
Are you a small or medium business?
If you are a small or medium business (SME), we wanted to let you know about government support you can access now, to help you
Keep up to date with the latest news and insights from ourselves and the industry as a whole.
If you are a small or medium business (SME), we wanted to let you know about government support you can access now, to help you
Using up personal allowances is not the only reason you should see your accountant at the start of the tax year, it is also the
Some taxpayers must pay a tax more than once a year, and if this is you then you are facing a second tax bill before
If you are one of those people who is always racing to use up your tax allowances, such as Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) at the
Unincorporated businesses – including sole traders, trusts and those businesses working as partnerships, and anyone else that pays tax on trading income – face a
Anyone filing VAT returns from April 1, 2022 onwards now has to file their return digitally as HMRC’s Making Tax Digital reaches its next phase.
In March this year the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022 received royal ascent and is intended to enable commercial landlords and tenants to resolve the
The latest figures from the ONS show that retail sales fell in March by 1.4% and February figures were revised downwards, suggesting that people are
In January we announced that SKS Business Services and sister Business Advisory firm SKSi joined forces with Primary Finance Group (PFG) to create a one-stop
Intervention by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has freed more leaseholders from increasing ground rent terms that saw them trapped in homes they struggled
The level at which students begin to pay back their loans will be lowered from £27,295 to £25,000 for new borrowers. From September 2023, the interest rate
UK economic growth is expected to halve this year amid soaring inflation, major tax rises, and global shocks including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, warns the
The Bank of England has raised interest rates for the third consecutive time. The Bank also warned that the Ukraine conflict could see under-pressure households
Estimates show that up to £195 million in extra tax revenue has been collected via Making Tax Digital for VAT (MTD for VAT), according to
In his Spring Statement speech, Chancellor Rishi Sunak responded to the latest forecasts as published by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR forecasts
The UK’s business groups gave a mixed response to Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement speech. Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a 5p per litre cut in fuel duty for petrol and diesel in the 2022 Spring Statement. The government says it is the largest ever
The Bank of England (BoE) base rate rose to 0.75% in March in response to Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rising to 5.5% – almost
You may have already noticed when you are buying things online that you are now being asked to confirm your purchase in more than one
The Chancellor’s Spring Statement on March 23 was limited on giveaways, but there were some measures designed to help people struggling with the highest rates
The new tax year on April 6 is accelerating quickly towards us, and now is the time to make sure that any last-minute allowances you
Inflation now running at 6.2% and forecast to possibly peak as high as 9% this year, depending on what happens with global energy prices, was
April 1 sees a reversal of the reduced 12.5% Vat back to the standard rate of 20% which is no joke for those running hospitality
Married Couple’s Allowance can be transferred between spouses and civil partners, and while 2m couples have claimed this since it was introduced back in 2015,
As we still hear varying views as to whether the pandemic is over or not, it can be confusing for businesses trying to plan for
New company car advisory fuel rates have been published and took effect from 1 March 2022. The guidance states: ‘you can use the previous rates
HMRC has revealed that more than one million taxpayers filed their late tax returns in February – taking advantage of the extra time to complete
The government must overhaul motoring taxes as it phases out new diesel and petrol vehicles, according to MPs. MPs on the Transport Committee say the
Following the decision by the Bank of England to increase the base rate, HMRC has confirmed that the late payment interest rate rose a quarter of
A partnership agreement to establish two green freeports in Scotland has been reached between the Scottish and UK governments. The locations for the freeports have not
Businesses are being encouraged to apply for remaining coronavirus (COVID-19) grant funding from local authorities. Hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses can still apply for one-off
The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS) will close on 17 March 2022. The SSPRS was reintroduced by the government on 21 December 2021 for employers with fewer
