2011 -
June
VAT - 28.06.2011
VAT concession on IT equipment
As a general rule, the Taxman expects you to scale down your VAT claim for purchases which are partly for non-business purposes. But in some cases he’ll allow you to make a full claim. When can you take advantage of this concession?
BENEFITS - 28.06.2011
Employee benefit tax exemption at risk
A change in the way in which financial advisors are paid could have a knock-on effect, which might land your company and its employees with an unexpected tax and NI bill. What’s the full story?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 28.06.2011
Best tax strategy for pension payments
In April this year the rules for tax deductions on pension contributions underwent a major overhaul. But what effect, if any, did this have on company contributions, and is there still a tax advantage to these?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 28.06.2011
Four ways to avoid or defer your CGT bill
As part of your Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning you want to give away assets to younger members of your family, but you’ll be liable to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) as if you had sold the assets at their full value. What are the ways around this?
EXPENSES - 28.06.2011
Motor expenses for your buy-to-let business
The Taxman allows you to deduct expenses from property rental income like any other business. But some costs are easy to overlook, such as travel expenses. What can you claim for?
CAPITAL ALLOWANCES - 28.06.2011
Is this the end of the capital allowances loophole?
The Taxman has published a consultation document suggesting changes to how businesses claim tax relief for expenditure on property fixtures. These might have retrospective effect. What steps should you be taking to protect your claim?
TAX PAYMENTS - 28.06.2011
New approach to tax debt
If you don’t pay the Taxman on time, he’ll now categorise you as either a “can’t pay” or “won’t pay”. Why does this matter?
COMPUTER - PERIPHERALS - 24.06.2011
Digital pens
Manufacturers of digital pens are becoming increasingly inventive these days. For instance, Livescribe has launched a pen that is linked to Google Docs and Evernote. Is it useful?
BUSINESS - MISCELLANEOUS - 24.06.2011
Make your mark using the right logo
A good logo enhances the recognisability of your business or product. You can use it on your site, invoices, letters etc., or even on your clothing or company cars. Which tools can help you and what should you pay attention to?
LEISURE - PHOTOGRAPHY - 24.06.2011
Making the most of your digital single-lens reflex camera
Do you have a professional single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera? It would be a waste not to thoroughly learn to use all the options of such a sophisticated camera. The following sites can help you.
SECURITY - ONLINE STORAGE - 24.06.2011
Your files in the European cloud
Dropbox is probably the most popular method for making online backups of important documents so that you can access them everywhere (at home, at work, via a smartphone etc.). Wuala is a European alternative. Worthwhile?
SOFTWARE - COMPUTER ADMINISTRATION - 24.06.2011
Arranging files efficiently
If you have loads of files or e-mails on your computer, it’s a daunting task to keep a good overview of them. We tried a couple of tools that help you to arrange files into folders more efficiently.
SOFTWARE - MUSIC - 24.06.2011
Nifty tools for your MP3s
Do you have a huge music collection sitting on your computer? If so, here are a couple of handy tools for editing your MP3s: editing tags, cutting up in fragments, posting on YouTube, etc.
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 24.06.2011
Meet your deadlines
If you often have several ongoing projects, you will probably be familiar with webtools enabling you to meet your deadlines. Does the recently launched Cohuman have something more to offer?
E-MAIL - E-MAIL SOFTWARE - 24.06.2011
Enhancing Outlook
Do you think that Microsoft’s Outlook e-mail program could do a tad better? Here are a couple of useful add-ons which will make your use of Outlook more productive and efficient.
SEARCHING - INTERNET - 24.06.2011
Search your personal corner of the Internet
Google and Bing are unsurpassed for searching the public Internet. However, what if you wish to find something in your Gmail e-mails, your Twitter tweets… in short, all your personal information on the Internet? Meet Greplin.
SECURITY - ANTI-MALWARE - 24.06.2011
Free online virus scanners
A good security suite protects your computer against all kinds of malware and is therefore an absolute must. However, you may need a second opinion sometimes. To what extent can an online virus scanner help you?
BUSINESS - MISCELLANEOUS - 24.06.2011
Homeworking
The government suggests we work from home to avoid travel chaos during the Olympics. We’ve checked what advice is out there - and not just for Londoners.
COST CUTTING - 23.06.2011
Can you send e-invoices?
To save costs, one of your fellow directors has suggested sending e-invoices to your customers rather than paper ones. But another colleague says they aren’t legally enforceable and so can be more trouble than they’re worth. Who’s right?
