A reminder that HMRC may consider extended options for settling your outstanding tax bill. The key is to contact HMRC, explain why you can’t pay on time, and discuss how you can settle any outstanding liabilities. If you can’t pay before the deadline, call…
News
Spring Statement March 2019
The following comments were written on the 13th March 2019 immediately following Philip Hammond’s presentation of the 2019 Spring Statement to Parliament. In theory, the government uses the Spring Statement to respond to the most recent forecasts made by the Office of Budget Responsibility…
Loans to employees
A reminder that if your business makes a loan to your employees or their relatives this can create tax problems for both employees and employers. And please don’t forget that the term “employee” includes directors, and also that loans to family members may be…
Last call for VAT traders to prepare for new filing regulations
As we have mentioned before in this newsletter, VAT returns filed for periods commencing on or after 1 April 2019, may need to be filed using the new Making Tax Digital (MTD) protocols. The new filing obligations will apply to VAT registered businesses with…
Changes to Minimum Wage Rates
From April 2019, minimum pay rates will increase as set out below. • National Living Wage (NLW) rates for workers aged 25 and over – from £7.83 to £8.21 per hour. • National Minimum Wage rates: workers aged 21–24 — from £7.38 to £7.70 per…
Limitations of tax relief when you sell your home
It is a commonly held point of view that when you sell your home you won’t pay any tax, and in particular, that you won’t pay any Capital Gains Tax on the difference between the purchase and sales prices. Unfortunately, there are circumstances when this…
2019 Spring Statement Summary
The following comments were written on the 13th March 2019 immediately following Philip Hammond’s presentation of the 2019 Spring Statement to Parliament. In theory, the government uses the Spring Statement to respond to the most recent forecasts made by the Office of Budget Responsibility…
What is the government doing to prepare us for Brexit?
According to a recent announcement on the GOV.UK website, preparations include: Recruitment of 700 new staff to work on EU Exit policy using additional funding allocated by HM Treasury for Brexit preparedness. Passing of new legislation to lay the groundwork for our future outside…
Are you ready for the VAT filing changes?
A reminder that from 1 April 2019, VAT registered traders with turnover in excess of the current VAT registration limit, £85,000, will need to file returns after 1 April 2019 linked to HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) systems. Accounts software providers have been working…
What can you give away before the end of the tax year?
You can give away £3,000 worth of gifts each tax year (6 April to 5 April) without them being added to the value of your estate. This is known as your ‘annual exemption’. You can carry any unused annual exemption forward to the next year…