News
Change to Company Accounts filing
21/09/2023
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill has completed its initial journey through the House of Commons and the House of Lords and is now at the stage known as, consideration of amendments. This is where the second House’s amendments are considered, and the Bill may go back and forth until both Houses agree on the Bill. The Bill
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Activities subject to the scope of VAT
21/09/2023
There are a number of conditions that must be satisfied for an activity to be within the scope of UK VAT.
An activity will fall within the scope of VAT when all the following conditions are met:
it is done for consideration;
it is a supply of goods or services;
the supply is made in the UK;
it is made by a taxable person; or
it is
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Tax on incentive rewards
21/09/2023
Companies may use incentive award schemes to encourage their employees in various ways. For example, to sell more of their own goods and services. The award can be in forms including cash, vouchers or other gifts.
Where an employer meets the tax payable on a non-cash incentive award given to a direct employee, by entering into a PAYE
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Utilising Capital Gains Tax losses
21/09/2023
Usually, if you sell an asset for less than you paid for it you would make a capital loss. As a general rule, if the asset would have been liable to CGT had a gain taken place, then the loss should be an allowable deduction.
The exact treatment of losses depends on whether they are:
losses of the same year of assessment as the
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No gain - no loss transfers in groups of companies
21/09/2023
There are special rules concerning the transfer of assets in groups of companies. In most cases, this means that where assets are moved around group companies, there are no immediate capital gains consequences. This effectively allows for a tax neutral, no gain - no loss transfer opportunity.
HMRC’s manuals states that:
This is achieved
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Repairs or replacement of business assets
21/09/2023
The term 'capital allowances' is used to describe the allowances available to businesses to secure tax relief for certain capital expenditure. The rules that govern the purchase of capital equipment such as computer equipment, vehicles and machinery by businesses are different to those for day to day business expenses that can be deducted
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Changes afoot at Companies House
19/09/2023
Due to new legislation working its way through Parliament, Companies House will be making a number of significant changes. In a recent blog post, they made the following announcement:
We’re approaching a pivotal moment in the history of Companies House. This legislation, The Economic Crime and Transparency Bill, will fundamentally change
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Calculate tax on company cars
14/09/2023
Where an employee with a company car is provided with fuel for their own private use by their employers, the default position is that the employee is required to pay the car fuel benefit charge. The charge is determined by reference to the CO2 rating of the car applied to a fixed amount, currently £27,800. For example, a CO2 rating of
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Paying tax by debit card or business credit card
14/09/2023
It is possible to pay HMRC by corporate credit card or corporate debit cards. The use of these cards is subject to a fee. Payment by personal debit cards is currently fee-free. There is also no charge for payment by Direct Debit, bank transfer or cheque.
HMRC has not accepted personal credit cards since January 2018 when credit card
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Checking your National Insurance record
14/09/2023
HMRC offers an online service to check your National Insurance Contributions (NIC) record online. In order to use the service, you will need to have a Government Gateway account. If you don't have an account, you can apply to set one up online.
By signing in to the 'Check your National Insurance record' service you will also activate
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Who is a Scottish taxpayer?
14/09/2023
The Scottish rate of income (SRIT) is payable on the non-savings and non-dividend income of those defined as Scottish taxpayers. This means that Scottish taxpayers who also have savings and dividend income need to consider the UK rates as well as the Scottish rates when calculating their Income Tax bill.
Scottish taxpayer status applies
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What is a trust?
14/09/2023
A trust is an obligation that binds a trustee, an individual or a company, to deal with assets such as land, money and shares which form part of the trust. The person who places assets into a trust is known as a settlor and the trust is for the benefit of one or more 'beneficiaries'. The act of transferring an asset - such as money, land
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Autumn Statement 2023
14/09/2023
The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has announced that he will deliver his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday, 22 November 2023. This move would imply that the annual Budget will not take place until the spring of 2024.
The Autumn Statement is used to give an update on the state of the economy and will respond to the economic
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Tax Diary October/November 2023
13/09/2023
1 October 2023 - Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 December 2022.
19 October 2023 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 October 2023. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 October 2023.)
19 October 2023 - Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 October 2023.
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Companies House fees increase?
12/09/2023
Companies House have published information that suggests their fees may be increasing in the near future. And it’s all to do with the ECCT Bill currently passing through parliament.
To give it its full name, The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Bill will change the role and purpose of Companies House and will provide the
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Clampdown on fake reviews and hidden fees
12/09/2023
The Department for Business and Trade published the following announcement, that if implemented, should reduce the present trend to publish fake reviews and charge hidden fees at point of sale. The overall aim is to help consumers cut the cost of living…
In a recent press release the Department said:
“Commissioned by the Prime
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Back to school – help with childcare costs
07/09/2023
As children return to school after the summer break, HMRC is reminding parents that they may be eligible to use the Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme to help pay for any approved childcare.
The TFC scheme can help parents of children aged up to 11 years old (17 for those with certain disabilities). The TFC scheme helps support working
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Tax on trivial benefits
07/09/2023
There is a benefit-in-kind (BiK) trivial exemption that applies to small non-cash benefits like a bottle of wine, or a bouquet of flowers given occasionally to employees, or any other BiK classed as 'trivial' that falls within the exemption. By taking advantage of the exemption employers can simplify the treatment of BiKs whilst at the
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