PERSONNEL - 23.06.2011
TUPE: do staff working out notice periods transfer?
The directors are buying another company and they’ll shortly take on its employees via a TUPE transfer. But one of them is working out his three-month notice period. Can he be ignored, or will he still become “one of yours”?
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - 23.06.2011
Let’s meet up: your place or mine?
You need to meet a potential new client, but are worried that your current base won’t create the right impression. Could a serviced meeting room solve this problem? If so, what’s on offer and how much might it cost?
CORPORATION TAX - 23.06.2011
Tax efficient gifts to charity
Charities rely on donations for their survival. But before you hand over money to your favourite cause, it’s worth considering whether, for tax purposes, it would be better coming from you or your company?
DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY - 23.06.2011
Directors must pay the costs of losing a case
By and large, when acting on the company’s behalf, directors can hide behind the “corporate veil”. However, in a recent case the court made a costs order against them personally. Why did they come unstuck?
DIRECTORS’ TAX - 23.06.2011
Pool car trouble
Neither tax nor NI is payable where you use a company “pool car”, but this exemption is subject to tough restrictions. In a recent case the tax tribunal had to consider how these applied to a director. What’s the full story?
COMPANY LAW - 23.06.2011
Annual filing to be scrapped!
All limited companies must file annual accounts with Companies House. But this requirement might soon be scrapped for some. What’s happening?
FIRE SAFETY - 21.06.2011
Where’s the fire engine?
A number of Fire & Rescue Services (FRS) have stopped responding to automatic fire alarm (AFA) systems at certain times of the day. What’s prompted this move and how might it affect you?
COSHH - 21.06.2011
Why do chemicals have new labels?
You’ve noticed that different warning signs have started to appear on chemical packaging. They’re red and black as opposed to orange and black. Why is this and what do they mean?
CONSTRUCTION - 21.06.2011
What’s in store for the construction industry?
The HSE recently announced its programme for dealing with construction health and safety. What are the main elements of its plan for 2011/12 and how could it affect you?
HSE - 21.06.2011
How the HSE responds to complaints
The HSE has recently published details on its website explaining how it will deal with workplace health and safety complaints. What is its policy and how could it affect you?
WORKPLACE - 21.06.2011
Using generators in confined areas
A recent case concerned a tragic death from carbon monoxide poisoning. It was a tragedy not only due to the loss of life, but because it was entirely avoidable. What happened?
WORK AT HEIGHT - 21.06.2011
Resident fell through access hole
A council has been heavily fined following an incident which caused the death of an elderly lady. What happened and what does the accident tell us about managing work at height?
H&S MANAGEMENT - 21.06.2011
New to the job?
According to the HSE, workers are most likely to have an accident during their first six months at a new workplace. Why is this?
RECRUITMENT - 20.06.2011
Recruit online to avoid (hefty) agency fees
You need to hire a new employee. However, you also want to avoid paying out a large fee to a recruitment agency. Could the Internet provide the solution? If so, which websites could you try and what are the likely costs involved?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - OLDER WORKERS - 20.06.2011
Workplace mentors: how can you benefit?
Younger staff often think that their older colleagues are “behind the times”. But this group of employees has something money can’t buy: life and work experience. So how can you benefit from them becoming workplace mentors?
EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS - 20.06.2011
Stricter rules for compensation payments
When calculating compensation, the tribunal can take into account all future financial losses. However, a new Court of Appeal ruling has laid down clear guidelines that appear to curb this power. What’s the latest?
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS - 20.06.2011
When should(n’t) employees be suspended?
An incident has occurred between two employees and you’re now faced with a disciplinary investigation. Under what circumstances is it acceptable to suspend one, or both, of them, and how does this work?
EMPLOYMENT STATUS - 20.06.2011
Dismissal due to uncertain immigration status
Some uncertainty has arisen over an employee’s immigration status - if they’re working here illegally, you’re looking at a £10,000 fine. But if you dismiss them, it may lead to a tribunal claim. Are you stuck between a rock and a hard place?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 20.06.2011
Here’s (y)our new anti-bribery policy
The Bribery Act 2010 finally comes into force on July 1 2011. From then on, businesses should have “adequate procedures” designed to prevent bribery, which staff must follow. So how can an anti-bribery policy help you?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 20.06.2011
Sickness absence and sex problems
Apparently, women take 49 days’ more sick leave than men. But how can you tackle this tricky problem without it triggering a sex discrimination claim?
