2010 -
December
PROPERTY - 22.12.2010
New rules for property rents announced
Around two years ago the Taxman announced that the tax break for holiday rental businesses was to be scrapped. But in the end it’s just been watered down. What might the changes mean for you?
CORPORATION TAX - 22.12.2010
Husbands and wives not associated (for tax)
Following announcements in its Emergency Budget the government has now revealed the new rules it intends to introduce. These include a proposal that can slice a large chunk off a family company’s tax bill. What’s the full story?
INHERITANCE TAX - 22.12.2010
Tax-free income for your family
Making sure your family is looked after if the worst happens to you is important. But it takes time to build up wealth, and this can result in an Inheritance Tax bill. So is a tax-free Family Income Benefit policy worth a look?
CAPITAL ALLOWANCES - 22.12.2010
Tax deductions for creating new products
Recent statistics show that not many companies are making use of the Taxman’s special allowance for research and development. Is your company one of those overlooking this golden opportunity?
NATIONAL INSURANCE - 22.12.2010
Don’t pay employees’ expenses, lend them the money
NI has no system for allowing deductions where an expenses payment relates to a mixed business and personal cost; your company has to pay NI on the lot. But is there a way around this rule?
VAT - 22.12.2010
Taxman trying to cash in on accruals
One of our subscribers recently received a routine VAT inspection. The Taxman found nothing wrong with the records but issued an assessment because the VAT returns didn’t tie up with the company’s accounts. What was the problem?
PAYE - 22.12.2010
What’s RTI about?
The Taxman has issued another consultation paper on collecting “real-time information” (RTI) from employers. What does RTI entail and how might it affect you?
HOT WORKS - 16.12.2010
Safety warning - cutting up old drums
The HSE has recently issued a warning to those cutting up drums that contain, or have contained flammable substances, such as oil or fuel. What prompted the warning to be issued and what does it tell you?
H&S LEGISLATION - 16.12.2010
Six new safety bills
A backbench MP has presented six bills to Parliament on the back of Lord Young’s report “Common Sense, Common Safety”. What do they say and what might be their implications if they become law?
H&S MANAGEMENT - 16.12.2010
New Year document review
You’re aware that you haven’t looked at your health and safety documentation for some time. So as January is traditionally a quiet month, you’re planning to go through and update it. Where in particular should you focus your attention?
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS - 16.12.2010
Wrong extinguisher? Don’t blame the supplier
In a landmark ruling, the Court of Appeal has reversed an earlier decision that made fire extinguisher supplier Chubb liable for damage to a church caused by a dry powder extinguisher. What can be learned from the case?
MANUAL HANDLING - 16.12.2010
Manual lifting job went badly wrong
The HSE recently prosecuted three companies for their involvement in a serious manual handling accident. How did it happen and how can you avoid a similar incident on your premises?
WORKPLACE - LIGHTING - 16.12.2010
Outside lighting - how much do you need?
Staff are complaining that there isn’t enough light in the car park. Whilst you want to make sure they’re safe, you don’t want to waste money on lighting up the whole neighbourhood. So how much light is enough?
SEASONAL ISSUES - 16.12.2010
It’s snow joke!
During the recent dump of snow, health and safety concerns have been raised about staff continuing to carry out their duties. Are these justified?
CONTRACTS - 16.12.2010
Avoiding the dangers of “custom and practice”
Most employers have customs and practices that have developed over time. But this is one area that employees try to manipulate to their own advantage. What are the risks and how can you avoid coming unstuck here?
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES - 16.12.2010
The first tribunal ruling on the ACAS Code of Practice
The ACAS Code of Practice replaced the old statutory disciplinary and dismissal procedures some time ago. But the tribunal has only just dealt with one of the first cases to be heard under this new regime. What point did it make?
HOLIDAYS - 16.12.2010
On April 29 2011 we’re getting... an extra day off?
The government has declared that Friday, April 29 2011 - the day of the Royal Wedding - will be a bank holiday. Are your staff automatically entitled to this particular day off and what is the statutory position on pay?
WORKING CONDITIONS - 16.12.2010
“It’s cold - can I go home?”
It’s been an exceptionally bad start to the winter and we’ve heard some reports of employees moaning that “it’s too cold to work”. So what does the law say about workplace temperatures and can they use them as an excuse to go home?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 16.12.2010
What are the benefits of an appraisal system?
One of our subscribers is thinking about implementing an appraisal system for all employees. What benefits could be gained from this process, which topics can be covered and how often should appraisals occur?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 16.12.2010
Why did the lap dancer lose her unfair dismissal claim?
The most common type of claim that the tribunal deals with is “unfair dismissal”. But a lap dancer, who had been seeking £200,000 for this very reason, has just had her case thrown out. So where did she fall down?
TRAINING - 16.12.2010
Time to train - will you be exempt?
