The second and final round of grants under the self-employed income support scheme (SEISS) opened this month, offering a smaller lump sum grant. From 17 August 2020, self-employed individuals who meet the scheme requirements will be able to access HMRC’s online service and claim up to £6,570 to cover three months’ worth of profits. This … Continued
Capital gains tax under review as Treasury considers overhaul
The Government has called for a comprehensive review of the capital gains tax system. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has commissioned the Office for Tax Simplification (OTS) to review how asset sales are taxed. Capital gains tax applies on the sales of assets such as second homes, stocks and shares, most personal possessions, and business assets. The … Continued
HMRC resumes investigations after COVID-19
What to expect from tax probes in 2020/21. After temporarily pausing tax investigations as COVID-19 business support measures rolled out earlier this year, HMRC has restarted probes into businesses and individuals’ tax affairs. The Revenue has also started to direct its attention towards the misuse of coronavirus support schemes, such as the furlough scheme and … Continued
Self-employed grants ‘are liable for tax and national insurance’
Recipients of self-employed income support grants may not realise they are taxable, a tax group has warned. The grants are worth up to 80% of trading profits, paid in a lump sum to cover three months, and capped at £7,500. More than 2.6 million lump sums worth £7.6 billion had been provided through the scheme … Continued
Builders’ cashflow chaos prompts further reverse charge VAT delay
The domestic reverse VAT charge for construction services has been delayed until 1 March 2021. The way VAT is collected in the building and construction industry was originally due to change from 1 October 2019. Less than a month before it was due to kick in, the change was put on hold for 12 months … Continued
Three Months until Reverse Charge VAT for Construction Services Comes in
A major change to the way VAT is collected in the building and construction industry comes into force on 1 October 2020 The domestic reverse charge VAT for construction services will put the onus on the customer receiving a service to pay the VAT element to HMRC, instead of paying the supplier. It will apply … Continued
Chancellor extends Self-Employment Support Scheme and confirms next steps
The government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended, giving more security to individuals whose livelihoods are adversely affected by coronavirus in the coming months, the Chancellor announced on 29 May 2020. Rishi Sunak announces Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended – with those eligible able to claim a second and final grant capped … Continued
HMRC relaxes stance on home office equipment until 2021/22
HMRC has relaxed rules that usually restrict reimbursement for spending on office equipment for the rest of 2020/21. This should help employees avoid receiving a tax bill relating to working from home during the coronavirus lockdown. Since the lockdown restrictions were imposed in the UK on 23 March 2020, homeworking has effectively become the norm … Continued
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme is now open for claims. If you’re eligible, you’ll be given a date when you can claim between 13 and 18 May. You can check your claim date online: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme It’s important that you make this claim yourself, although you can ask your accountant or tax agent to help you. … Continued
340,000 sign petition for change to coronavirus support for the self-employed
A petition calling on the Government to relax the criteria for self-employed people to access income support during the coronavirus crisis has received more than 300,000 signatures. Though at first given a cautious welcome, the coronavirus self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on 26 March soon came under fire for allowing … Continued