LEGISLATION - WASTE - 16.06.2011
The Waste Regulations 2011
New waste management regulations recently came into force across England and Wales. What do they cover and what, if any, will be their impact on your business?
ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS - 16.06.2011
Smelly prosecution
A waste management company in south London was recently fined £65,000 after breaching its environmental permits and ignoring attempts by the Environment Agency (EA) to help remedy the situation. What happened?
LEGISLATION - 16.06.2011
A green deal?
More details have been released about the Energy Bill, which include plans to force landlords to green their properties, as well as details of how the long-awaited Green Deal mechanism will work. What do you need to know?
PACKAGING - 16.06.2011
Aluminium packaging stakes its claim
You’ve heard that using metal packaging products, such as tins and metal containers, is a cheaper and greener option than plastic alternatives. So is there a case for using metals instead of other products?
ENERGY MANAGEMENT - 16.06.2011
Managing energy demands at peak times
A number of companies are promising to pay businesses to reduce their energy usage at peak periods to support the National Grid. How does this work, and should you take advantage of it?
MICRO-GENERATION - 16.06.2011
Free electricity if you want it
A new scheme is promising to provide free electricity to small businesses and homeowners. Is this offer really as good as it seems and, if so, how can you take advantage of it?
POLLUTION - 16.06.2011
Dealing with spills
The Environment Agency (EA) has updated the guidance material that describes how spills should be dealt with. What does it advise?
CONTRACTS - 14.06.2011
Is it an “agreement to agree” or a “contract”?
The directors have agreed that the company will enter into a contract with a third party. Some of the main terms have been set out in writing. Is this enough to form a valid contract or just an indication of what might be?
INSURANCE - 14.06.2011
Cutting the cost of liability insurance
The renewal quote for the company’s liability insurance has just come in. Like most things, the cost has gone up, not down. What could the directors do to reduce the premium without jeopardising the level of protection?
PERSONNEL - 14.06.2011
Watch what you say about ex-employees!
Any reference about an ex-employee must be “fair, accurate and truthful”. But following a High Court case, this level of care should now be exercised in all communications about them. What do the directors need to know?
EXPENSES - 14.06.2011
Are company start-up costs tax deductible?
Setting up a new business can be expensive. Worse still, in some circumstances no tax deduction will be due. What action can you take to avoid losing out to the Taxman?
DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY - 14.06.2011
New waste regulations for businesses
You’ve heard that the waste handling regulations were changed recently and the new rules will affect most companies. What steps do you need to take to stay on the right side of the law?
FINANCE - 14.06.2011
A cash injection for your company
Despite the banks relaxing their rules, borrowing is still not easy for companies. But might your pension fund and trade premises be the key to providing a cash injection for your business?
CORPORATION TAX - 14.06.2011
Company tax return trouble
The recent cut in Corporation Tax rates has caught the Taxman on the hop; this might lead to trouble submitting your company’s tax return. What’s the full story?
CAPITAL ALLOWANCES - 14.06.2011
New AIA rules include a trap
The annual investment allowance (AIA) is being slashed from £100,000 to just £25,000 from April next year. But the new rules contain a trap which means the new lower limit is already taking effect. Can you take steps to avoid this?
INHERITANCE TAX - 14.06.2011
Property valuations targeted by the Taxman
A major firm of accountants claims that the Taxman is turning his attention to estates which include houses and other property. He’s arguing up the value and consequently the tax bill. How can you protect yourself against this latest attack?
CORPORATION TAX - 14.06.2011
Tax efficient groups of companies
One drawback of running your business through a company is that where it makes losses, these can’t be used to reduce the tax bills of other businesses you own. How can forming a corporate group help?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 14.06.2011
Minimising CGT on the sale of your company
Where some of the money you gain from selling your company is deferred until future profits are known, you’ll still have to pay tax on it as if it were received all at once. This can also mean a higher tax bill. Can you dodge either of these traps?
EXPENSES - 14.06.2011
Staying away at the Taxman’s expense
One of our subscribers wanted to cut the cost of his site-based employees staying away for months at a time. Renting a house seems a cheaper alternative to hotels, but would this expense result in a tax bill for the employees?
LOANS - 14.06.2011
How not to lose tax relief on a business loan
Two years ago you started a company with a few colleagues. You all agreed to inject some money to get it started, but now you need the money for something else. You could just borrow it, but is there a more tax-efficient alternative?
