Author Archives: bwmwp

Comments Off on Important dates and changes for April 2017

Important dates and changes for April 2017

As another new tax year begins, here are some important tax dates and changes to be aware of this month. 1 April Auto-enrolment staging dates Auto-enrolment staging date for employers who don’t have a PAYE scheme. Business rates Rate payers that occupy a single property with a rateable value of £12,000 or less will pay … Continued

Comments Off on Business rates revaluation takes effect

Business rates revaluation takes effect

Business rates revaluation takes effect

The business rates revaluation took effect on 1 April 2017. This means that businesses in England and Wales will pay rates that reflect the changes in their local property market. The government has said that nearly 75% of businesses will see no change or a fall in their bills. Small business rate relief has permanently … Continued

Comments Off on National minimum and living wages rise from 1 April

National minimum and living wages rise from 1 April

National minimum and living wages rise from 1 April

The national living wage (NLW) is now £7.50 an hour. Most workers who are aged 25 and over and not in their first year of an apprenticeship are entitled to the new rate. The national minimum wage (NMW) rates for various ages have also increased. The following rates now apply: Age From 1 April 2017 … Continued

Comments Off on Lack of funds prevents business opportunities

Lack of funds prevents business opportunities

A fifth of SMEs have missed out on at least 1 business opportunity in the past 12 months due to a lack of finance. Research by Aldemore found that firms are missing out on an average of £77,651 a year due to missed opportunities. Bigger businesses were more likely to have missed out on opportunities: … Continued

Comments Off on Pension planning – A slow start can be costly

Pension planning – A slow start can be costly

Pension planning – A slow start can be costly

According to a recent study, two in five pensioners regret retirement-planning mistakes which have left them struggling financially.1 Nearly one in five say that they didn’t save enough for retirement, and 15% regret not starting to save earlier in their working lives. If we’re serious about planning for the future, we need to put away surplus … Continued

Comments Off on Company car advisory fuel rates from 1 March 2017

Company car advisory fuel rates from 1 March 2017

Company car advisory fuel rates from 1 March 2017

HMRC has published revised advisory fuel rates for company cars, applying from 1 March 2017. The rates are to be used only where employers either reimburse employees for business travel in their company cars, or require employees to repay the cost of fuel used for private travel. These rates apply from 1 March 2017. You … Continued

Comments Off on Payrolling benefits – Action needed before 5 April 2017

Payrolling benefits – Action needed before 5 April 2017

Payrolling benefits – Action needed before 5 April 2017

If you want to avoid completing forms P11D for benefits provided to your employees for 2017/18, you will need to apply to do so before 5 April 2017. Since 6 April 2016, you have had the option to process benefits in kind through the payroll. So long as the relevant tax is collected through the … Continued

Comments Off on Charity Spring Update Seminar on Tuesday 25 April

Charity Spring Update Seminar on Tuesday 25 April

Charity Spring Update Seminar on Tuesday 25 April

BWMacfarlane Chartered Accountants are hosting a Charity Spring Update Seminar on Tuesday 25 April from 9.30am. Full details are provided on the attached invitation. With so much going on in the charity sector we have invited an excellent line-up of speakers to provide the latest updates and share their expert opinions on some of the … Continued

Comments Off on Ilott v Mitson – A victory for charities and testamentary freedom

Ilott v Mitson – A victory for charities and testamentary freedom

Ilott v Mitson – A victory for charities and testamentary freedom

The Supreme Court has handed down its much anticipated decision in the case of Ilott v Mitson, in which it found in favour of the appellant charities. The applicant in this matter, Mrs Ilott, was the estranged daughter of the deceased, Mrs Jackson. Mrs Ilott left home at the age of 17 to live with … Continued

Comments Off on Chancellor’s u-turn on National Insurance rise welcomed

Chancellor’s u-turn on National Insurance rise welcomed

Chancellor’s u-turn on National Insurance rise welcomed

In his Budget last week Mr Hammond proposed to increase Class 4 NICs for the self-employed from 9% to 10% in April 2018, and to 11% in 2019, to bring it closer to the 12% currently paid by employees. Thousands of self-employed people across the Liverpool city region are breathing a sigh of relief after … Continued