tax e-news

With the Budget coming on 30th October, speculation is increasing on what changes will be announced. The Chancellor and the Prime Minister have made comments to indicate that the Budget will bring “difficult decisions”. The Chancellor reported shortly after...

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As a small business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations and miss the bigger picture. You might rely on gut feelings or a quick glance at your bank account to determine how well your business is doing. However, without specific measures of success...

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Being an effective leader involves recognising it’s impossible to be right all the time. Constructive conflict should be embraced in business. In fact, sometimes “no” is ultimately more useful than ‘yes”. The best managers and leaders in the business world, seek and accept critical feedback from trusted colleagues...

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Many commentators are suggesting that the rate of CGT might be aligned with the rates of income tax, a return to the regime that applied when Gordon Brown was chancellor. Rachel Reeves is known to be a disciple of Gordon, so maybe we will see a return to taper relief as well! One would hope that Business...

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The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that the UK’s economy grew by 0.5% between April and June, a slight dip from the initial estimate of 0.6%. This adjustment, largely due to sharper-than-expected declines in the manufacturing and construction...

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Late payments are a huge headache for small businesses across the UK, costing SMEs around £22,000 per year on average. In fact, it’s estimated that they’re responsible for about 50,000 business closures each year! The government has just announced new measures to...

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Amazon has announced the end of its hybrid work policy, with corporate staff expected to be back in the office five days a week starting in January. Previously, staff had the flexibility to work from home two days a week. The decision has apparently been made to...

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Figures released by the Office of National Statistics last week show that the UK economy showed no growth in July 2024. This is the second month in a row as there was also no growth in June. However, looking at the three months ending in July, Gross Domestic...

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The business environment is constantly changing and the ability to adapt to change is crucial for long-term success. Whether it’s shifting market conditions, technological advancements, or regulatory updates, if your business can pivot and adapt you are more likely to thrive...

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What can your business do to help create a more sustainable future? Sustainability remains a key area of focus for businesses and governments around the world. However, driving a more sustainable approach to business is not just something that large corporations do. Small to medium-sized businesses...

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Many wealthy individuals are apparently passing on substantial amounts of their wealth in anticipation of possible changes to inheritance tax (IHT) in Labour’s first Budget on 30 October. This allegedly includes a number of high-profile individuals such as TV presenter Anne Robinson who confirmed that...

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The economy is continuing to grow, according to the latest figures for the April to June quarter. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to have increased by 0.6% for the quarter. This compares with an increase of 0.7% for the January to March quarter...

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A small business from Barnsley, Slime Party UK, has successfully secured government-backed financing, enabling it to significantly expand its operations, create new jobs, and develop new product lines. This success story provides a valuable blueprint for other small businesses seeking to grow...

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The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, addressed the House of Commons last week to detail the results of a Treasury spending audit. She has alluded to this in previous comments when referring to making assessments of the public spending inheritance...

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Last week King Charles delivered the King’s Speech. This is a speech traditionally delivered at the State Opening of Parliament and it sets out the government’s plans and priorities for the coming year. The Speech outlines the legislation that ministers of the new government aim to pass and while it’s delivered by the King, it’s actually drafted by...

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The new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, delivered her first speech as Chancellor last week outlining her plans for revitalising the UK economy. While her speech was inevitably political and included criticism for the previous government while emphasising her own role, there were also some key takeaways for her plans...

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So, the election results are in and the Labour party won the country’s mandate to form a new parliament. What could that mean for the tax you pay? Will there be an emergency budget? Labour will likely set out their initial plans in an ‘emergency’ budget. This is unlikely to happen...

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The deadline – 6 July – for reporting expenses and benefits to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is rapidly approaching. It's important for all employers to understand their responsibilities regarding this crucial tax form. Whether you're...

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How do you help an under-performing employee to turn things around? Under-performance is frustrating for colleagues, causes projects to drag on and can have a negative ripple effect across a team. Every business is bound to...

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Both the Conservative and Labour parties have pledged not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT, although the Labour party have pledged to introduce VAT on private school fees. Both parties are also committed to clamping down on tax avoidance and evasion....

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As a business owner, you’ll likely be wondering how the upcoming general election on 4 July 2024 is likely to affect your business. A new government can mean significant legislative changes and tax upheavals that can impact your business operations and financial planning...

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The 9 box grid segments employees into 9 groups based on two dimensions – performance and potential. The purpose of the matrix is to align talent management and development initiatives to where they add the most value. When making talent management....

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The news is currently full of reports on the general election, so much so that you may be inclined to switch off rather than hear any more about it! Of course, we have no wish to take sides or promote the views of one party over another. However, regardless of what happens...

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Picture this: your business is booming, and it’s time to invest in some new equipment or a company vehicle. But with so many financing options out there, how do you decide which one of them is right for you? Let’s break down three popular choices – leasing, contract...

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P11d forms for reporting expenses and benefits in kind provided to employees and directors in 2023/24 need to be submitted by 6 July 2024. Note that paper forms are no longer acceptable; the return must be made online using PAYE Online for employers or commercial...

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For businesses that run as a partnership, there often comes a time where you need to consider admitting a new partner into the partnership. Perhaps it’s a case of looking for someone who will pave the way for an existing partner to retire, maybe it’s a family business and there...

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Although making tax digital income tax self assessment (MTD ITSA) is not mandatory until 6 April 2026 at the earliest, it is possible for certain individuals to join the HMRC pilot testing. HMRC have relaunched beta testing of MTD ITSA on 22 April 2024. Just five software products...

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Data releases in recent weeks from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) coupled with Bank of England decisions might make recent news about the economy seem a bit confusing. Understanding how this news affects businesses is important so let’s break it down...

