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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Bribery Act 2010
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 readingCompany 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.
Continue readingEmployment 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.
Continue readingLand 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.
Continue readingPensions – Tax Reliefs
There are two broad types of pension schemes from which an individual may eventually be in receipt of a pension: workplace pension schemes and personal pension schemes. A workplace pension scheme may either be a defined benefit scheme or a money purchase scheme.
Continue readingShare Ownership for Employees – EMI
Retaining and motivating staff are key issues for many employers. Research in the UK and USA has shown a clear link between employee share ownership and increases in productivity. The government has therefore introduced a variety of ways in which an employer can provide mechanisms for employees to obtain shares in the employer company without necessarily suffering a large tax bill.
Continue readingVAT Flat Rate Scheme
The flat rate scheme for small businesses was introduced to reduce the administrative burden imposed when operating VAT. Under the scheme a set percentage is applied to the turnover of the business as a one-off calculation instead of having to identify and record the VAT on each sale and purchase you make.
Continue readingBring 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.
Continue readingConstruction 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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