2009 - June
You’ve been looking at Enterprise Management Incentives as an alternative to cash pay rises. But exactly what are the income tax benefits for your employees and are there any tax or NI savings you can make?
There’s a common tax problem for companies that share resources if one can’t afford to pay its way and the other one foots the bill. What is it, and how was the position improved by the Budget?
Delays in issuing tax refunds are now so bad that the national press and the Taxman’s own publications recognise the problem. But what, if anything, can be done about it?
Gifts that seem too good to be true
A recent case considered whether an Inheritance Tax saving scheme purchased by a very elderly lady could succeed. The Taxman won leaving the executors to pick up the tax bill and the scheme fees. What was the problem?
Making the right move to save tax
In less than a year the headline tax rate will jump to 50%. One way of reducing the effect is to shift some of your income to your spouse or partner. But at what point is it worth doing and which assets produce the greatest tax saving?
New VAT partial exemption rules
From April 2009 the Taxman is applying some new rules for those businesses reclaiming VAT under the partial exemption rules. But will these benefit you, or are the changes just another example of government red tape?
Taxman’s double trouble on pick-ups
Until recently, there had been confusion on whether a pick-up is a car or a van for tax purposes. Why does this matter and what’s changed?
Imposing flexible working changes
In order to avoid redundancies, you may have already asked staff to agree to temporary flexible working measures, such as reduced hours. But if there aren’t enough volunteers, how do you impose the changes that you need to make?
For the very first time, workplace mediation is being promoted under the new ACAS Code of Practice. But what is it, and how can it help you avoid a costly trip to your local employment tribunal?
Buying additional annual leave?
Some employees have asked if they can buy some extra annual leave. As this could help you in the current economic climate, you’re interested. So how do you set up this type of scheme, and are there any financial advantages?
An employee has made an “off-the-cuff” remark to another about their ethnic background. But how offensive does it have to be for it to amount to racial harassment, and what can you do to avoid this type of incident?
Can you insist on a resignation?
In recent weeks, a number of MPs have been forced to resign over the part they played in the expenses scandal. If you believe an employee has acted in an appalling manner, can you demand their immediate resignation?
New research predicts that our ageing population will create unprecedented levels of ill-health problems within the next 20 years. So what are the risk areas and is there anything you can do now to limit the effect on your business?
Bailiffs to enforce tribunal awards
Apparently, nearly 40% of tribunal awards go unpaid. To crack down on this, the government wants to send in the bailiffs. But what’s the real story?
One of your employees has informed you that they’ve been diagnosed with Telephonitis - a condition that causes significant pain in their neck. How should you deal with this?
Whilst working on one of your client’s sites, you’re finding that other sub-contractors are getting in the way and creating a potentially unsafe workplace. How should you deal with this and what can happen if you don’t?
Whistle blowing and unfair dismissal
A former employee of Network Rail has been awarded £200,000 after an employment tribunal upheld his claim for unfair dismissal. He’d been sacked for “whistle blowing” about safety standards. What can be learned from this case?
An insurance company has recently refused to pay out on a policy because the sprinkler system identified on the fire risk assessment was disabled. Does this mean that your insurance is invalid if you don’t have working sprinklers?
Protecting workers from the sun
You’ve heard that the HSE has changed its position on sun protection cream and is no longer recommending it’s provided to those who work outside. Is this really the case, and if so, what alternatives should you consider?
Recent research indicates that small business owners are spending up to 14 hours per month on health and safety paperwork. Is this really necessary?
Is it a business or personal loan?
A number of our subscribers have asked what the tax position is if they borrow money to lend to a family member or friend whose business is in need of financial help. So, what’s the answer, and are there any traps you can fall into?
Claiming for accountant’s fees
Some MPs have been claiming tax relief on expenses they’ve received to cover the fees they pay their accountant for filling in their tax returns. Is this something you or your business could do?
New VAT charges for private motoring
Fuel prices are on the rise again, and with effect from May 1 2009 the Taxman has increased his VAT charges for private mileage. So, what’s the most effective way for you to claim some of this back?
Limited liability, limited choices
You’re starting a new business with a colleague and you’ve asked an accountant whether it will save you tax to run it as a limited company. He’s based his sums on various profit projections, but do these overlook something important?
Take a holiday from CGT before April 6 2010
From April 6 2010 you might have to pay more tax at 18% when you sell your holiday letting property. But if you act now you can reduce this to 10% by using entrepreneurs’ relief (ER). How can you take advantage of this?
Who pays the IHT bill on joint accounts?