The Business Minister recently indicated that small businesses won’t have to consider any time off to train requests. Is this definite, or did he jump the gun?
SECURITY - MISCELLANEOUS - 08.12.2010
Webcam surveillance
Admit it: how often do you actually use your webcam? So why not use it for the surveillance of your business, warehouse or home? Can the new GotoCamera program help you?
PERSONAL WEBSITE - WEBSITE DESIGN - 08.12.2010
Matching colours
Are you looking for the appropriate colours for your home interior, product catalogue, logo, website, etc.? There are lots of online tools that can help you. The well-designed Adobe Kuler is one of them. How good is it?
E-MAIL - WEBMAIL - 08.12.2010
Gmail or Hotmail?
Both Hotmail and Gmail have improved dramatically over the past few months. Hotmail was revamped in one sweep during the summer, whilst Gmail is being improved in small steps. Here are the strengths of both services.
TELEPHONY - MOBILE PHONES - 08.12.2010
Windows Phone 7: a good alternative?
When it comes to smartphones, iPhone, Android (by Google) and BlackBerry are the most popular. Microsoft recently launched Windows Phone 7 as an alternative. What does “WP7” have to offer?
SOFTWARE - MISCELLANEOUS - 08.12.2010
Free software for your Mac
When you buy a Mac, it’s supplied with lots of software. Yet there are several indispensable free programs which are definitely worth giving a try as well!
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 08.12.2010
Windows: sleep or hibernate?
Windows 7 offers different ways of making your computer idle, both automatically (via power options in the Control Panel) and manually (via Start). What’s the difference? And can you customise this?
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 08.12.2010
Improved communication
Smooth communication between your colleagues is essential for the smooth operation of your business. We tested a couple of Web tools which claim to help you.
E-MAIL - E-MAIL SOFTWARE - 08.12.2010
Windows Live Mail 2011
A new version of Windows Live Mail, a component of the free Windows Live Essentials 2011 suite and the successor to Outlook Express, was released recently. Should you upgrade?
WEB SERVICES - MISCELLANEOUS - 08.12.2010
Using Memonic to collect Web snippets
You will often come across useful information on the Internet that you wish to save for later. A new Web snippet service was launched recently: Memonic.
SOFTWARE - CHAT - 08.12.2010
Chatting via your webcam
Chatting via your webcam - “video chat”, in other words - can be great fun, and it can come in very handy too. Which programs offer video chat and what do you need?
ONLINE TRAINING - 08.12.2010
Changing or starting careers
For anyone job hunting or thinking about changing career, there’s a new site - Next Step - that could help. We compare it with similar sites in the field.
IHT - 08.12.2010
IHT planning with a power of attorney
Avoiding Inheritance Tax often requires you to shift assets out of your estate. That’s fine where you have control of your finances, but where do you stand if someone else is holding your purse strings?
LOSSES - 08.12.2010
Transferring company losses
Where you decide to shut the doors on a loss-making company and start afresh, you might be throwing away a valuable tax deduction. How can you close down the business but preserve the tax losses for future use?
CGT - 08.12.2010
Entrepreneurs’ relief for the family business
The increase in the rate of Capital Gains Tax in June wasn’t welcome news if you were planning to sell your company. But entrepreneurs’ relief (ER) also received a boost. As a shareholder in a family company how can you take advantage this?
SELF-ASSESSMENT - 08.12.2010
Is it too late to declare that you owe tax for 2009/10?
There have been reports that the Taxman won’t accept a tax return unless you’re registered for self-assessment. But where you need to declare income for 2009/10 and haven’t been sent a form, what steps can you take to avoid a penalty?
COMPANY TAX - 08.12.2010
How to make a company loan disappear
Where your company lends you money, it might face a tax bill as a result. You can get your company off the tax hook by repaying the loan. But if money is tight and repayment isn’t possible, is there another way to dodge this tax?
EXPENSES - 08.12.2010
Tax deduction for business expenses refused
In a recent case the tax tribunal considered deductions claimed by a director for the cost of equipment and household expenses used in his job. It accepted that these were genuine business costs but refused the claim, why?
VAT - 08.12.2010
Paper VAT returns - time is nearly up!
Many businesses are sending VAT returns and payments by post even though it should be done electronically. What does the Taxman intend to do about this?
INSURANCE - 07.12.2010
New trade credit insurance option
Selling is one thing, getting paid is quite another. Even with good credit control your company probably won’t get its money if a customer’s business goes to the wall. So, in these difficult trading times, is credit insurance worth looking at?
PENSIONS - 07.12.2010
Are you covered if your pension fund crashes?
Probably the last thing on your mind when you put money into your pension is what would happen if the insurance company fails. But if it did, is there anything you can do to protect your investments?
