No company car tax from April on pure electric vehicles

HMRC rules from 6 April 2020 mean that company car drivers choosing a pure electric vehicle will pay no benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax in 2020/21. In its long-awaited response to the review of WLTP and vehicle taxes, HMRC has removed the previously published BIK rates for 2020/21. Standing in their place it has created two new […]

‘Tis the season for trivial benefits

With the season of goodwill upon us our tax team look at a little known and little utilised tax saving, known as trivial benefits. Trivial benefits is a mechanism whereby employees and/or directors can be given trivial benefits such as vouchers or maybe even office pizzas. The benefits are limited to £50 per person in […]

HMRC issues tax return scam warning

Taxpayers who have yet to submit their 2018/19 tax return through self-assessment are being warned about fraudulent scams. HMRC has warned millions of taxpayers to be on their guard ahead of the deadline at midnight on 31 January 2020. Over the last year, the Revenue received almost 900,000 reports from members of the public about […]

To VAT or not to VAT, that is the question

For smaller businesses and sole traders, VAT can be complicated issue. Knowing when is right, or required, to register can be difficult. When does a business need to register for VAT? A business must register for VAT when its taxable turnover exceeds the VAT registration threshold, which is currently set at £85,000. However, a business […]

HMRC set to launch enhanced employment status checker

HMRC has confirmed an improved version of its check employment status for tax (CEST) tool should launch before the end of the year. The tool was first introduced in 2017 as part of an extension to the off-payroll (IR35) rules that applied to the public sector. It aimed to help public-sector contractors and organisations decide […]

Small Business Guide: Sole Trader vs Limited Company

You have decided to take the big leap of faith and start your own business, the next question is how this should be structured. Should you trade in your personal name or through a limited company? Follow the link below to read our guide on the key accounting and tax implications. Sole trader vs Limited […]

HMRC publishes new IR35 guidance

New guidance has been published on the HMRC website, covering changes to the off-payroll working rules known as IR35 which will come into effect next year. From 6 April 2020, medium and large-sized businesses will be responsible for deciding the employment status of workers they enter a contract with. For every contract a business agrees […]

120k firms miss MTD for VAT deadline

More than 120,000 VAT-registered businesses in the UK missed the August deadline to file returns through Making Tax Digital (MTD). HMRC confirmed that around 116,000 businesses with quarterly obligations and 5,000 firms that file monthly returns did not sign up in time. Most VAT-registered businesses with annual taxable turnover of more than £85,000 have to […]

VAT reverse charge ‘should be delayed’

A major change to VAT in the construction industry could cause significant disruption to businesses unless it’s delayed, the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has warned. The VAT domestic reverse charge is set to come into effect on 1 October 2019, and will apply to VAT-registered businesses that supply or receive specified services under the […]