2009 - July
Is pension recycling still possible?
A friend has told you that as he’s 50 he can take a tax-free lump sum from his pension fund before the rules change next April. He says he’ll plough it straight back into a pension to get extra tax relief. This sounds too good to be true; is it?
Converting income into capital gains
Tax and financial advisors are working hard on ways to escape the new higher rates of income tax that will apply from next April. These include ideas to make use of lower Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rates. Is this something you should consider?
The tax credit documentation changes every year leaving many confused and at risk of losing out. What steps should you be taking by July 31 to ensure you get your full entitlement for 2009/10?
100% tax-free compensation payments
A recent case involved the tax and NI treatment of a compensation payment. The Taxman incorrectly said some of the payment was chargeable to tax. Where did he go wrong and how should such payments be treated?
Balancing allowance preserved by private use
Tax relief on business cars has been hammered since April 2009. It’s now being spread over more than 20 years. But there’s an exception to this rule. What is it and can you use it to your advantage?
Reclaiming VAT paid in other countries
Claiming back VAT paid on foreign expenses can be a nightmare. A major change is coming in less than six months, but to get the greatest benefit from this what action should you be taking now?
Don’t rely on advice from HMRC
The judge’s verdict in a recent case confirmed what we’ve known for a long time: advice from the Taxman comes with a health warning. What’s the story here?
Are you planning to organise a party at work or at home? Then, music will be an indispensable element. Which tools can help you? We put some of them to the test.
Outlook remains a highly popular e-mail and calendar application, especially in a business environment. Here are four concrete tips which will help you get the most out of it.
Would you like to know exactly what your computer contains? Or do you think your desktop computer or your laptop should work a bit faster? Here are some handy and free tools that make this possible.
You will probably take hundreds of photographs again this summer. You can easily share them with friends and family through online photo services such as the new Windows Live Photos. What does it have to offer?
Your photos and documents deserve a regular backup, it’s also advisable to back up all your e-mails. However, this isn’t as simple as it may look. Here’s a free tool that may make things easier.
Are you planning to travel abroad in the coming months? Then it’s high time to brush up your knowledge of foreign languages. A little help from a native speaker can make this task a lot more pleasant and efficient.
The Ciao site has been revamped with more emphasis on video reviews. We compare it with the best of the rest.
Windows Firewall: how fireproof is it?
Windows XP (SP2) and Vista are both equipped with a firewall which is activated by default. How well does it protect your system, and are there any good free alternatives?
Do you expect business to slow down a bit during the summer months? If so, it gives you a good opportunity to try out two planning tools that may come in handy when business picks up again: ToBeeDoo and Milestone Planner.
Do you sometimes use Wordpad or Notepad, the two text editors integrated into Windows? What do these programs have to offer, and are there any better alternatives, without having to buy expensive programs?
Does your Internet subscription come with data limits, or would you simply like to know the volume of data you consume? Here are a couple of tools which can monitor this.
As a director the Taxman says you must complete an annual self-assessment tax return. But we’re aware that some directors aren’t receiving these. What’s going on and should you submit a form anyway?
Is a statutory demand the answer?
If your company is owed money, you’ll probably want to avoid the cost of going to court. One way to prompt quick payment is with a statutory demand. So when can it help you and will this approach work every time?
Disapproving of approved mileage rates
The Taxman’s approved mileage allowances have been around for nearly 20 years. But the rates haven’t changed since 2002. In the meantime the cost of running your car has rocketed. Is there any way of extracting more from the Taxman?
Business directory scam warning
The Office of Fair Trading is warning businesses to be vigilant following a rise in business directory scams. As a careful company director you’re unlikely to be caught out. But how do you avoid being targeted in the first place?
One of your co-directors has told you that the higher rate of tax on dividends paid from next April is to increase over current levels by 44%. So he’s going to take extra salary instead. Is he right?
The Information Commissioner has released some updated guidance on “Privacy Impact Assessments” to help companies comply with the Data Protection Act. But will it really help you to stay on the right side of the law?
Your company wants to bring a contract to an end. As there’s no documentation, you’re thinking of giving the other side three months’ notice but are worried about a claim. How would a court decide if this is reasonable?
Dealing with recruitment agencies
In the past year, when looking to hire extra staff, over 75% of companies have avoided recruitment agencies. In the short-term this could save money, but are there any risks if you cut them out of the loop?
Be prepared for battle on IR35
You’ve completed your P35. But now you’ve heard that how you answered the question about your company’s status might come back to bite you. How should you respond to a challenge from the Taxman?
Don’t blow your fire insurance cover
If you haven’t adequately implemented fire safety regulations and your property is damaged by fire, you might find it’s not only the fire service but also your insurance company that gets hot under the collar. What’s the problem?
The Enterprise Finance Guarantee
Earlier this year, in an attempt to help small businesses secure funding, the government-backed Enterprise Finance Guarantee was introduced. But is it working, and can its remaining £1 billion help your company?
Tax allowances for two wheelers
The tax rules on depreciation have recently changed. There’s now a 100% deduction for the cost of a company motorcycle. You may not fancy the idea of two wheels, but is there another way you can take advantage?
Who’s liable for an employee’s injury?
An employee has been working off-site using someone else’s equipment. What happens if they have an accident? Could you be liable?
You’re in the process of making an employee redundant. Recently they left for a short period of time so you don’t think they’re eligible for a statutory redundancy payment. How can you be sure you’re right?
Can social networking damage your business?
Allowing staff access to sites like Facebook can mean hours of wasted time. But as recent reports show, if it’s not properly managed, it can also harm your reputation. So what’s the latest and how do you stop it happening to you?
Hiring staff as “self-employed”
If you need an extra member of staff, you might be tempted to engage them on a self-employed basis. But if you go down this route, how can you prevent them from later claiming that they are really an employee?
Disciplined for strong personal views
An employee has been upsetting other staff by promoting their own personal beliefs in the workplace. Understandably, you’re cautious about disciplining them for this but you can’t allow it to continue. Is it safe for you to act?
Must employee keep overpayment?
In a recent case, a tribunal said that an employee who was overpaid by mistake for three years can keep all the money and her erroneous pay rise. So what happened and how did her employer get it so wrong?
A swine ‘flu pandemic has been declared with over 6,000 cases now confirmed in the UK. Some say at its peak staff absence rates will reach 75%. So what steps can you take now to keep your business running?
The real cost of employing smokers
New research shows that the total cost of employing smokers exceeds £3 billion per year. So what can you do to stop their “bad habit” from harming your business?
When is health surveillance required?
According to a colleague, the requirement for health surveillance is listed in a number of pieces of health and safety legislation. So when must it be completed and what should it involve?
What’s lurking in your water tank?
If your building has a water cistern, it’s probably hidden away and barely given a second thought. However, it’s best for your staff and visitors that you check it’s not a health hazard. What should you look for?
Getting stuck in a lift is something that most of us dread. However, it does happen and those inside need to be rescued. So to ensure that everyone knows what to do in such an event, why not use our new lift rescue checklist?
In a recent case, a property developer tried to wriggle out of a prosecution by claiming that health and safety legislation didn’t apply to him because he wasn’t the injured party’s employer. Did he get away with it?
Constructing Excellence has released a new online tool which helps those who employ contractors on an occasional basis to understand their legal duties. What does it cover and should you use it?
Do you need to fit window restrictors?
An organisation has recently been prosecuted for an accident caused by their failure to maintain window restrictors. Is this a new law and should all businesses fit these devices to their windows?
Changes to first aid training (at last)
Finally, the HSE has made a decision on the future of first aid training. When are the changes coming in, and is it going to be noticeably different?