Limited 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 readingThe 2018/19 tax year has just ended, which means you can now file your tax return online via the HMRC website. But, is this something that you should do yourself or should you hire an accountant? A lot of people do not want to spend their hard-earned cash on accounting services and would rather attempt it themselves. However, a simple mistake or oversight could end up costing you much more than paying an accountant would.
Continue readingMost people who earn £162 or more per week (or £6,205 or more a year if you’re self-employed) pay National Insurance. If you simply have one PAYE job, National Insurance is often fairly simple. However, there are some aspects that can complicate things and lead to you paying too much.
Continue readingThe UK government is making tax digital. From 2019, if you manage a VAT-registered company, and you have a turnover of more than £85,000 per year, you will be required to keep digital records and submit returns created using software that is compatible with Making Tax Digital (also known as MTD).
Continue readingWhen a new employee is hired, they will need a tax code. However, the tax code for the new employee will depend on whether or not a valid P45 has been handed to the new employer. In this article, we are going to talk about the UK tax codes for new employees. If the new employee has successfully provided the employer with a valid P45, then the employer should use the tax code that is stated on the P45.
Continue readingKeeping the company finances in good health is one of the hardest challenges facing any business owner, and cash flow management is undoubtedly an integral feature. After all, money tied up in assets or future transactions counts for very little if it isn’t supported by having the cold hard cash to get through the foreseeable future. With this in mind, knowing how to do a cash flow forecast is one of the most significant skills you could ever learn.
Continue readingIf you’re carrying out work or earning money independently (i.e. not as an employee), you need to register as self-employed. You could be a plumber or electrician, someone who sells on eBay or Etsy, or a virtual assistant. However you’re earning money, if it’s not being taxed through PAYE, it needs to be taxed through self-assessment.
Continue readingHaving the right payroll system is imperative to ensure you are paying your staff accurately, on time, and in-keeping with the law. The law states how things like national insurance must be deducted, how payslips are issued, and records kept/returns to the tax man. These things all come under ‘payroll’ and must be taken care of for the million or so UK businesses that employ staff.
Continue readingThe end of the financial year is a big moment for any company and having everything organised ahead of time can save you a lot of stress and worry. Too many businesses go into crunch time, desperately working to get everything they need to be done before that year-end. Here, we’re going to look at a year end accounting checklist of accounting tasks you have to complete, so you can get to work on them in advance.
Continue readingValue-added tax (VAT) is charged on most goods in the UK. Some goods are exempt, and others have lower rates added to them, but most are charged at the standard VAT rate of 20%. Many very small businesses don’t need to register for VAT, but once your annual turnover passes the threshold, which is currently £85,000, it’s compulsory. You can also voluntarily register before reaching the threshold, which is useful for some businesses so they can get in the habit of charging VAT. If you’re wondering how does VAT work, take a look at the information below.
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