Changes to probate fees – due to take effect last month – have been delayed as Parliament wrangles to resolve the Brexit stalemate. Bereaved 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 … Continued
First VAT-registered Businesses enter into Making Tax Digital
More than a million VAT-registered businesses have now been mandated into the Government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme, which came into force on 1 April 2019. Under the scheme, businesses that are registered for VAT with a turnover of more than £85,000 are required to keep digital records and submit their VAT returns using MTD-compatible … Continued
Landlords Feeling the Pinch as Tax Measures Begin to Bite
Most buy-to-let landlords saw their tax bills increase in 2017/18, suggesting the effects of changes to mortgage interest relief were beginning to be felt one year after they were introduced. In a survey by Paragon, 58% of landlords said their tax bill for 2017/18 was higher than a year before, with an average annual increase … Continued
Registering for Making Tax Digital for VAT
MTD zero-hour is here. The moment has come: if your business has a taxable turnover above the VAT-registration threshold, which is currently £85,000, you’re now obliged to keep records in digital form and to file your VAT returns using HMRC-approved software. Software soft landing One concession made by HMRC is around the links between individual … Continued
Apprenticeship ‘Starts’ Fall by a Quarter
The number of people starting apprenticeships has fallen by 26% since the Government’s reforms to the apprenticeship system, according to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO). In April 2017, the Department for Education (DfE) introduced several changes to the apprenticeships scheme, including a levy on large employers and a co-funding requirement from smaller … Continued
Ministers Give Thumbs-Up for Probate Revamp
Affluent families in England and Wales face paying probate charges of up to £6,000 from this month after ministers confirmed it as a fee rather than a tax. Families have been used to paying flat fees of up to £215 to obtain the grant of probate needed in England and Wales to administer estates worth … Continued
Government Consults On New Stamp Duty Surcharge
The Government is considering introducing a new stamp duty surcharge, which is designed to clamp down on overseas wealth being used to buy homes in England. Ministers have expressed concerns that affluent foreign investors, particularly those buying properties in London, have been driving up house prices for domestic buyers. Figures from the Land Registry showed … Continued
BWM Spring Update Seminar – 30 April 2019
BWM Chartered Accountants are hosting a Free Charity Spring Update Seminar on Tuesday 30 April from 9am. Full details are provided here Timings: 9am to 12noon Venue: The Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, Liverpool City Centre, L1 3BT Complimentary breakfast pastries and drinks will be provided on arrival with a break for refreshments mid-morning. Booking is … Continued
EU VAT Refunds Before Brexit No-Deal
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal many UK businesses will need to apply the same processes to EU trade that apply when trading with the rest of the world. The VAT paid in other EU countries is often recoverable by VAT- registered businesses in the UK, who bought goods or services for … Continued
Making Tax Digital for VAT: One Month To Go
The first batch of VAT-registered businesses have less than a month to go until they enter into the Government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) regime. All VAT-registered businesses turning over more than £85,000 will be mandated into MTD by 1 October 2019, with the majority of firms adopting the scheme by 1 June 2019. Firms with … Continued