In recent years, the stock market has had its ups and downs. Add to this the serious loss of public confidence in pension funds as a means of saving for the future and it is not surprising that investors have looked elsewhere. The UK property market, whilst cyclical, has proved over the long-term to be a very successful investment. This has resulted in a massive expansion in the buy to let sector.

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Statutory 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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For start-ups and small businesses, cash flow can be a real issue. Whilst larger corporations may be able to cope with delayed payments and long invoice periods, this can affect business functions in smaller organisations. With some small businesses being forced to close due to consistent late payments and cash flow issues, the government has proposed new measures to help ensure that small businesses get paid on time.

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HMRC 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. The annual accounting scheme helps small businesses by allowing them to submit only one VAT return annually rather than the normal four. During the year they pay instalments based on an estimated liability for the year with a balancing payment due with the return. The scheme is intended to help with budgeting and cash flow and reduce paperwork.

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The current regime for taxing employer provided cars (commonly referred to as company cars) is intended: to encourage manufacturers to produce cars which are more environmentally friendly and to give employee drivers and their employers a tax incentive to choose more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.

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Many companies are now completely reliant on the data stored on their network servers, PCs, laptops, mobile devices and in the cloud. Some of this data is likely to contain either personal information and/or confidential company information. Here we look at some of the issues to consider when reviewing the security of your computer systems and data.

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Working from home may be an attractive option for some. Here we consider the tax implications of homeworking arrangements for the self-employed. The tax rules differ considerably depending on whether you are self-employed, as a sole trader or partner, or whether you are an employee, even if that is as an employee of your own company. One way or the other though, if you want to maximise the tax position, it is essential to keep good records.

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There are tough rules to crack down on money laundering and the proceeds of crime. These rules affect a wide range of people and we consider how your organisation may be affected. Most of us imagine money launderers to be criminals involved in drug trafficking or terrorism or to be someone like Al Capone. However, legislation in the last two decades has expanded significantly the definition of what we might have traditionally considered as money laundering.

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Investment in property has been and continues to be a popular form of investment for many people. It is seen as a route by which relatively secure capital gains can be made on eventual sale, income returns can be generated throughout the period of ownership and mortgage finance is covered in repayment terms by the security of the eventual sale of the property and in interest terms by the rental income.

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The concept of residence in the United Kingdom is fundamental to the determination of UK tax liability for any individual. The Statutory Residence Test (SRT) provides, through a series of tests, a definitive process to determine the UK residence status of any individual. That status applies for income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax purposes.

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