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Landlords welcome tax incentives for long-term tenancies
The government is considering introducing tax incentives for landlords who offer longer tenancies, as part of a new consultation. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched a consultation on implementing a three-year tenancy model. This is intended to support the increasing number of private tenants seeking long-term security, as more families and…
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Contractors criticise ‘flawed’ IR35 test
A contractor group has slammed HMRC for omitting mutuality of obligation in an online tool designed to assess an individual’s employment status. Mutuality of obligation requires employers to provide ongoing work for an employee, who then has an obligation to perform that work. In a self-employed relationship, there is no continuing obligation on either side…
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Making Tax Digital – obligations from 1st April 2019
Obligations from 1 April 2019 onwards. Although the Making Tax Digital (MTD) regime has suffered several setbacks and delays, MTD for VAT remains on course to take effect from its planned implementation date of 1 April 2019. Under the scheme, VAT-registered businesses are required to maintain digital records, complete the VAT return from the digital…
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Letting holiday accommodation – the good and bad
The pros and cons of letting furnished holiday accommodation. When furnished holiday property is let on a commercial basis for short periods, the owner can benefit from certain tax reliefs which wouldn’t otherwise be available to residential landlords, providing certain conditions are met. However, there are also several disadvantages associated with letting property as holiday…
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Working pensioners pay £8.6bn in income tax
Working pensioners are on course to pay £8.6 billion in income tax in 2018/19, according to Aegon. The number of pensioner households containing at least one person working beyond their state pension age increased from 12% in 1997/98 to an estimated 17% in 2018/19. Aegon estimates there are around 12.8 million people living in 8.7…
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SME’s missing out on balance interest
Small business owners could alleviate pressure on their cashflow by paying more attention to business savings interest, according to a report. Aldermore polled 950 SME owners and sole traders and found that 62% are earning no interest on their business savings at all. Over half (53%) are earning less than £300 a year in interest…
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VAT – raise or lower the threshold?
The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) has called for the VAT threshold to be increased, in response to a government consultation. The current £85,000 threshold at which businesses must register for VAT has been frozen until 2020, while the government deliberates on its approach to the tax. Chancellor Philip Hammond considered lowering…
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Apprenticeships levy – flawed system?
Pressure is mounting on the government to reform the apprenticeships system, following recent apprenticeship levy statistics. The Institute of Directors (IoD) has joined the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in urging the government to address ongoing problems with the levy. Apprenticeship starts were down 25% for the seven months to February 2018 compared with the…
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IR35 – what you need to know
A brief guide to the tax implications of IR35. IR35 is the shorthand name for tax rules concerning the provision of personal services through intermediaries. These rules came into effect on 6 April 2000, but they were significantly amended from 6 April 2017 for contracts involving public sector bodies. There are now two different applications…
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Travel & subsistence – it’s quite complicated
Your obligations for reporting travel expenses. Many employees need to travel as part of their job for various reasons, whether it’s acquiring new customers, working with current ones or attending conferences and events. The system of benefits and taxation surrounding this essential economic activity is classed as ‘travel and subsistence’ in the eyes of the…
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Entrepreneurs say they need more support
Four out of five entrepreneurs in the UK believe the government could do more to support their small business, research claims. Aldermore surveyed 1,799 people, including 642 small business owners, and found 79% of respondents believed existing initiatives did not provide enough support to SMEs. Apprenticeship levy funds go towards the training of apprentices, but…
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Deadline for reporting benefits in kind nears
Most employers are currently getting their houses in order when it comes to reporting employee benefits and expenses ahead of the 6 July 2018 deadline. At the end of the tax year, employers may need to inform HMRC if any taxable benefits were handed out to members of staff over the previous 12 months. These…
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Making Tax Digital delay blamed on Brexit
HMRC has delayed rolling out digital services for individuals, such as the simple assessment and dynamic coding changes. The move was announced in an email sent to stakeholders, which confirmed the delay was down to a shift in key priorities driven by the need to free up civil servants for Brexit. Jon Thompson, chief executive…
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Landlord costs could increase due to legislation
A new ban on tenant fees could push costs of more than £80 million onto landlords, government figures have shown. The tenant fees bill, which was published on 2 May 2018, includes a ban on all fees charged to tenants apart from rent, deposits, and certain necessary costs. A government impact assessment confirms that “the…
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GDPR – we have updated our privacy policy
Click here – https://www.wormaldandpartnersaccountants.co.uk/privacy
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Tax planning for 2018/19 – the facts
How to reduce what you owe the taxman. Nobody wants the taxman to take more than his fair share, and planning your finances early on can ensure you adopt the most tax-efficient strategy for the months and years ahead. Effective tax planning will help protect your wealth and any assets, ready to pass on when…
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The company car benefit – or not?
What’s new for 2018/19? Despite year-on-year tax rises, company cars remain a popular benefit. While the tax cost of expensive high-emission cars can be eye-watering, by choosing carefully it’s possible to enjoy the convenience that comes with a company car for a relatively low tax cost. So, as the new tax year gathers steam, what’s…
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Funding and cashflow – we can help
Difficulty accessing funding is causing around one in four small and medium-sized firms to miss out on business opportunities, research shows. A survey by Aldermore of 1,004 senior decision-makers in SMEs revealed that 23% had missed out on at least one new business opportunity due to lack of funding in the past 12 months. The…
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Making Tax Digital – are you ready?
A number of selected small businesses have begun submitting tax returns under HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) pilot scheme. The Revenue asked for businesses to step forward and trial the digital process from April 2018. HMRC is monitoring the progress of businesses and sole traders, who have been submitting tax returns to help shape the…
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Late payments and differing processes
Almost half of small and medium-sized businesses have struggled with late payments in the last year, according to research by the Institute of Directors (IoD). Of the 787 business leaders surveyed, 48% have faced issues with late payments since April 2017. Almost a third (31%) said this was the result of an “excessively bureaucratic payments…
