The Bribery Act 2010 (the Act) applies across the UK and all businesses need to be aware of its requirements. The Act includes a ‘corporate’ offence of ‘failure of commercial organisations to prevent bribery’. The defence against this offence is to ensure that your business has adequate procedures in place to prevent bribery.
Continue readingUnder the Working Time Regulations 1998 (as amended), workers are entitled to paid statutory annual leave of 5.6 weeks (28 days if the employee works five days a week). This basic entitlement is inclusive of bank holidays. This annual leave entitlement is now closer to that of workers in other European countries, where holiday allowance is typically more generous.
Continue readingRegulations which took effect from 1 October 2011 mean that workers supplied to a company, or to any other entity, by an agency will become entitled to receive pay and basic working conditions equivalent to any directly employed employees after a 12 week qualifying period.
Continue readingThe Equality Act 2010 replaces all previous equality legislation, including the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006. The Equality Act covers age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity. These are now called ‘protected characteristics’.
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 readingDue to the introduction of new accounting standards, commonly referred to as ‘New UK GAAP’, the form and content of company accounts has changed. The changes for non-small companies took effect for accounting periods beginning on or after 1st January 2015. In many instances companies will now show a different bottom-line profit or loss and a different total for net assets on the balance sheet.
Continue readingThe General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) replaced the existing Data Protection Act and applies from 25 May 2018. The GDPR requires all organisations that deal with individuals living in a EU member state to protect the personal information belonging to those individuals and to have verified proof of such protection. Failure to comply with the regulation will result in significant fines.
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.
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