VAT registered businesses act as unpaid tax collectors and are required to account both promptly and accurately for all the tax revenue collected by them. The VAT system is policed by HMRC with heavy penalties for breaches of the legislation. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse for not complying with the rules. We highlight below some of the areas that you need to consider.
Continue readingHMRC have introduced a number of VAT schemes over the years designed to reduce the administrative burden on small businesses. One such scheme is the annual accounting scheme.
Continue readingThere are many reasons why you may need to calculate the value of your business. Here we consider the range of methods available as well as some of the factors to consider during the process. It is important to remember throughout that valuing a business is something of an art, albeit an art backed by science!
Continue readingLimited companies enjoy a large number of deductions from your taxable turnover. You can deduct the costs of running your business (including salaries) from your tax bill. Mileage, training, and accommodation also count. However, expenses must fall into the category of being “wholly and exclusively for business purposes.” So, if you use your weekend training trip as a family weekend away, you need to sort your expenses carefully.
Continue readingTrusts are a long established mechanism which allow individuals to benefit from the assets whilst others (the trustees) have the legal ownership and day to day control over the assets. A trust can be extremely flexible and have an existence totally independent of the person who established it and those who benefit from it.
Continue readingTravelling and subsistence expenditure incurred by or on behalf of employees gives rise to many problems. We highlight below the main areas to consider in deciding whether tax relief is available on travel and subsistence.
Continue readingIndividuals are subject to a system of independent taxation so husbands and wives are taxed separately. This can give rise to valuable tax planning opportunities. Furthermore, the tax position of any children is important. Marriage breakdowns can also have a considerable impact for tax purposes. We highlight below the main areas of importance where advance planning can help to minimise overall tax liabilities.
Continue readingThe government has introduced a tax incentive for childcare Tax-Free Childcare (TFC).
Continue readingStatutory Sick Pay (SSP), Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) and Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) are important regulations to understand as they enforce minimum legal requirements on employers. Each operates in a different way. This factsheet sets out the main principles of the regulations and what an employer needs to consider.
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