Pension Wise is a free government service that was launched in 2015 to help provide individuals with general pension advice. However, the service does not answer specific questions relating to your pension. The main advice the service provides is generic and covers what you can do with your pension pot, the different pension types, how
More...There are complex VAT rules that determine the amount of VAT that can be recovered when purchasing a new car. The usual rule is that when you purchase a car for your business then no VAT can be reclaimed. The main exception to this rule is when the new car is used solely for business use. This rule has been the subject of much case law
More...The High Income Child Benefit charge (HICBC) applies to a parent whose income exceeds £50,000 in a tax year and who is in receipt of Child Benefit. If both parents have an income that exceeds £50,000, the charge will apply to the highest income earner. The charge claws back the financial benefit of receiving Child Benefit
More...Insurance transactions are generally VAT exempt. However, there are many issues that can arise concerning the VAT liability of certain insurance transactions. One of these issues concerns the VAT treatment of insurance claims. Insurers are unable to recover VAT incurred in obtaining replacement goods or having repairs carried out for a
More...Class 1A NICs are paid by employers in respect of most benefits in kind provided to employees, for example, the use of a company car. There are no Class 1A employee contributions payable. Class 1A NICs are due in respect of most benefits provided to: directors and certain other persons in controlling positions, employees, members of
More...To calculate adjusted net income, you will need to look at a taxpayer’s total taxable income, before personal allowances, and then deduct any trading losses, gift aid donations, gross pension contributions and pension contributions where the pension provider has already provided tax relief at the basic rate. Calculating the
More...The government has published its response to its January 2019 consultation on “pregnancy and maternity discrimination: extending redundancy protection for women and new parents” and has confirmed that it will now take action to address such discrimination. As the law currently stands, employees who are placed at risk of
More...A new consultation launched jointly by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care, is seeking views on different ways in which both the Government and employers can take action to reduce ill health-related job loss. The consultation is examining a number of specific proposals including: Reforming
More...Although we have a new Prime Minister, it would seem that so far nothing has changed to bring us any closer to a Brexit resolution. In fact, it appears that a no-deal Brexit is becoming more likely as we approach the 31 October deadline. HMRC has published guidance on visiting the EU after 31 October 2019. They have said that there will
More...The Help to Buy ISA scheme will close to new savers after 30 November 2019. This leaves less than 4 months to open an account before the product is due to be withdrawn by the Government. Once opened, account holders can continue to save in their ISA account until 30 November 2029 when accounts will close to additional contributions.
More...If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, any UK business that exports goods to the EU will be responsible for making customs declarations (as is the case for businesses currently exporting goods outside the EU). If you have clients that trade with the EU, you should check that they have a UK Economic Operator Registration and
More...There are many taxpayers that have reached the State Pension age and continue to work. It should be noted that the requirement to pay any employee or self-employed National Insurance Contributions (NICs) ceases once a taxpayer reaches the State Pension age, subject to the following clarification. Taxpayers remain liable to pay any NICs
More...Domicile is a general legal concept which in basic terms is taken to mean the country where you permanently belong. However, determining domicile status can be complex. HMRC guidance states that domicile cannot be defined precisely, but the concept rests on various basic principles. Although domicile can change, there is generally a
More...The National Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill has received Royal Assent, to become the National Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Act 2019. The Act aligns the employer NICs treatment of termination awards in excess of £30,000, received in connection
More...Here is a reminder for our readers of their duty and tax free allowances if travelling abroad this summer. Travelling to an EU country Where tobacco or alcohol is brought in from another EU country, no duties or tax will be payable as long as you can demonstrate that the goods are for your own use, and that you paid the relevant taxes
More...The due date for making your second payment on account for 2018-19, was the 31 July 2019. The amount that was due for payment is usually the same as that for your first payment on account made on or before 31 January 2019. If you are late making a payment on account, you will likely be required to pay interest and penalties. Issues with
More...With the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, appearing to take an increasingly hard line the chances of Britain leaving the EU without any working agreement, known as a 'no deal' Brexit, are looking increasing likely and certainly cannot be ignored. If the UK leaves the EU on 31 October 2019, without a deal, there would be
More...If you are self-employed as a sole trader or as a partner in a business partnership, then you must keep suitable business records as well as separate personal records of your income. For tax purposes, the business records must be held for at least 5 years from the 31 January submission deadline for the relevant tax year. For example, for
More...HMRC’s annual reconciliation of PAYE for the tax year 2018-19 is well under way. HMRC use salary and pension information to calculate if you have paid the correct amount of tax. The calculation is usually generated automatically by HMRC’s computer systems on what is known as a P800 form. If you are due a tax refund for
More...New rules that make changes to the issuing of credit notes under certain circumstances, will come into effect from 1 September 2019. The changes have been put in place to target certain businesses who seek to create a tax advantage, by making VAT adjustments for reductions in price without refunding their customers. The change will ensure
More...The new Structures and Buildings Allowance (SBA), allows for tax relief on qualifying capital expenditure on new non-residential structures and buildings. The relief applies to the qualifying costs of building and renovating commercial structures. The relief was introduced with effect from 29 October 2018 and applies where all contracts
More...Currently, the due date for paying any Capital Gains Tax (CGT) owed to HMRC is the 31 January, following the end of the tax year in which a Capital Gain was made. This deadline will change for UK residents from April 2020. Clients should be advised that this change will mean that any CGT due on the sale of a residential property will need
More...Within hours of entering 10 Downing Street for the first time as Prime Minister, Boris Johnson had filled most of the senior cabinet roles by undertaking a major overhaul of cabinet members. After three years in the job, the previous Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond resigned his position to the outgoing Prime Minister, Theresa
More...Every three years, employers must put certain eligible workers who have left their automatic enrolment workplace pension scheme back into it. This is called re-enrolment. Employers must also complete and submit a re-declaration of compliance to tell The Pensions Regulator (TPR) how they have met their re-enrolment duties, even if they do
More...1 August 2019 - Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 October 2018. 19 August 2019 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 August 2019. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 August 2019) 19 August 2019 - Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 August 2019. 19 August
More...As our readers are most likely aware there is usually no Capital Gains Tax (CGT) due on the transfer of assets between husbands and wives and civil partners. However, there is still a deemed disposal that has taken place for CGT purposes effectively at no gain or loss on the date of the transfer. When the asset ultimately comes to be
More...When a new employee is added to the payroll it is the employers' responsibility to ensure they meet the employees’ rights and deduct the correct amount of tax from their salary. This includes any employees who are family members. HMRC’s guidance is clear that if you hire family members you must: avoid special treatment
More...The process of registering a trade mark can be very complex, and careful due diligence must be undertaken to decide what exactly is being trade marked and in which jurisdictions. It is possible to make a UK only trade mark application or a European Union wide application. The process for applying in other jurisdictions is based on local
More...A nominee director is someone who acts as a non-executive director on the board of a company. This person is normally appointed to act on behalf of another person or company and is effectively their representative on the board. For example, a shareholder, creditor or interest group. There can be conflicts of interest that arise for
More...The use of zero-hour contracts has become widespread in many sectors including the food service, retail, healthcare and leisure sectors. For employers, zero-hour contracts offer many advantages, for example, that the employer does not have to guarantee any hours of work and can offer workers changeable working hours at short notice. The
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