There is a stamp duty land tax (SDLT) deadline on the horizon – from 1 April 2025, there are changes to both the residential SDLT threshold and that applying to first-time buyers. Completing a purchase before that date could save the buyer £2,500 in SDLT. For a first-time buyer, the potential savings are more. Residential […]
Beat the Stamp Duty deadline – 1 April 2025 Read More »
One of the key announcements in the Autumn 2024 Budget was the rise in employer’s National Insurance contributions from 6 April 2025. Since then, the rate of secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions has increased by 1.2 percentage points, from 13.8% to 15%. In a further blow, the secondary threshold above which employer contributions become
National Insurance for employers to rise Read More »
Employers looking to spread some seasonal cheer can do so in a tax-efficient manner by taking advantage of the exemptions for annual parties and functions and trivial benefits. Christmas parties The tax exemption for annual parties and functions will only apply to a Christmas party if the following conditions are met. Some points are
Tax-efficient Christmas parties and gifts Read More »
When starting a business, there are a number of ways in which this can be done. Options include operating as a sole trader, forming a partnership or setting up a limited company. Of these, operating as a sole trader is the simplest. Taxes you must pay If you run an unincorporated business as a
Setting up as a sole trader Read More »
In personal and family companies, the lines between the company’s finances and the director’s finances may become blurred. A director may withdraw money from the company for personal use or may lend money to the company. The company may pay some of the director’s personal bills, and the director may personally meet some company expenses.
Overdrawn director’s loan account – must your company pay tax on the balance? Read More »
The answer to this question depends on what type of professional fees have been incurred. Professional fees are income and corporation tax deductible if incurred ‘wholly and exclusively’ for the purpose of the trade, profession or business. However, they must not be capital in nature or losses not connected with/ arising out of the trade.
Are professional fees tax deductible? Read More »
Despite the improving economy, bad debts are still a fact of life for many businesses. HMRC is aware that not all invoices are paid on time and allows bad debt relief to be claimed by businesses that have already paid VAT to HMRC on sales invoices that remain unpaid. How bad debt relief is allowed
Be aware of VAT bad debt relief Read More »
There are three ways in which former students with student or post-graduate loans can make loan repayments: • from deduction from their wages or salary through the PAYE system; • to HMRC through the Self Assessment system; or • direct to the Student Loans Company (SLC).
Making student loan repayments through Self Assessment Read More »
Class 2 National Insurance contributions are flat-rate contributions which for 2023/24 and earlier tax years are payable by the self-employed where their profits exceed the relevant trigger threshold. For 2023/24 and 2022/23, the liability to pay Class 2 contributions arose where profits exceeded the lower profits threshold (set at £12,570 for 2023/24). For those years,
Class 2 National Insurance refunds made in error – Action to take Read More »
The VAT flat rate scheme is a simple VAT scheme for smaller VAT-registered businesses. Rather than pay the difference between the VAT charged to customers and that incurred on business purchases over to HMRC, traders using the flat rate scheme instead pay a fixed percentage of their VAT-inclusive turnover to HMRC. The percentage depends on
VAT flat rate scheme – Is it for you? Read More »