The Chancellor must act at the Spring Statement or risk the UK economy drifting backwards to low growth, warns the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
At the start of the pandemic the Government imposed a moratorium preventing landlords from using forfeiture or insolvency measures to recover commercial rent arrears. This
We are in no doubt that many businesses are struggling to manage their cashflow and meetobligations due to the challenging economic environment we are all
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) receipts were somewhat skewed in the last year as the SDLT holiday for properties worth up to £500,000 was phased
Inheritance tax (IHT) is one of the most hated taxes there is, mainly because for many people their estate faces a 40% tax rate which
The Government is set to increase National Insurance Contributions (NICs) by 1.25% from April to fund the Health and Social Care Levy, and while this
The bounce-back loans, CBILS and CLBILS for larger companies were some of the most generous schemes available to businesses suffering from the impact of lockdowns
Much has been written about the crippling rise in energy costs which are having a devasting impact on families but also businesses who will not
It has taken some time trawling several news outlets, but we are pleased to have found a positive story to lighten the current news agenda.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has called for urgent action to help improve trade with the EU. A survey carried out by the BCC
Reports of scam HMRC phone calls have fallen by 97% over the last 12 months, according to the latest figures from the tax authority. According to HMRC,
Creating an official digital currency in the UK could pose significant risks to the financial stability of banks, a House of Lords committee has warned. The
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned the government that the planned rise in national insurance will squeeze budgets and affect economic growth. The
Consumer group Which? has urged taxpayers to avoid using so-called ‘refund firms’ to claim tax rebates. Which? stated that people are losing hundreds of pounds
HMRC has reopened a claims portal for small employers to again claim refunds for coronavirus (COVID-19)-related sick pay. The reopening follows the announcement of the
The government’s Help to Grow: Digital scheme – designed to support smaller businesses in adopting digital technologies – is now open for applications. Under the scheme,
Despite our best efforts to start the year with a positive mindset, the reality is that we are in for a tough year. Travel is
Companies with debts outside of their rental arrears face the removal of protection against creditor actions from March 31, 2022. Other debts outside rental arrears
Companies forced to close due to Coronavirus restrictions are currently protected from eviction by landlords until March 25, but a Government Bill currently before Parliament
Millions of taxpayers who are yet to submit their completed Self-Assessment tax return which is due before January 31 are being given a grace period
Businesses and self-assessment taxpayers are being reminded they need to include all grants paid as part of the COVID-19 support payments in their tax returns,
SKS Group and sister Business Advisory firm SKSi have joined forces with Primary Finance Group (PFG) to create a one-stop approach for growth companies or
Most people start the new year with a positive outlook and despite the real concerns over rising costs we are seeing some positive news emerging.
More than 440,000 small firms could be forced out of business by the late payment crisis, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). An FSB study
HMRC has published the latest edition of the Employer Bulletin. This guidance for employers, and their agents, includes articles on: reporting PAYE information in real
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is set to introduce a new consumer duty to better protect users of financial services. The new rules will help
On 20 December 2021, the Welsh government outlined a Budget to ‘build a stronger, fairer and greener Wales‘. The Welsh government unveiled a £116 million package
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes delivered the 2022/23 Scottish Budget on 9 December 2021, setting out the Scottish Government’s financial and tax plans. The Budget outlined
HMRC is waiving late filing and late payment penalties for self assessment taxpayers for one month. The measure will give those taxpayers affected by the
HMRC has reminded self assessment taxpayers to declare any COVID-19 grant payments on their 2020/21 tax return. According to HMRC, more than 2.7 million customers
On 21 December 2021, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, unveiled a £1 billion COVID-19 fund, including cash grants of up to £6,000 per premises for each eligible firm.
