Monthly Archives: October 2019

The Brexit issue continues to drag its heels and it now looks as if we will have a general election until matters are resolved. Another crucial matter that will be delayed is the presentation of a Budget that will determine any changes to the tax code next year. However, while the politicians attempt to resolve […]

Contractors completing energy improvements on the homes of low-income families will need to be registered with a new government quality scheme – the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) – to give residents confidence that they will get a good service. Work undertaken through ECO offers free energy-saving measures, including insulation and new boilers for low-income and […]

UK farmers looking for opportunities to export beef products to China will be encouraged by the recent relaxation of export criteria. A recent UK government press release titled “China opens doors to British Beef” explains what is being offered. A summary of the press release is reproduced below: The British beef industry is set to […]

In a further attempt to incentivise savings our government has created a new saving vehicle called a PrizeSaver account. Here’s what the Treasury press release on the launch says: Treasury launches pilot of new PrizeSaver account on International Credit Union Day. Savers who put away as little as £1 with participating credit unions have chance […]

We have listed below a number of issues that you will need to consider if directors or employees use a car for business purposes. Essentially, if the car is owned by the business any private use of the vehicle will trigger a tax charge for the driver (car user) and a possible NIC bill for […]

If you are a sole trader or an individual member of a partnership you will likely be subject to income tax, and possibly National Insurance, on your earnings. Unfortunately, tax being taxing, earnings for tax purposes may not be the same as the monthly drawings you take from your business. For example, you may decide […]

UK readers who are anticipating the sale of a residential property on which a capital gains tax (CGT) charge may apply would be advised to consider the changes to the reporting and payment of this CGT charge from 6 April 2020. The general rule will be that for relevant disposals on or after this date […]

If you are involved in the transport of goods to and from the EU HMRC have posted useful guidance on what you will need to do to accommodate a no-deal Brexit on 31st of this month. The guidance can be downloaded as a PDF from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/836920/transporting-goods-between-the-uk-and-eu-in-a-no-deal-brexit-guidance-for-hauliers.pdf Transitional arrangements are in place regarding licenses and permits. […]

Although the Brexit process continues to throw a spanner into the normal workings of government, there are a few certainties from a tax point of view that will be effective from April 2020. A few property related changes are noted in this article:   Presently, the last 18 months of ownership of a residential property […]

Last month we reported the changes that CIS, VAT registered contractors and sub-contractors were about to face with the introduction of the “reverse charge” process from 1 October 2019. Shortly after our newsletter was published, HMRC conceded that it was aware that the industry was struggling to adapt to the new rules and, as Brexit […]