In a recent case, a sizeable joint bank account was left out of an Inheritance Tax (IHT) calculation. The surviving signatory was landed with a bill from the Taxman. What’s the problem with joint bank accounts and how can you avoid it?
From next April the Taxman will be able to amend your tax return if he thinks you’ve made a mistake. Is this something to worry about?
RIP higher rate tax relief on pension premiums?
Mr Darling is stamping out higher rate tax relief on pension premiums from April 2011. But there are anti-avoidance rules that could affect directors now. Will you be caught, or is there a way to avoid the trap?
Until now your business has been coping well. However, things have taken a turn for the worse and you’re worried about the personal implications of trading whilst insolvent. What simple tests can you take to determine your position?
As a busy company director it’s likely that from time to time you need to use the services of a solicitor. But they don’t come cheap. Could the current economic climate give you room to negotiate a lower rate for their expertise?
Same job, same hours, same pay, less tax!
We all know the Taxman objects to workers being paid on a self-employed basis to cut employment costs. But did you know that directors can legitimately save tax and NI by doing just that? What’s the full story?
You’ve read that the Taxman is now threatening to charge interest if your company pays its PAYE bill even a few days late. Is this true?
Unfair interest charged on credit cards
As a busy director you’re always charging expenses to your credit card. However, your card issuer keeps putting up the rate of interest. Is there anything you can do about it?
How many safety trained staff?
You’ve heard that since a change in the law in January, you must have at least one member of staff who holds formal health and safety qualifications. Is this really the case, or just another myth?
Do you need training to pass a CSCS test?
As “CSCS cards” are now a must on many construction sites, you’ve decided to get them for your staff. As the application involves a health and safety test, you’ve heard that some training is a wise move. Is this really necessary?
There are many significant risks associated with woodworking machinery. So, to ensure that you’ve taken appropriate steps to manage them, why not use our brand new sample checklist?
Electrocution from death trap light casing
A recent case, which followed a fatal accident, has highlighted the risks created by poor and unsafe electrical installations. What caused the accident and how can you prevent a similar one on your premises?
Maintaining protection from fire doors
Your maintenance contractor has pointed out that the plastic strip embedded in the edges of the fire doors is missing and damaged in places. Do you need to repair it and how else should you maintain fire doors?
The HSE has just introduced a new educational tool - STEP - in an effort to help businesses manage and reduce slips, trips and falls in the workplace. Who is it aimed at, what does it cost and is it any good?
The HSE has published the results of a recent inspection initiative focused on construction sites. What do the findings indicate?
The Taxman’s P11D quality control tests
The deadline for submitting the Forms P11D for 2008/9 is July 6 2009. This year, if the forms you submit don’t come up to scratch the Taxman says he’ll reject them. What can you do to make sure the forms are correctly filled in?
Could a “green” car policy mean “go” for tax saving?
New rules for tax relief on leased cars apply from April 2009. Tax relief is now based on CO2 emissions rather than value. Could changing your leasing contract benefit your business?
Tax avoidance - what’s in a number?
The Taxman has recently changed his rules on when and how avoidance schemes must be reported. Some of our subscribers were caught out by the old rules and it cost them. So, what should you be looking out for now?
Falling share values can cut your tax bill
You might think that it’s too late to do anything about your Capital Gains Tax (CGT) bill for 2008/9 given that it ended on April 5. But there’s something you can do in 2009/10 that affects both 2008/9 and 2007/8. What’s involved?
Salary sacrifice for tax-free subsistence
Your sales are down and admin costs are up, particularly due to all those pesky tax forms. But could there be a way to reward your sales force with some extra tax-free cash, and reduce your admin costs at the same time?
VAT periods and dodgy advice from the Taxman
In a recent case a company applied to change its VAT return period. The Taxman agreed but then gave some confusing advice which led to a significant financial penalty. How can you make sure you don’t get caught out the same way?
There’s more help on the horizon for businesses finding it hard to meet their tax bills. But what does this mean to you now?
A recent report has indicated that using too much jargon in safety policies etc. is confusing staff and preventing important messages from being understood. What should you avoid?
Killer desk lamps - or not, as the case may be
Although you’re getting used to ignoring most of the health and safety stories that crop up in the press, a recent one about the dangers associated with ultra violet lighting and desk lamps caught your eye. Is there anything in this?
You usually hire a van to take larger items out to site, but have decided to fit your vehicles with tow bars and to use a trailer. But a member of staff says his driving licence doesn’t allow him to do this. Does this restriction apply to everyone?