HMRC have published a call for evidence on the case for reforming the rules for registering for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA). The call for
To help employers affected by the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rebate scheme for small employers is being
Financially, 2021 has been a difficult year for many, and you may be struggling to pay your January tax bill in full. Any tax and
Payments on account are advance payments towards your tax and, where relevant, your Class 4 National Insurance bill. You may need to make them if
If you need to file a self-assessment tax return for the year to 5 April 2021, you have until midnight on 31 January 2022 to
Well, this year has certainly been another memorable one – but not for the reasons we had hoped back in January. This has obviously been
We read with interest news reports that Hammerson have sold the Silverburn shopping centre in Glasgow to a London based private equity firm for circa
The latest announcement from the Government to work from home where possible has brought new worries to business owners across the retail and hospitality industries
We recently reflected on the likely cost impact of the moves to a cleaner environment and whilst those of us that have already made the
A report published by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed that the costs associated with going green have impacted small firms’ plans for
New company car advisory fuel rates have been published and took effect from 1 December 2021. The guidance states: ‘you can use the previous rates
Optimism improved for firms across the services sector in the three months to November, according to the latest Service Sector Survey from the Confederation of
New rules to help protect pension savers from scammers have become law. Under the regulations, pension trustees and scheme managers will be given the power
HMRC has warned taxpayers completing their 2020/21 tax returns to ‘be on their guard’ and stay vigilant in regard to tax-related scams. Nearly 800,000 tax
The standard three-day waiting time for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be reinstated for coronavirus (COVID-19)-related claims from 25 March 2022, unless the government intervenes.
The UK government marked the inaugural Tax Administration and Maintenance (TAM) Day with the publication of 30 papers covering a wide range of tax issues.
HMRC saw a drop of almost £30 billion in tax revenues in the latest financial year because of the pandemic, according to its annual accounts.
A tax charge may arise if an employee is able to use a company car or van for private use. A further charge will arise
Christmas is a time of giving, and you may wish to give your employees a small token of your appreciation for their work during the
If you are holding a Christmas party for staff this year, you may want to take advantage of the tax exemption for annual parties and
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a Government initiative that aims to provide the UK with one of the most digitally advanced tax administrations in the
Under Real Time Information (RTI), you must report payments made to employees and associated deductions to HMRC on a Full Payment Submission (FPS) at or
Homeowners in England and Wales will be offered subsidies of £5,000 from next April to help them to replace old gas boilers with low carbon
A single person will need post-tax annual income of £10,900 for a minimum standard of living in retirement, according to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings
Businesses that are planning to operate in the UK’s new freeports can now apply to HMRC. The tax authority has published the application forms to
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned that tax rises could threaten the UK’s ongoing recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the FSB,
The government has doubled the period for filing and payment of capital gains tax (CGT) on residential property from 30 days to 60 days. The
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has predicted that millions of people will be worse off in 2022 as a result of spiralling costs and
Business groups gave a mixed response to Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s 2021 Autumn Budget speech. Responding to the speech, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said
On 27 October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered a Budget to ensure the UK economy bounces back following the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The Chancellor announced that
The deadline for filing your 2020/21 self-assessment tax return is midnight on 31 January 2022. However, if you have underpaid tax and you are employed
From 4 April 2022, applicants applying to renew certain licences will need to pass a tax check before their licence application can be considered. Initially,
To help the hospitality and leisure industries recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns, a reduced rate of VAT of 5%
The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) is a capital allowance that enables you to claim an immediate deduction against your profits for qualifying capital expenditure up
The Chancellor presented his Autumn Budget and Spending Review on 27 October 2021. Some of the highlights are discussed below. Income tax rates and thresholds
COVID-19 emergency finance schemes offered £80.5 billion of finance to almost 1.7 million businesses through the British Business Bank (BBB) during the last financial year.