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Most businesses have exposure to cyber risk. Almost every modern business relies on computer networks for day-to-day operations, and this means that most firms are exposed to cyber risk. A cyber-attack is any attempt to steal data, damage or disrupt a computer system...

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Over the last two years, the tax-free allowance for capital gains tax has been cut by over three-quarters. For the tax year that recently began on 6 April 2024, the Annual Exempt Amount has been reduced to £3,000 (£1,500 for trustees)...

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Recent surveys of UK business owners show us to be under pressure. This is no surprise. As a business owner, you’re constantly juggling multiple responsibilities and facing a myriad of challenges. While there are countless strategies for success, it’s equally important to be...

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The government recently published a press release congratulating its procurement department on its 10th anniversary for saving taxpayers £3.8 billion last year. Larger corporations often have dedicated purchasing departments to handle procuring supplies....

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As accountants, we understand the importance of leveraging technology to drive efficiency and innovation in business operations. In this article we will introduce you to the concept of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and the transformative power it could have for your business...

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In this April issue we highlight some of the key tax changes that take effect from the start of the new tax year. Unfortunately, most of the income tax and national insurance thresholds continue to be frozen, resulting in an increasing number of higher rate taxpayers...

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When there are several shareholders, a new company is being formed, a shareholder wants to pass their shares or pass them to their children, someone is nearing retirement, or the company has borrowed money from a shareholder, issues can easily arise that jeopardise...

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None of us is as smart as all of us. Way back in the 1920s the Hawthorne Studies, conducted by Elton Mayo, highlighted the importance of groups in affecting the behaviour of individuals at work. Fast forward to today and workplace design has evolved from solo workspaces ...

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When there are several shareholders, a new company is being formed, a shareholder wants to pass their shares or pass them to their children, someone is nearing retirement, or the company has borrowed money from a shareholder, issues can easily arise that jeopardise...

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In times of economic uncertainty or because of operational challenges, you may find your business is facing tough decisions, including the possibility of redundancies. While such situations can be daunting and emotionally challenging, careful consideration and...

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Modern businesses are expected to be diverse and inclusive, and managers must lead the way on this. Inclusive leadership is the combination of working inclusively towards a common coal, making decisions collaboratively, and ensuring that both managers and those being managed understand the wider...

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Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered his Spring Budget 2024 speech on 6 March 2024. This potentially is the last budget before the next general election, which will need to be held before 28 January 2025. The Budget was designed to emphasise the government’s...

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On 6 March 2024, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt presented his Spring Budget to Parliament. In the knowledge that the government must hold a general election before 28 January 2025, this was a Budget designed to restore confidence and win voters. But on the heels of Britain entering a recession and...

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When starting a business, or indeed as an established business, choosing the most suitable legal structure for your business is an important thing to consider. Two popular options are operating as a sole trader or forming a limited company...

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A multifaceted approach is needed in order to close the gender pay gap. The gender pay gap has been declining slowly over time and in the last decade it has fallen considerably. However, there is more work to be done, to ensure that employees are paid equally for doing the same work, regardless of their...

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The Office of National Statistics released official figures last week showing the UK is now officially in recession. Gross domestic product (GDP) for the October to December 2023 quarter dropped by 0.3%. This followed a fall in the July to September...

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It’s not too late to undertake some end of year tax planning. If you have some spare cash, an obvious tax planning point would be to maximise your ISA allowances for the 2023/24 tax year (currently £20,000 each). You might also want to consider increasing your pension savings before 5 April 2024...

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Begbies Traynor, a firm of business rescue and recovery specialists, have published their latest Red Flag Alert based on financial data from the last quarter of 2023. It makes worrying reading as they estimate that more than 47,000 businesses in the UK are near collapse because of being in ...

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Curiosity is the engine that drives innovation. Businesses that foster a culture of curiosity empower their teams to question, explore, and seek novel solutions, thereby creating an environment conducive to adaptability and creativity. Curiosity...

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At this time of year, we think about New Year’s resolutions. It is also a good time to start planning your tax affairs before the end of the tax year on 5th April. An obvious tax planning point would be to maximise your ISA allowances for the 2023/24 tax year (currently £20,000 each)...

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According to consultancy Cornwall Insight, domestic energy prices are predicted to drop in April with analysts predicting that there could be a further fall in the summer. This is good news all round, as energy prices have been a significant factor in...

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In the dynamic world of managing a business, one of the most critical elements to success is effective cash flow management. Cash flow forecasting is a fundamental tool for business owners to navigate financial challenges and ensure sustained growth...

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With all the changeable weather we have been having recently we hope you have been able to stay dry and warm! Change is not only confined to the weather, but it is also an inevitable facet of the business landscape. Whether prompted by technological advancements...

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Looking back at 2023, we have been amazed at the resilient way our clients have handled the uncertain economy. You have demonstrated to us how we can all be flexible and readily adapt to a change in circumstances! We hope that by this time next year we all will be looking back...

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IT infrastructure that sits in the cloud. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides virtual computing resources over the internet, giving businesses essential elements of their IT systems without needing physical hardware. At its core, IaaS is flexible and scalable...

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The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act received royal assent on 26 October 2023 and will introduce a number of changes over the next few years. The act gives Companies House the power to play a more significant role in tackling economic crime and supporting economic growth ...

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On 22 November 2023, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt presented his Autumn Statement to Parliament and started making, in his words, the long-term decisions necessary to strengthen the economy and build a brighter future. Fueled by falling inflation and stabilised public finances...

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Chancellor Jeremy Hunt last week unveiled the government’s tax and spending plans in the Autumn Statement. He started his speech by saying that there were 110 measures to “Help grow the British economy”...

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