Some things which were expected in the Budget were very noticeable by their absence. There were also a number of aspects which will affect business and tax planning for years to come, if we read the signs carefully. Most interesting is the direction of travel which has been highlighted, along with the timescales. Whilst Income Tax is
More...It has been confirmed as part of the Budget announcements that the 2021-22 personal allowance will increase to £12,570 (2020-21: £12,500) and the basic rate limit to £37,700 (2020-21: £37,500). As a result, the higher rate threshold will increase to £50,270 (2020-21: £50,000) from 6 April 2021. The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak revealed that
More...The Chancellor confirmed that the Corporation Tax main rate will remain at 19% from 1 April 2021 for the next 2 years. The main rate had been expected to increase to help pay the massive costs of the coronavirus pandemic to the public purse. However, the Corporation Tax main rate will increase to 25% from 1 April 2023 for companies with
More...The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) commonly known as the furlough scheme will be extended until the 30 September 2021. The Chancellor confirmed that employees will receive up to 80% of their salary for hours not worked subject to a monthly maximum of £2,500 until the scheme ends. The CJRS will also continue in its present form
More...The deadline for applications for all the government-backed loan schemes including the Bounce Back Loan scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans and the Future Fund ends on 31 March 2021. The Chancellor did not announce any further extension to these loan schemes but instead announced that a new successor loan guarantee programme
More...Designed to help offset the increased Corporation Tax main rate and promote investment, the Chancellor announced the introduction of a new ground breaking super-deduction tax relief. The new temporary tax relief applies on qualifying capital asset investments and will apply from 1 April 2021 until 31 March 2023. The new super-deduction is
More...It has been confirmed, by the Chancellor, that the taxable turnover threshold that determines whether businesses should be registered for VAT will be frozen at £85,000 until 31 March 2024. The taxable turnover threshold that determines whether businesses can apply for deregistration will also be frozen at the current rate of £83,000 for
More...More has been disclosed, leaked, of this year’s Budget announcements than in previous years. But we now have the details and there is a lot to consider. The following Budget summary is split into four sections: COVID-19 related support measures for UK businesses Support for the UK housing market Taxation changes Other
More...What is the difference between capital and debt, and why is the distinction important? One important distinction is that capital represents the amount of funds introduced by shareholders, partners or sole traders plus any retained profits that the business has created at any particular date. Debt on the other hand is a liability, an
More...Pension Credit is an income-related benefit made up of 2 parts - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income if it’s below £173.75 (for single people) or £265.20 (for couples). You may still be eligible if you have savings, a pension or your own home. Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who
More...1 March 2021 - Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 May 2020. 2 March 2021 - Self-assessment tax for 2019/20 paid after this date will incur a 5% surcharge. 19 March 2021 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 March 2021. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 March 2021) 19 March 2021 -
More...Under the third Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant, claimants received up to 80% of average trading profits for November and December 2020, and January 2021. This meant that a maximum grant for the three months of £7,500 was made available to those who met the eligibility requirements. The claim window for this grant has
More...We wanted to remind our readers of the Inheritance Tax (IHT) implications of making cash gifts during the current tax 2020-21 tax year that ends on 5 April 2021. You can give away up to £3,000 worth of gifts each tax year. This is known as your annual exemption. Any unused part of the annual exemption can be carried forward, but only for
More...As with Income Tax personal allowances, taxpayers have an annual exempt amount for Capital Gains Tax (CGT) which is forfeited if not used. The annual exemption for individuals in 2020-21 is £12,300. A husband and wife each have a separate exemption. This also applies to civil partners who are treated in the same way as married couples for
More...In a recent HM Treasury press release it has been confirmed that the government will publish a number of tax-related consultations and calls for evidence at the end of March. These consultations would usually be published on Budget day but instead will be published on 23 March. This will allow more time for these consultations to be
More...Businesses that use the flat rate scheme pay VAT as a fixed percentage of their VAT inclusive turnover. The VAT Agricultural Flat Rate Scheme is a variant of the flat rate scheme specifically designed for farmers and other activities relating to agricultural production (such as horticulture). Farmers cannot join this scheme if the value
More...The Supreme Court has handed down a landmark judgement in the Uber case. The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the decisions of earlier courts and has found that Uber drivers are ‘workers’ and not self-employed as Uber has tried to argue. The decision of the Supreme Court as the final court of appeal in the UK marks the end of the case
More...The Prime Minister has set out the government’s objectives for easing lockdown restrictions. If the planned opening of schools, social interactions and businesses is achieved without significant increases in infection, after 21st June 2021, there will be no legal limits on social contact. Which means, all businesses including hospitality
More...A reminder that traders who buy and sell goods - wholesalers or retailers - need to be wary of the financial consequences if, as expected, pent up consumer activity leads to a surge in demand for your products from July 2021 or earlier if you can trade before 21st June 2021. What is overtrading? Let’s assume that the past year’s
More...If you are entitled to the marriage allowance and have not yet applied, then you could receive a payment of up to £1,188 from HMRC. HMRC used the occasion of Valentine’s Day to remind couples to make a claim. The marriage allowance is available to qualifying married couples and those in a civil partnership where a spouse or civil partner
More...The new Pensions Scheme Act received Royal Assent on 11 February 2021. The Act covers a number of important pensions-related issues and has faced a long journey through parliament, starting in October 2019, that included delays due to both Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic. The Act has been described by government as ‘the biggest
More...Following the end of the Brexit transition period, businesses need to make customs declarations when exporting goods to the EU as well as to the rest of the world. Businesses can make customs declarations themselves or hire a third party such as a courier, freight forwarder or customs agent. Businesses can use simplified export
More...The coronavirus VAT payment holiday gave businesses the chance to defer the payment of any VAT liabilities between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020. The option for businesses to defer their VAT payments ended on 30 June 2020. There are two options available for repaying this VAT. The first option is to pay the deferred VAT in full on or
More...Employees who are working from home may be able to claim tax relief for any additional costs due to home working. No tax relief will be due if employers reimburse employees for the additional household expenses incurred. The tax relief covers expenses such as business telephone calls or heating and lighting costs. Expenses that are for
More...Employees who need to buy substantial equipment to use as part of their employment may be able to claim tax relief. In most cases they can claim relief based on the full cost as it usually qualifies for a type of capital allowance called the Annual Investment Allowance. Any tax relief would be reduced if the employer provides a
More...Many business owners are buoyed by turnover; if it’s sold it’s as good as money in the bank, but is it? What are your credit terms? How many days do you allow your customers to keep your money before insisting they pay you? 30 days is probably the most widely used credit term, which in real terms probably means customers pay after 40,
More...There are three possible financial outcomes for your business, each with their own challenges: Make a profit Breakeven, or Make a loss Making a profit Clearly, this will be your goal. If you make profits - and taxation will never eat up all your profits - this will generate cash resources that can be accumulated in the business or
More...A recent investigation by the Insolvency Service resulted in the sole director of a Leicester clothing manufacturer being jailed for six months after failing to provide adequate company accounting records. The investigation found that the defendant had not kept adequate accounting records which meant the liquidator could not ascertain
More...Following the end of the transition period, businesses registered for VAT can account for import VAT on their VAT return, often referred to as postponed VAT accounting. For most businesses, this means that they will declare and recover import VAT on the same VAT return. The normal VAT recovery rules that define what VAT can be reclaimed
More...Claims for the third Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant closed on 29 January 2021. Under this grant, the self-employed received up to 80% of average trading profits for November and December 2020 and January 2021. This meant that a maximum grant for the three months of £7,500 was made available to those who met the
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