UK workers could get more choice over when and where they work under new proposals to make the right to request flexible working a day
The government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) ended on 30 September after supporting millions of workers during the pandemic. The government said the wages of
The government has opened a £800 million Reinsurance Scheme to cover live events against cancellations stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The live events sector is
HM Treasury has announced that Chancellor Rishi Sunak will deliver the Autumn 2021 Budget on Wednesday 27 October. On 7 September the Chancellor launched Spending
If you agreed a PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA) with HMRC for 2020/21, you will need to pay the tax and Class 1B National Insurance that
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT is currently only compulsory for VAT-registered businesses whose turnover for VAT is above the VAT registration limit of £85,000.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) came to an end on 30 September 2021. The scheme has provided financial help to employers and employees during
As part of the Government’s funding strategy for health and social care, the dividend tax rates are to be increased from April 2022, alongside the
On 8 September 2021, the Prime Minister outlined the Government’s plans for health and social care, including a new funding strategy designed to meet social
The end of September could signal the end of the road for many UK businesses, as on October 1 temporary measures introduced by the Corporate
Temporary insolvency restrictions protections are being lifted and new targeted measures to support small business and commercial tenants introduced. The UK Government has announced that
The Government have recently named and shamed well-known employers who have fallen foul of the National Minimum Wage legislation. They have also published a list
You may be able to benefit from funding under the Kickstart Scheme if you are looking to create new jobs for young people. Information on
The national roll-out of the new £100 spending limit for contactless card payments will begin from 15 October 2021, banking trade body UK Finance has
The plastic packaging tax is a new tax which is being introduced from 1 April 2022. The tax aims to provide a financial incentive to
The CIOT has warned that some claims being made by firms offering help with Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) refunds are too good to be
HMRC has published a policy paper outlining the forthcoming changes to the penalties for late payment and interest harmonisation for taxpayers. The government intends to
The government has ‘named and shamed’ 191 companies that have broken National Minimum Wage (NMW) laws. Following investigations by HMRC, the named firms have been
New company car advisory fuel rates have been published and took effect from 1 September 2021. The guidance states: ‘you can use the previous rates
The BCC has urged the government to extend skills training in light of the publication of research which showed that one in five companies are
HMRC has urged taxpayers to stay alert to the threat of digital scams and scammers claiming to represent HMRC. Research published by HMRC revealed that
HMRC has published a consultation that outlines plans to implement reporting rules for digital platforms first put forward by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
The recent ‘pingdemic’ has resulted in large numbers of employees self-isolating. Where an employee meets the qualifying conditions, you must pay them SSP while they
HMRC have been consulting on the reform of the basis period rules in preparation for the introduction of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment
If you take on temporary staff over the summer, you will need to pay them at least the National Living or Minimum Wage appropriate to
Now that the ‘work from home if you can’ guidance has been lifted, employees are returning to the office. If, following their return, you allow
The EU e-commerce package came into effect on 1 July 2021. It introduced reforms in respect of the movement of goods from Northern Ireland to
HMRC has updated the guidance on salary sacrifice. HMRC has removed the guidance on ‘Salary sacrifice arrangements set up before 6 April 2017’ as the
HMRC has issued guidance on claiming the fifth and final self-employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant. Unlike previous SEISS grants the amount of the fifth
1. Ensure you have good financial reporting The first step to good cash flow management services is to understand the ebb and flow of money
As the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) enters its final months, now is the time to review grants that you have claimed under the scheme,
HMRC is reminding tax credit claimants that they have until 31 July 2021 to renew their claims. According to HMRC, 440,000 claimants have yet to
The rollout of Making Tax Digital may have slowed due to the pandemic but there is low awareness about the next stage covering landlords, small
Thousands of landlords have failed to come clean about the tax they owed to HMRC as 42% fewer property investors voluntarily disclosed unpaid tax to
Listed businesses are highly sceptical about what the government’s proposed reforms to audit and corporate governance will achieve without a more proportionate approach, according to
As the consultation on the future of audit closes, Peter Manser, head of audit and assurance at Kreston Reeves LLP, argues that managed shared audit
As businesses embark on the road to recovery, what challenges do company financial directors need to be most aware of and how can they best
Claims for the fifth grant under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will open from late July. If, based on your tax returns, HMRC think
The way cars are bought is changing! The emergence of online retailers and manufacturers starting to sell direct to the public. What does this herald
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 30 September 2021 and the level of grant available to employers under the scheme will stay
If you are self-employed, you will pay Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions if your profits exceed the relevant thresholds. Class 2 National
If you have some shares that have become worthless, you can make a negligible value claim. This will allow you to set the associated loss
You can use a PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA) if you wish to settle the tax liability arising on the provision of a benefit-in-kind or an
Businesses that deferred VAT payments last year have less than a month left to join online and pay in monthly instalments under the VAT Deferral
HMRC has confirmed that the fifth Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant covering the period May 2021 to September 2021 will open to claims from
If you are an employer and you provided taxable expenses and benefits to your employees during the 2020/21 tax year, you will need to report
If you are a company that has operated any share plans or in the past tax year have issued shares, share options, or securities to
If you run your business as a personal or family company, you will need to decide how best to extract profits for your personal use.
