by Pi Accountancy | Sep 12, 2024 | Pension
What is Pension Credit? Pension Credit is an income-related benefit that offers extra money to help with your living costs. It’s available to those over State Pension age and is especially beneficial if you’re on a low income. Importantly, you can receive Pension...
by Pi Accountancy | Sep 11, 2024 | Pension
State Pension Increase Explained Good news first – the government have proposed raising the State Pension in April 2026. For those who receive the New Full State Pension (introduced after April 2016), the payment will increase from £221.20 to £230.05 per week. This...
by Pi Accountancy | Sep 5, 2024 | Frequently Asked Questions
What are HMRC Penalties? HMRC imposes penalties on taxpayers who fail to comply with their tax obligations. Consequently, these penalties serve as a deterrent to non-compliance and encourage everyone to adhere to tax laws. If you don’t file your tax return on...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 28, 2024 | Advisory and Resources, Business, Frequently Asked Questions
A Cash Flow Statement shows how money moves in and out of your business over a set period. This highlights where your cash comes from and how you spend it. As a result, you gain a real-time view of your financial activity. Unlike other reports, such as a Balance Sheet...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 28, 2024 | Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Income Statement? An Income Statement, also known as a Profit and Loss Statement (P&L), summarises a company’s income and expenses over a specific period. It provides a snapshot of a business’s financial performance and is essential for...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 27, 2024 | Advisory and Resources, Business, Frequently Asked Questions, Regulations and Schemes, Software
A Balance Sheet is a financial statement that lists a company’s assets, liabilities and equity. It shows the financial position of a business on a specific date. Most businesses prepare balance sheets monthly, quarterly or annually. A Balance Sheet forms one of...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 22, 2024 | Advisory and Resources, Frequently Asked Questions, Payroll and Employment, Taxes
A P45 is the document you receive when you leave a job. It provides a clear summary of your earnings and the tax you have paid during the current tax year. Your employer must provide this document when your employment ends. This applies whether you resign, retire or...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 21, 2024 | Advisory and Resources, Frequently Asked Questions, PAYE, Payroll and Employment, Taxes
A P60 is an end-of-year tax summary. Your employer provides it after the tax year ends. The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. This document shows how much you earned and how much tax you paid. It brings together all important figures from the year in one place....
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 20, 2024 | Advisory and Resources, Frequently Asked Questions, PAYE, Payroll and Employment
A P30 is a document that shows employers how much tax and National Insurance they owe for a specific period. Employers send this document alongside their payment to HMRC. Moreover, employers collect the required tax and National Insurance from employee wages. Read...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 15, 2024 | Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Accounting Journal? An accounting journal is a record where businesses document their financial transactions in chronological order. This process is the first step in the accounting cycle and is crucial for accurate financial reporting. Accountants and...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 14, 2024 | Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Accounting Ledger? An accounting ledger records all financial transactions organised by account. This ledger records every financial move made by the business, providing a comprehensive view of its financial health. Think of it as the backbone of a...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 13, 2024 | Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Accounting Period? An accounting period is a specific timeframe for which a business prepares its financial statements and reports. The purpose of an accounting period is to provide a consistent basis for measuring and reporting financial performance. This...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 7, 2024 | The Budget
The Bank of England Cuts the Base Rate to 5% On the 1st August 2024, the Bank of England cut the base rate from 5.25% to 5% – marking the first base rate cut in over four years! The Bank of England (BoE) uses the base rate to control inflation, which also...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 6, 2024 | Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Business Bank Account? A business bank account specifically manages the finances of a business. Unlike personal bank accounts, business bank accounts offer features tailored to business needs, helping you to manage income, expenses, and financial...
by Pi Accountancy | Aug 1, 2024 | Advisory and Resources, CIS, Regulations and Schemes, Self-Employment and SMEs
Contractors under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), must deduct tax from payments made to subcontractors. CIS Statements are the actual documents which detail how much the contractor paid and deducted. Additionally, each statement covers one tax month and...
by Pi Accountancy | Jul 25, 2024 | Business
The Cycle to Work Scheme is a government-backed initiative that helps employees save money on bicycles and cycling gear. It aims to promote healthier and more sustainable commuting habits while reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. Since its introduction in...
by Pi Accountancy | Jul 18, 2024 | Advisory and Resources, Allowances, Regulations and Schemes, Self-Employment and SMEs
Maternity Allowance can support your income when you take time off to have a baby. Many self-employed parents rely on it. Additionally, some employees claim it when they do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay. What is Maternity Allowance? Maternity Allowance is a...
by Pi Accountancy | Jul 16, 2024 | Frequently Asked Questions, Self Assessment
HMRC uses the Self Assessment system to collect Income Tax and requires taxpayers to complete a yearly tax return. Self Assessment is for those who do not have their taxes automatically deducted from their earnings or for those with additional income sources....
by Pi Accountancy | Jul 11, 2024 | Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tax Apply to Marketable Securities? Yes, tax does apply to Marketable Securities. Marketable securities quickly and easily convert into cash due to their high liquidity. Common stocks, treasury bills, and bonds, traded on public stock exchanges, are examples of...
by Pi Accountancy | Jul 10, 2024 | Frequently Asked Questions
What is Football Transfer Tax? Football Transfer Tax refers to the tax implications and regulations surrounding the transfer of football players between clubs. There is no specific tax but rather various tax considerations that come into play during the process of...
by Pi Accountancy | Jul 4, 2024 | Business
Holiday Accrual on SSP When employees are unable to work due to sickness, they may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), currently set at £116.75 per week for up to 28 weeks in the UK. During these periods, employees still accrue Holiday or Annual Leave. Employees...
by Pi Accountancy | Jun 26, 2024 | Advisory and Resources, Corporation Tax, Frequently Asked Questions, Taxes
Corporation Tax is a tax that companies and certain organisations pay to HMRC on their profits. You calculate it for each accounting period, which usually matches your financial year. However, your first year can include more than one accounting period. Unlike many...
by Pi Accountancy | Jun 20, 2024 | Advisory and Resources
Student Loans are a form of support provided by the UK Government to help students cover the cost of attending university or college. They make higher education accessible to everyone, regardless of background. Student loans fall into two types: Tuition Fee Loans...
by Pi Accountancy | Jun 19, 2024 | Allowances, Taxes
Marriage Allowance Transfer Marriage Allowance transfer allows one spouse to transfer a portion of their Personal Tax Allowance to the other, providing a tax reduction if certain conditions are met. Who is Eligible? You may qualify for Marriage Allowance if:...
