Retailers that heavily rely on online sales to EU consumers need to comply with VAT reforms, which were introduced on 1 July 2021. The new rules were originally designed to stop an estimated €7 billion in annual VAT fraud by non-EU ecommerce sellers, mainly those in China. But after the UK left the EU at … Continued
Directors back mandatory climate credential disclosure plan
Most large companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) back plans to introduce mandatory climate-related financial disclosures, according to a report. The Government launched a consultation on 24 March 2021, seeking views on a plan to require mandatory climate-related financial disclosures from publicly-quoted companies, large private companies and LLPs. It aims to allow investors to compare … Continued
Deadline approaches for SME Brexit support grant
Smaller businesses have until the end of the month to apply for grants to help them adapt to new customs and tax rules when trading with the EU. The £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund offers eligible UK traders grants of up to £2,000 to access practical support, including training for new customs processes, rules … Continued
New recovery loan scheme replaces previous COVID-19 loans
All UK businesses can access loans and other finance of up to £10 million each, following the end of COVID-19 loan schemes. Both business interruption loans – for large firms and SMEs – and bounce-back loans officially closed on 31 March 2021. Firms that received financial support from any of those schemes can apply for … Continued
Three-month extension for business rates holiday in England
The year-long business rates holiday in England has been extended for another three months, until the end of June 2021. Eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will then pay a third of their normal charge for the rest of the financial year. A maximum discount of £2 million is available to non-essential retail firms that … Continued
Changes to prompt-payment code aim to end late payments
Thousands of small businesses that face severe cashflow problems due to late payments stand to benefit from changes to the prompt-payment code. The Government has strengthened the prompt-payment code so that 95% of invoices from smaller suppliers must be paid within 30 days from 1 July 2021. This has been halved from the current 60 … Continued
Opt-in to VAT deferral new payment scheme by 31 March 2021
Businesses that deferred paying VAT between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 do not need to pay the full amounts by the end of this month. VAT-registered firms were not required to make VAT payments during this deferral period, and initially had until 31 March 2021 to pay any liabilities. However, the Government’s winter … Continued
Retail sales slumped to a 25-year low in 2020
Retailers experienced their worst annual sales performance since records began, figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show. While food sales grew by 5.4%, non-food sales declined by 5% over the same period resulting in an overall fall of 0.3% in 2020. In a year dominated by the effects of COVID-19, the figures marked the … Continued
Record number of small businesses ‘set to close for good in 2021’
At least 250,000 small businesses could permanently close this year, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned. The FSB based its forecast on a survey of 1,401 small firms, 5% of which said they expect to go out of business this year. If that percentage was to be applied to the UK’s six million … Continued
Pre-Christmas furlough extension stems the tide of redundancies
Extending the furlough scheme until the end of April 2021 is showing evidence of minimising job losses, a report claims. The scheme offers employers 80% towards furloughed workers’ wages, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month, currently until 30 April 2021. Employers are still required to pay National Insurance contributions and workplace pension contributions … Continued