Communication

Every new business should have a business plan. It is the key to success. If you need finance, no bank manager will lend money without a considered plan. It is one of the most important aspects of starting a new business. Your plan should provide a thorough examination of the way in which the business will commence and develop.

Corporation Tax Self Assessment key features include: a company is required to pay the tax due in advance of filing a tax return, a ‘process now, check later’ enquiry regime when the tax return is submitted, the inclusion in the tax return, and in a single self-assessment, of the liabilities of close companies on loans and advances to shareholders and others, and of liabilities under Controlled Foreign Companies legislation and the requirement for companies to self assess by reference to transfer pricing legislation.

We consider an optional system of fixed rate expenses which is available for some businesses. The rules allow the use of a ‘simplified’ fixed rate deduction instead of actual costs paid or incurred. It is optional, but using fixed rates may reduce the need for some of the detailed record keeping and calculations necessary to support tax deductible expenses.

The key advantage of a LLP compared with a traditional partnership is that the members of the LLP (it is very important that they should not be called partners but members) are able to limit their personal liability if something goes wrong with the business, in much the same way as shareholders in a company have always been able to do.

Dividend and savings allowances are available. We consider the opportunities and pitfalls of the personal tax rules.