Subsistence Per HMRC – EIM30240

Subsistence Per HMRC – EIM30240

Subsistence Per HMRC – EIM30240 Employers are allowed to reimburse qualifying employee expenses at benchmark rates specified in the Income Tax (Approved Expenses) Regulations, without need approval from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). This exemption is...
New VAT penalty points regime – the changes explained

New VAT penalty points regime – the changes explained

A new VAT penalties regime was brought in this from January 2023, and any firms or individuals missing their filing deadline from January 2023 onwards will receive penalty points even if there is no VAT due to be paid. While this may sound more less effective than...
MTD D-Day has arrived – here’s how to make sure you comply

MTD D-Day has arrived – here’s how to make sure you comply

Anyone filing VAT returns from April 1, 2022 onwards now has to file their return digitally as HMRC’s Making Tax Digital reaches its next phase. All businesses registered for VAT – even if they have turnover below the threshold – must file their returns this way from...
Rent a Room Scheme

Rent a Room Scheme

You can earn up to £7,500 per year tax-free from letting out furnished accommodation in your home, with the Rent a Room Scheme. If you share the income with someone else, such as a spouse or partner, then you would get £3,750 each. Despite the name, you can rent out...
Businesses could face unexpected tax bills because of CJRS

Businesses could face unexpected tax bills because of CJRS

Have you set money aside to deal with tax on support grants? HMRC has highlighted that all money paid for test and trace or self-isolation payments in England, Scotland or Wales are taxable, as are Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebates. The Coronavirus Business...
Help if you are struggling to pay your tax bill

Help if you are struggling to pay your tax bill

Financially, 2021 has been a difficult year for many, and you may be struggling to pay your January tax bill in full. Any tax and National Insurance that remains unpaid for 2020/21 must be paid by 31 January 2022, along with the first payment on account for 2021/22....
ITSA registration

ITSA registration

HMRC have published a call for evidence on the case for reforming the rules for registering for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA). The call for evidence is interested in hearing views on whether it would be beneficial to bring forward the deadline by which landlords...
File your 2020/21 tax return by 31 January 2022

File your 2020/21 tax return by 31 January 2022

If you need to file a self-assessment tax return for the year to 5 April 2021, you have until midnight on 31 January 2022 to file your return if you have not already done so. You must also pay any tax that you owe for 2020/21 by the same date. Do I need to file a...
New Making Tax Digital (MTD) timetable

New Making Tax Digital (MTD) timetable

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a Government initiative that aims to provide the UK with one of the most digitally advanced tax administrations in the world. Under MTD, taxpayers are required to keep electronic records and report to HMRC digitally. The new MTD timetable...
Tax Checks for Licence Renewal Applications

Tax Checks for Licence Renewal Applications

From 4 April 2022, applicants applying to renew certain licences will need to pass a tax check before their licence applications can be considered. Initially, the requirement will only apply in England and Wales. However, the Government have consulted on extending the...
Extension of Making Tax Digital for VAT

Extension of Making Tax Digital for VAT

Extension of Making Tax Digital for VAT Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT is currently only compulsory for VAT-registered businesses whose turnover for VAT is above the VAT registration limit of £85,000. However, this is set to change from April 2022. Extension to all...
End of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)

End of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) came to an end on 30 September 2021. The scheme has provided financial help to employers and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing employers to claim grants with which to pay furloughed and flexibly furloughed...
Plan ahead for increases in the dividend tax rates

Plan ahead for increases in the dividend tax rates

As part of the Government’s funding strategy for health and social care, the dividend tax rates are to be increased from April 2022, alongside the temporary increases in National Insurance, and, from April 2023, the introduction of the Health and Social Care Levy. The...
Reclaiming SSP for periods of self-isolation

Reclaiming SSP for periods of self-isolation

The recent ‘pingdemic’ has resulted in large numbers of employees self-isolating. Where an employee meets the qualifying conditions, you must pay them SSP while they are self-isolating. As qualifying periods of self-isolation count as a Coronavirus-absence, if you are...
What is a UTR?

What is a UTR?

Unique Taxpayers Reference A UTR is your Unique Taxpayers Reference Number, is what identifies you personally with HMRC. It’s 10 digits in length and is quoted on any correspondence you receive from HMRC, including: Your tax return A Welcome to Self-Assessment letter...
Accessing the Government Gateway

Accessing the Government Gateway

From 15 June 2021, all businesses and organisations will need multi-factor authentication in order to sign into the Government Gateway. Multi-factor authentication Businesses and organisations that use HMRC’s online services and which do not currently receive an...
Voluntary Class 2 NICs where 2019/20 tax return filed after 31 January 2021

Voluntary Class 2 NICs where 2019/20 tax return filed after 31 January 2021

If you are self-employed, you will pay Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions if your profits exceed the relevant thresholds. Class 2 National Insurance contributions are the mechanism by which you build up qualifying years to earn entitlement to the...
Paying CJRS grants back

Paying CJRS grants back

As the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) enters its final months, now is the time to review grants that you have claimed under the scheme, and pay back any amounts claimed in error. You may also choose to repay voluntarily funding that you have received under...
SEISS grant 5

SEISS grant 5

Claims for the fifth grant under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will open from late July. If, based on your tax returns, HMRC think that you are eligible for the grant, they will contact you in mid-July and give you a date from which you can submit...
New lower temporary SDLT threshold

New lower temporary SDLT threshold

The residential stamp duty land tax (SDLT) threshold applying in England and Northern Ireland was temporarily increased to £500,000 from 8 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 (extended from the original end date of 31 March 2021). From 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021, a new...
Taxation of company cars in 2021/22

Taxation of company cars in 2021/22

Taxation of company cars What is taxation of company cars? If you are an employee with a company car, you will be taxed on the benefit derived from the car being available for your private use. If you are an employer who makes company cars available to your employees,...
Extended carry-back for losses

Extended carry-back for losses

To help businesses which have suffered losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the period for which certain trading losses can be carried back is extended from one year to three years. The extended carry-back period applies for both income tax and corporation tax...
How long do you need to keep your records for?

How long do you need to keep your records for?

Business records if you’re self-employed You must keep your records for at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) may check your records to make sure you’re paying the right amount of tax....
Family companies and the optimal salary for 2021/22

Family companies and the optimal salary for 2021/22

If you run your business as a personal or family company, you will need to decide how best to extract profits for your personal use. A typical tax-efficient strategy is to pay yourself a small salary and then extract any further profits as dividends. Where this...