A quarter of small business owners in the UK believe their company will fold in the next four years, research has claimed. Late payments (54%), tax rates (44%) and cyber-attacks (27%) were the biggest concerns among the 500 owner-managers polled by cloud accounting software provider Xero. Other challenges included Brexit (44%), maintaining or boosting levels … Continued
Budget Set to Take Place in February Once Brexit is Resolved
The new government intends to announce the 2020/21 tax rates, bands and allowances in a full Budget next month. Prime Minister Boris Johnson secured a handsome majority on 12 December 2019, and swiftly returned Sajid Javid to the position of Chancellor. Javid was poised to deliver his first Budget speech in November 2019, only for … Continued
Mayoral Inclusive Growth Fund Grant
Liverpool City Council (LCC) is offering a short-term grant for organisations across the city, for new* projects, that contribute towards the aims and priorities of the Inclusive Growth Plan. The project must: Tackle an underlying issue in your local community Benefit the wider community and not just support a single user group Make a real long … Continued
Complex Taper Rules Could Lead to ‘Huge’ Tax Bills for High Earners
High earners could face large tax bills if they fail to declare pension contributions on their 2018/19 tax returns, according to a report. When completing self-assessment, taxpayers are asked if they have put any money into a pension scheme above the annual pensions allowance. For most people, this allowance is £40,000 – but for every … Continued
Advisory Fuel rate for Company Cars from 1 December 2019
These are the suggested reimbursement rates for employees’ private mileage using their company car from 1 December 2019. Where there has been a change the previous rate is shown in brackets. Engine Size Petrol Diesel LPG 1400cc or less 12p 8p 1600cc or less 9p (10p) 1401cc to 2000cc 14p 9p … Continued
Delay to Controversial Loan Charge Review Leaves Thousands in Limbo
A report into the loan charge may not be published until after the deadline for settling claims with HMRC has passed. Up to 50,000 people whose employers had paid them through loans from offshore trusts dating back to 1999 were warned they could face huge tax bills. They were issued with a 5 April 2019 … Continued
Postpone off-Payroll Extension to the Private Sector Until 2021
Extending off-payroll rules to the private sector in April 2020 should be delayed by a year, a tax group has said. Chancellor Sajid Javid intended to deliver his first Budget speech on Wednesday 6 November, only for it to be scrapped after a second Brexit extension was granted. In light of that and the subsequent … Continued
Ministry of Justice Finally Abandons Plans to Increase Probate Fees
Plans to increase probate fees that were due to take effect earlier this year have been abandoned. Families currently pay a flat fee of up to £215 to obtain the grant of probate needed in England and Wales to administer estates worth more than £5,000. That system was due to be replaced on 1 April … Continued
Budget will not take place on 6 November 2019
On 25 October 2019 the Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid wrote to the Treasury Select Committee to confirm that the Budget will not take place on 6 November 2019 as originally planned. You can access the oficial letter here. We will ensure that we keep you informed of any further developments.
Small Employers Risk Losing the Employment Allowance in 2020
Plans to remove the employment allowance for large employers from April 2020 could impact on smaller firms. This allowance provides employers with a reduction to their national insurance contributions (NICs) bill of up to £3,000. Employers that claim the allowance can carry it forward from one tax year to the next, but that will stop … Continued