The dangers of unsuitable floor surfaces
Although wooden decking with non-slip grooves may appear to be an ideal floor surface, a recent case has highlighted that in certain environments, this is far from a good option. What can be learned from this case?
Swine ‘flu - managing the risks
Is Swine ‘flu a real risk to staff health and safety? Should you buy PPE and anti-viral drugs to reduce the risks? What’s to know?
Random inspections are still happening
One of our subscribers was recently caught out when an environmental health officer arrived on their site unannounced. Why were they visited and is this something that still happens regularly?
First corporate manslaughter prosecution
Surprisingly, the CPS targeted a small company as the first to be prosecuted under the new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act. What measures can you put in place to help ensure you’re not next in line?
In an open plan working environment, there’s usually one employee who speaks more loudly than others. This can be irritating to their colleagues. So how can you deal with this problem and also reduce noise in work areas generally?
Should the changes be in writing?
You may have staff who have agreed to work flexibly in order to try to avoid a redundancy situation. Can you simply rely on an “ad hoc” verbal arrangement, or is it safer to put it in writing?
Time off to carry out public duties?
An employee has requested 20 days’ leave to carry out public duties as a member of a prison visiting committee. Does such a legal right exist, and if so, do you have to pay them during the time off?
Sickness absence and disabled employees
A disabled employee has a poor attendance record and until now you’ve been wary of taking any disciplinary action against them. But a recent House of Lords decision has clarified the position. What does it say?
Publication of the Equality Bill has put equal pay back in the spotlight. Female employees may start challenging you on this subject, but you can be prepared for their questions by conducting a mini equal pay review. So how is this done?
(Un)reasonable in the circumstances?
Deciding whether or not to dismiss an employee can be tough, particularly if you’re not sure whether it’s appropriate in the circumstances. So how can a new case help you avoid the costs of getting it wrong?
For the last few years, the UK’s right to opt-out of the 48-hour working week has been under serious threat and looked set to go. So what’s the latest decision?
Making the most of Google Reader
If you want one central page where all kinds of news stories that interest you are collected, an online service such as Google Reader is ideal. Here are some tips for customising it.
Handy widgets for your desktop
Widgets - small tools which display specific types of information directly on your desktop - are becoming increasingly popular. We tested one widget which brings together a large number of useful tools on your desktop.
The current generation of photo cameras produces digital photos that are several megabytes large. Such sizes are not always necessary, and they may cause problems. How can you reduce the size without any hassle?
When you’re a regular laptop user you will have come across the familiar problems: changing network settings, no (reliable) wireless connection, empty batteries, the fear of theft, etc. These free tools can help you.
Loads of pages are printed needlessly every day. This is not only very expensive, it is also bad for the environment. Here are some free tools that help you to print more efficiently.
Microsoft Office and OpenOffice have been competing with each other fiercely for quite a while now. Both office suites now have something new, so what are they offering?
Big, unwieldy computer monitors are definitely a thing of the past; we’re all using flat LCD screens these days. However, these screens may have one or more annoying “dead pixels”. Can you do anything about this?
Gmail collects a number of experimental extra features in Gmail Labs. Which of these should you really activate, which are useful but not essential, and which are not worthwhile at all?
The practice of “mindmapping” is becoming increasingly popular these days. What exactly is it, and what free and paying mindmapping tools and services are available on the Internet?
If you find you have too little space for all the files on your hard disk, you don’t necessarily need to buy an external drive, you could replace the internal hard disk or install a second one. What should you pay attention to?
The Webbys, the Internet’s Oscars, have recently been announced. We take a look at some of the British winners.
Managing several disposable addresses
A temporary e-mail address can come in handy and prevents spammers from obtaining your real e-mail address. It’s easy to create one temporary address, but how can you create and manage several extra addresses?
Servers are no longer the exclusive domain of businesses: at home, a server may offer many useful functions too. The Windows Home Server is a good example. What does it have to offer?
Simple tricks to make your computer faster
All Windows computers, whether they are running Vista or XP, start slowing down after a while. Here are some simple tricks for revving up your computer without having to reinstall Windows.
The Pirate Bay website recently hit the news because of the illegal distribution of music and other files. At the same time, iTunes lifted its copy restrictions... So where do we stand now?
More and more personal information can be found on the Web - probably about yourself as well. How do you stop too much (incorrect) information about yourself being spread online?
Evernote lets you save texts and images online, so that they are available everywhere via a computer or smartphone. Is this a useful application? And how exactly does it work?