We work alongside local independent financial planners to help you create a bespoke financial plan to help you reach your goals, whatever they maybe. It’s never too early or to late to look at your retirement plans. We can assist in helping you review if you’re on track and how to help you get there. … Continued
Making Tax Digital on hold – but businesses should still prepare
Plans to force every business and landlord operating in the UK to file four six returns a year online plus VAT returns have been put on hold ahead of the General Election on June 8. And the news has been welcomed by leading Merseyside accountant Peter Taaffe, managing partner of Castle Street-based practice BWMacfarlane. However, … Continued
Investing in small companies
ISAs and pensions are the most popular options for people saving for their futures. However, if you are an experienced investor with a significant portfolio of assets, there are other tax-advantaged products which may be appropriate. Known as ‘tax-led investments’, these include Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). Tax-led investments offer … Continued
Does the new 16.5% VAT flat rate percentage apply to your business?
The new VAT flat rate of 16.5% started to apply from 1 April 2017 for “limited cost traders”. A “limited cost trader” is one using the VAT flat rate scheme but where the VAT inclusive cost of goods for a year is less than 2% of VAT inclusive turnover, excluding certain specified items. Those specified … Continued
MTD among reforms dropped from Finance Bill
The Government’s “Making Tax Digital” policy has been dropped from the Finance Bill after blanket opposition from taxpayers, business groups and senior political figures across all parties. The initiative would have forced millions of businesses and self-employed people to file multiple tax returns each year. Anita Monteith, tax manager at ICAEW, said: “This is … Continued
IR35 changes for public sector contractors
Important changes to public sector contractors working under IR35 legislation have taken effect for 2017/18. Individuals who work through intermediaries, such as personal service companies, are no longer subject to IR35 rules if they work in the public sector. Public sector organisations or agencies paying off-payroll workers are now responsible for deciding whether the work … Continued
ISA rules misunderstood
More than half of adults don’t understand ISA rules, research by Opinium has found. Key findings: 1 in 5 knew that the ISA annual allowance is £20,000 for 2017/18 24% knew that you can transfer money from previous tax years into a current ISA 9% wrongly believed that you can only move money if your … Continued
MTD: Taxpayers will have to make multiple annual submissions to HMRC
In March 2015, George Osborne outlined the new concept of “making tax easier”. All the tax information relevant to an individual would be gathered into the taxpayer’s digital tax account, and the annual paper tax return would be consigned to history. This was designed to result in a reduction in the administrative burden for taxpayers. … Continued
Do recent inheritance tax changes necessitate a change of your will?
It is advisable to review your will on a regular basis, particularly on marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, the death of a beneficiary or executor. But some changes in tax law can also affect the provisions of your will. The introduction of the transferable nil rate band (NRB) between spouses in … Continued
Business Relief
Never assume your business interests will avoid Inheritance Tax. Many major shareholders and business owners are oblivious to the traps surrounding Business Relief, some of which can leave their estate at risk of a very large and unexpected Inheritance Tax (IHT) bill. Business Relief (BR), formerly – known as Business Property Relief, is much like … Continued