Company Secretarial Duties

Company legislation provides an opportunity for a business organisation to benefit from the protection of limited liability, separating the legal persona of the organisation from the individuals who own and run it. In return for this protection a certain amount of information about a company must be publicly available including, for example, the company’s annual accounts, registered office address and details of directors, company secretary (if there is one) and members.

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Employer Supported Childcare

Employer Supported Childcare (ESC), commonly by way of childcare voucher, is for many employers and employees a tax and national insurance efficient perk. We consider the implications of this type of benefit on the employer and employee. ESC, which allows a limited tax and NIC exemption for employer-contracted childcare and employer-provided childcare vouchers, has been very popular with both employers and employees alike.

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Land and Buildings Transaction Tax

Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) is payable by the purchaser in a land transaction which occurs in Scotland. These types of transaction would include a simple conveyance of land such as buying a house but also creating a lease or assigning a lease.

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Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme

The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) provides tax relief for individuals prepared to invest in new and growing companies. It is the junior version of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). Investors can obtain generous income tax and capital gains tax (CGT) breaks for their investment and companies can use the relief to attract additional investment to develop their business.

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VAT – Cash Accounting

Cash accounting enables a business to account for and pay VAT on the basis of cash received and paid rather than on the basis of invoices issued and received.

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Bring your own device (BYOD)

Some employees will often prefer to use their own personal mobile devices to access company networks/systems. However, this is potentially a security loophole which places the organisation at risk from reputational damage and legal proceedings. Firms need to have a formal policy with regard to the use of personal devices at work.

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Construction Industry Scheme

The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) sets out special rules for tax and national insurance (NI) for those working in the construction industry. Businesses in the construction industry are known as ‘contractors’ and ‘subcontractors’. They may be companies, partnerships or self employed individuals. The CIS applies to construction work and also jobs such as alterations, repairs, decorating and demolition.

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Employment Benefits

Today the remuneration of many directors and employees comprises a package of salary and benefits. Essentially two tests must be applied in determining the tax implications of any benefit: is the benefit taxable and, if the benefit is taxable, what is its taxable value?

In this factsheet, we give guidance on some of the main benefit in kind rules and outline some common types of benefits.

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Land Transaction Tax

LTT is payable by the purchaser of residential or non-residential property in a land transaction occurring in Wales. Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is payable on land transactions in England and Northern Ireland and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) on land transactions in Scotland.

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