News
Tax Diary August/September 202129/07/2021 - More...
1 August 2021 - Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 October 2020. 19 August 2021 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 August 2021. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 August 2021) 19 August 2021 - Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 August 2021. 19 August
Reforming statutory sick pay
29/07/2021 - More...
Following its summer 2019 consultation entitled “Health is everyone’s business: proposals for reducing ill health-related job loss”, the government has now published its response which takes into account the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on work and health. The response confirms that the government: will not be
SEISS – more red tape
29/07/2021 - More...
Government support to the self-employed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is due to end on 30 September 2021. A fifth and final grant covering the period May 2021 to September 2021 will be opened to claims from late July for those who have suffered a significant reduction in trading profits. To qualify for the
Tax-free gains on gifts to spouse or charity
29/07/2021 - More...
In most cases, there is no Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to be paid on the transfer of assets to a spouse or civil partner. There is, however, still a 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 sold, the gain or loss will be calculated based on
Who pays Inheritance Tax?
29/07/2021 - More...
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is commonly collected on a person’s estate when they die but can also be payable during a person’s lifetime on certain trusts and gifts. The rate of IHT currently payable is 40% on death and 20% on lifetime gifts. IHT is payable at a reduced rate on some assets if 10% or more of the 'net value' of their estate is
Turnover defined for 5th SEISS grant
29/07/2021 - More...
HMRC has published new guidance to help the self-employed calculate their turnover for making a claim under the 5th Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant. The final date for making a claim for the 5th grant will be 30 September 2021. The figures will be used to compare turnover in the pandemic year from April 2020 - April
Who counts as CIS contractor or sub-contractor?
29/07/2021 - More...
The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) is a set of special rules that affect tax and National Insurance for those working in the construction industry. Businesses in the construction industry are known as 'contractors' and 'subcontractors' and will need to be aware of the tax implications of the scheme. Under the CIS, contractors are
Continuous employment defined
29/07/2021 - More...
When a new employee is added to the payroll it is the employers' responsibility to ensure they meet the employees’ rights. One of the issues that must be considered is the employees’ length of continuous employment. Continuous employment is calculated from the first day of work without a break. The length of continuous employment gives
National Minimum Wage reminder for summer staff
22/07/2021 - More...
We would like to remind any students and seasonal staff that work part time, for example in a summer job, to ensure they are being paid the National Minimum Wage (NMW). All workers are legally entitled to be paid the NMW. This includes temporary seasonal staff, who often work short-term contracts in bars, hotels, shops and warehouses over
Inheritance Tax Business Relief
22/07/2021 - More...
There are a number of reliefs available that can reduce liability to IHT if you inherit the estate of someone who has died. One of these reliefs is known as Business Relief and is a valuable tax relief for taxpayers with business interests, offering either 50% or 100% relief from IHT on the value of the business assets if certain
Tax if you divorce or separate
22/07/2021 - More...
If you are a couple that is getting separated or divorced, apart from the emotional stress, there are also tax issues that can have significant implications. Whilst this is unlikely to be uppermost in your mind it is important that the tax consequences of the break-up are carefully considered. Whilst Income Tax does not automatically
Income excluded from a property business
22/07/2021 - More...
HMRC publishes a list of income streams that are excluded from a UK property business. The list includes fishing concerns, hotels and guest houses, tied premises, caravan sites, lodgers and tenants in your own home, extra services to tenants and letting surplus trade accommodation. In most cases the income from these activities will be
Rent-a-room: letting as office accommodation
22/07/2021 - More...
The rent-a-room scheme is a set of special rules designed to help homeowners who rent-a-room in their home. The current tax-free threshold of £7,500 per year has been in place since 6 April 2016. Homeowners using this scheme should ensure that rents received from lodgers during the tax year do not exceed £7,500. The tax exemption is
Taxis: what is liable to VAT
22/07/2021 - More...
HMRC sets out specific guidance regarding the application of VAT if you are in the taxi and private hire car trade. VAT Notice 700/25 - How VAT applies to taxis and private hire cars - applies. Private hire cars include mini-cabs. The notice is relevant if you are: a driver who owns or rents a vehicle (an owner driver) the owner of a
Updated working safely guidance to apply from 19 July 2021
22/07/2021 - More...
With England having moved to step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown from 19 July 2021, the government has published updated guidance on working safely during coronavirus. The guidance, which is to be kept under review, has been re-categorised into the following six sector-specific guides: construction and outdoor work events and
New COVID-19 vaccination guidance for employers
22/07/2021 - More...
Public Health England has published a new guide for employers on COVID-19 vaccination. The guide encourages employers to support the government’s COVID-19 vaccination programme and it covers the following subjects: why supporting vaccination of employees against COVID-19 is important what employers can do to support the vaccination of
Card security update
19/07/2021 - More...
VISA have issued information regarding changes to card processing security from September 2021. The idea is to reduce online fraud. The changes will apply across Europe. A key part of the new security arrangements is the requirement for Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). This means you may be asked to provide additional information
Stage 4 COVID roadmap implemented 19th July
15/07/2021 - More...
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, spoke to the nation and confirmed that the vaccines have significantly weakened the link between coronavirus cases and hospitalisations and deaths. This has allowed the government to confirm that many COVID restrictions will be lifted in England on 19 July, known as Freedom Day. The main changes will
VAT – what you can and cannot reclaim
15/07/2021 - More...
For most fully taxable businesses, VAT can be reclaimed on goods and services used in the business. This means that businesses must consider where there is personal or private use of goods or services bought for the business and can usually only reclaim the business proportion of the VAT. For example, VAT is recoverable on all the costs
Current Capital Gains Tax rates
15/07/2021 - More...
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is normally charged at a simple flat rate of 20% and this applies to most chargeable gains made by individuals. If taxpayers only pay basic rate tax and make a small capital gain, they may only be subject to a reduced rate of 10%. Once the total of taxable income and gains exceed the higher rate threshold, the