PAYE - 14.06.2011
Hidden PAYE penalties
Fears are growing that the Taxman is about to launch a barrage of PAYE-related penalties on unsuspecting businesses. Is your company in the firing line?
WEB SERVICES - MISCELLANEOUS - 10.06.2011
Annotating webpages
During your Web surfing you will often stumble upon interesting information. The new Scrible service helps you to annotate webpages before forwarding them to colleagues or friends.
WEB SERVICES - MISCELLANEOUS - 10.06.2011
Checklists with a reminder function
Lots of handy checklists and task planners are available on the Internet. The new Checklist.com combines the two. How does it work and how good is this newcomer?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COMMUNITIES - 10.06.2011
Show your face on the Internet
Your profile photo on social networks gives a first impression of who you are and what you stand for. It’s therefore important to provide a good profile photo which can also serve as your personal logo.
INTERNET CONNECTION - MOBILE INTERNET - 10.06.2011
Don’t give away your location
Your smartphone not only allows you to go online everywhere, it can also track your location. This means that apps can provide location-based services or information. Great, but this isn’t without any risks…
SOFTWARE - PHOTOGRAPHY - 10.06.2011
Original photo collages
Suppose you want to turn some photos - for instance of your products or your staff - into a shape or a logo but you don’t have professional photo-editing software. Can the free Shape Collage help you? We did the test.
SOFTWARE - PRINTING - 10.06.2011
Printing webpages
The Internet is a treasure trove of information, but printing interesting webpages isn’t always easy. The PrintWhatYouLike webtool used to help you, but it has now disappeared. So we went in search of a good alternative…
SECURITY - BACKUPS - 10.06.2011
Free backup and synchronisation tools
There are two truths about backups: firstly, they are the best method for preventing data loss and, secondly, nobody likes them. So here’s some free software which does the job for you.
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 10.06.2011
Your inbox sorted automatically
Do you lose a great deal of time inspecting and sorting your mailbox in order to locate the most important messages? SaneBox does this for you automatically. How does it work?
SECURITY - BACKUPS - 10.06.2011
Making backups and syncs with LiveKive
AVG, the provider of free antivirus tools, recently launched a new service, LiveKive, which offers both backup services and online storage space. How useful is this newcomer?
SOFTWARE - BROWSERS - 10.06.2011
First aid for Web exasperation!
We are all confronted with major or minor annoyances during our Web surfing sessions every day. We’ve looked at the five most common and found a possible remedy for each.
CONSUMER - ONLINE SHOPPING - 10.06.2011
Looking for bargains
With austerity measures across the board, people are looking for bargains more than ever. We check out how you can find them online.
FIRE SAFETY - 08.06.2011
Management errors linked to care home deaths
As we reported previously, the root cause of the fatal Rosepark carehome fire has been traced back to its construction. But the inquiry also cited management failures as a major contributing factor. What’s the story?
WORKPLACE - 08.06.2011
Do British Standards matter?
British Standards don’t have the same status as legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, so do you need to take any notice of them? A recent case highlights their importance.
WORKPLACE - SIGNAGE - 08.06.2011
Do you have to replace your safety signs?
You’ve received an e-mail from a safety sign company which claims that your signs are likely to become illegal very shortly. It states that you will need to replace all of them. Is there any truth in this?
RISK ASSESSMENT - 08.06.2011
What can you leave out?
When you first completed a risk assessment, you found that you had recorded risks which, in truth, aren’t likely to result in accidents. Do you need to keep these in or should you cut them out?
PENALTIES - 02.06.2011
Saving penalties
When you send in a late VAT return you could find yourself subject to one of the VATman’s famous penalties. What tactics, if any, can you employ to get the VATman ruled offside?
SAMPLES - 02.06.2011
VAT refund on samples
Following a European decision last year, VAT law on samples is being amended to help businesses. The change won’t be made until the summer but the VATman says you can take advantage of it now. What should you be doing?
IRRECOVERABLE VAT - 02.06.2011
Making use of other taxes
It may not be fair but you can’t always recover all the VAT on your costs. But there are ways of offsetting these costs against other taxes - so what do you need to do?
INSPECTIONS - 02.06.2011
Dealing with an unwelcome visitor
It’s always a worrying time for a business when the VATman comes to call, even if you’ve had plenty of notice. So what’s the best way to deal with him and how much power does he really have?
