UK (26.1%), accepting online payments is essential for businesses today, no matter your size or industry. Whether you’re running an online store or offering services that can be paid for online, setting up a reliable and secure payment system makes it easier for customers to buy from you. So, how do you get started?
Tuesday, 26 August 2025
What is a Bacs payment? How to transfer money with Bacs
Running a business means handling payments day in and day out, from paying your staff to collecting money from customers. While there are plenty of ways to move money around, one of the most trusted methods in the UK is the Bacs payment. But what is Bacs, and how does it work for businesses?
Friday, 01 August 2025
A guide to Apple Pay for merchants: How it works and how to accept Apple Pay transactions
When it comes to mobile wallets, Apple Pay has become one of the leading choices for shoppers across the UK. Apple Pay is a fast, secure, and increasingly popular mobile payment solution available on Apple devices like iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads, and Macs. Used by over 500 million consumers worldwide in nearly 100 countries, it continues to transform how consumers pay, and how businesses get paid.