On 6 April, the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) was introduced to replace the government’s coronavirus lending schemes. The RLS provides financial support to businesses affected
If you are an employee with a company car, you will be taxed on the benefit derived from the car being available for your private
On 19 April, a government-backed mortgage scheme to help people with 5% deposits get on to the housing ladder was made available to lenders. First
Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) is payable when you buy a property in England or Northern Ireland. Last year, the SDLT residential threshold was temporarily
To help businesses that have suffered losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the period for which certain trading losses can be carried back
Employees who are working from home will need to make new claims for tax relief for the 2021/22 tax year, HMRC has stated. From 6
The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) has stated that the recent changes to the rules relating to off-payroll workers, commonly known as
On 21 April, the online service for applications for the fourth Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant was opened for claims, HMRC confirmed. All applications
It is currently very tax efficient for a company to hire or purchase an electric car for an employee to use. The key current tax
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) provides grant support to eligible self-employed taxpayers who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A further two
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has provided a lifeline for many employers and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme was due to come
Companies within the charge to corporation tax who invest in new plant and machinery in the two years from 1 April 2021 are able to
To help meet some of the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chancellor has opted to freeze various allowances and thresholds until April 2026, rather
HMRC announced in January that they would not charge a late filing penalty if your 2019/20 tax return was not filed by midnight on 31
The 2021/22 tax year starts on 6 April 2021. If you employ staff, you will need to update their tax codes before you pay them
The main rate of corporation tax is due to increase to 25% for the financial year 2023, starting on 1 April 2023. However, companies with
Business interruption insurance policies provide cover for losses that arise if a business is severely disrupted or is forced to close. The policy will cover
The extension to the off-payroll working rules finally comes into effect from 6 April 2021, having been delayed by a year as a result of
Traditionally, this is the time at which we recommend you take stock of tax and-finance for you, your family, and your business. A strategic review
With the UK having been adversely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented the 2021 Budget against a backdrop of ongoing economic
Wealthy families are making more claims for inheritance tax repayments under a little-known rule that allows refunds on share and property losses. Executors are able
To help you get organised for the year ahead we’ve grouped together some of the upcoming important financial dates. January 2021 14th – Income tax due
Tips to improve your budget forecasting One of the most important aspects of running your company is budget forecasting. After all, without good forecasting, your
The introduction of the Pay as You Grow Loan Scheme is part of the UK governments second phase package of measures to support organisation during
Job Support Scheme UK (JSS) is the second phase in the UK government support measure for organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers grants to
HMRC have updated their capital gains tax (CGT) reporting system to allow reports of second and subsequent disposals of UK residential property to be made
When it comes to money, coronavirus has split the nation. Financial stress dominates for many of the 9.5 million employees on furlough, potentially facing unemployment as the
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on July 2 that pubs, restaurants and hotels could reopen in England on July 4, easing the coronavirus lockdown
Budgeting and forecasting allow a business to plan accurately for its fiscal year. Below are 10 ways to improve these processes to create a strategic
The government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended, giving more security to individuals whose livelihoods are adversely affected by coronavirus in the coming months,
This is the right time to outsource your finance function in these times when you are busy focusing on your business let us focus there
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