DIRECTORS’ TAX - 07.12.2010
Accounts - last minute must-do jobs
Your company’s financial year is drawing to a close and your director’s loan account is in the red. This will trigger a tax bill, so your accountant advises taking a bonus to clear the debt. But how should you calculate this and when should it be paid?
IT - 07.12.2010
Getting free and constructive feedback
Feedback from customer surveys can be invaluable. But many companies are reluctant to try them due to the time and costs involved. A simple online tool may offer the directors a cost-effective solution. How does it work?
PERSONNEL - 07.12.2010
Company sacks everyone aged 65+ - why?
The media is up in arms after one employer forcibly retired all employees aged 65 and over. This might seem drastic, but there’s a good reason for it. What is it and why must the directors consider doing the same thing?
CONTRACTS - 07.12.2010
Contracts: termination due to “non-payment”
Your company has an ongoing contract with another business yet, despite promises to the contrary, it hasn’t paid up. The directors now want to walk away from the deal, but just how should they go about terminating it?
DIRECTORS’ TAX - 07.12.2010
Tax cuts of a different kind
In a bid to cut costs the Taxman will be sending out less post. What’s being binned and how might this affect you as a director?
BUDGETING - 03.12.2010
Budgeting for the costs of moving
The MD and the FD have been to view some business premises that have just come on the market. The FD has now asked you to come up with a budget for the cost of physically moving the company. What should you include?
YEAR-END PLANNING - 03.12.2010
Preparing for the auditors
It’s almost your company’s year-end, which means that the auditors are arriving soon. How do you best prepare your business for their visit and reduce their fees in the process?
CHRISTMAS GIFTS - 03.12.2010
Good cheer savings
The ads have been on TV for a while and the decorations in the shops for weeks already. But can you really afford to dig deep and buy your staff or customers gifts this year?
TRAVEL - 03.12.2010
Flight savings made easy
One thing the budget airlines have done is ensure you book your flights well in advance if you want to get the best deal. But is there an optimum time to book? Maths boffins think there is...
OFFICE COSTS - 03.12.2010
Turn the heat down
It’s getting colder so the heating is now running at full blast. But you’re conscious of the cost of heating the place during the winter. How do you keep the bills down with minimal investment?
LIGHTING - 03.12.2010
Saving with LEDs?
Although LED lighting is becoming more popular, is it really the future and is it any good? If it’s worth considering, could it have a significant impact on your company’s bottom line?
SPREADSHEETS - 03.12.2010
Linking Excel to Word
You’re writing your monthly report for the board and need to incorporate some data from an Excel spreadsheet. You usually do this manually by copying and pasting the data. Is there a way to do it automatically?
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE - 03.12.2010
Supplier in trouble?
You’ve just heard a rumour that one of your suppliers has gone out of business. Trouble is, you had recently made an advance payment to them. So what steps should you take next?
COMPANY LAW - 03.12.2010
Issuing new shares in a private company
You’ve been asked to issue new shares to raise more capital for the business. If this isn’t done correctly, the issue won’t be valid. What are the steps you need to take to ensure everything’s above board?
PURCHASING - 03.12.2010
Cash rebates from suppliers?
Your MD has heard that a company is asking its suppliers for a 2.5% cash rebate. He’s asked if your company could do the same?
WORK AT HEIGHT - 03.12.2010
The dangers of fragile roofs
Following a fatal accident in which a worker fell through the ceiling of a frozen food store, the HSE has issued a safety alert. What issues does the alert highlight and what advice does it offer?
NOISE - 03.12.2010
Should you measure noise levels?
You’re concerned that you might have a noise problem in your workshop. However, when you looked into measuring the noise level, you realised that it’s a far from simple process. So should you be doing it?
POLICIES & RECORDS - 03.12.2010
Are you planning a conference?
A subscriber has recently asked us for guidance on organising events, e.g. seminars, off site. To help, we’ve produced a brand new risk assessment that identifies how to organise such events safely. What’s covered?
FIRE SAFETY - 03.12.2010
Blocking fire exits is expensive
National retailer, Poundstretcher, has recently been prosecuted by the Fire & Rescue Service (FRS) for numerous breaches of fire safety legislation. What did it get wrong and how should you avoid falling into a similar trap?
SEASONAL ISSUES - 03.12.2010
Government clarifies advice on snow clearing
After much controversy on the subject last winter, the government has issued guidance on clearing snow and ice from pavements, car parks etc. What does it say and should you follow it?
HSE - 03.12.2010
HSE alliance with building control
Back in 2008 we reported on a trial scheme which involved building control officers in the enforcement of health and safety on construction sites. As expected, it’s now been rolled out more widely. What are the implications?
H&S MANAGEMENT - 03.12.2010
The end for common sense safety?
Lord Young, the peer responsible for changing the way safety is managed, has resigned. So will this halt progress, or will the ball roll on without his input?
