2014 -
November
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - 28.11.2014
EMS - not working for you
Research suggests nine out of ten firms with an environmental management system (EMS) have one that’s not fit for purpose. Might this apply to you and, if it does, what should you be doing to rectify the situation?
ENERGY SAVING - 28.11.2014
Resource efficiency service launched in Wales
The Welsh government has launched a new service to help businesses save energy, waste and water. What is it, how will it help, and what’s in store for England and Scotland?
DOCUMENTATION - 28.11.2014
Agency allowed to keep copies of documents
The case of Environment Agency v Churngold Recycling Ltd 2014 concerned an appeal against an order to give back documents taken by the Environment Agency (EA) during an investigation. What happened?
WASTE - 28.11.2014
Understanding your duty of care for waste
Dealing with waste isn’t a straightforward affair. To help you understand your legal duties, we’ve created a new guidance note which summarises what you need to do and when. How should you use it?
ENERGY SAVING - 28.11.2014
Legal duty to look at energy-saving opportunities
To comply with a European Directive the government is introducing the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). Is this likely to affect your business and, if so, how should you comply with it?
FLORA AND FAUNA - 28.11.2014
Powers to deal with invasive plants
A reform of anti-social behaviour powers has given police and local councils new tools to deal with invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed. What’s the latest on this?
ENFORCEMENT - 28.11.2014
Paying the price for non-compliance
The Environment Agency (EA) is looking to raise money to fund its activities. What’s planned and how might you be affected?
SHARE SCHEMES - 28.11.2014
Are you up to date with the latest EMI changes?
Your company uses the enterprise management incentive (EMI) scheme to reward key employees. You’ve heard that HMRC has made changes and you’re worried you might have missed something important. What do you need to know?
CORPORATION TAX - 28.11.2014
Dealing (tax efficiently) with a failing investment
A few years ago you set up a company to invest in other businesses. One of them has struggled and you’re undecided whether or not to pull the plug on your investment. If you go ahead what’s the most tax-efficient way to do it?
DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION - 28.11.2014
Are company-paid-for personal bills taxable?
Your company paid a few of your personal bills last month. Your bookkeeper says HMRC rules clearly say the payments are taxable benefits. But can’t you just pay the money back when you can afford to and avoid the tax and NI?
PENSIONS - 28.11.2014
Pension flexibility - taxing lump sums
HMRC’s updated guide to the new pension regime shows possible drawbacks for those reaching 55 after the rules take effect. What’s the full story?
VAT - 28.11.2014
The pros and cons of charging VAT on buildings
You’re buying new premises for your business. VAT is payable on the price, but you’ll only have to fund this until you reclaim it on your next VAT return. However, why do you need to think beyond this?
EXPENSES - 28.11.2014
Are you claiming enough IR35 deductions?
During a business records check a tax inspector told one of our subscribers that he wasn’t claiming sufficient tax deductions from IR35 income. Apparently, it’s a common problem. What exactly are you entitled to claim?
PERSONAL TAX - 28.11.2014
When can you claim special relief?
The time limit for claiming most tax deductions and reliefs, or to reclaim an overpayment, is four years from the 31 January following the end of a tax year. Are there situations when you can extend this window?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE STORAGE - 26.11.2014
OneDrive: better and better
You can now store very large files at Microsoft’s OneDrive. In addition, this cloud service offers several useful functions which make life easier for you. We put them to the test.
PERSONAL WEBSITE - SITE DESIGN - 26.11.2014
Forms for your website
VizzualForms helps you to create a form on your company website. This could be useful for online orders or feedback from your customers. How good is the tool?
SECURITY - MISCELLANEOUS - 26.11.2014
Selling your computer? Don’t forget to deauthorise it!
Of course you know that you should clear all your data and programs when selling or disposing of your computer. But you shouldn’t forget to “deauthorise” it either. What does this mean?
SOFTWARE - BROWSER - 26.11.2014
Make optimum use of the “autofill” feature
Thanks to your browser’s autocomplete or autofill function, you don’t need to type the same information time and time again. But how do you configure this feature for the best results?
COMPUTER - TABLETS - 26.11.2014
Which tablet should you choose?
The tablet market is expanding constantly: almost all hardware manufacturers have tablets in their range, and new models are added every day. How can you see the wood for the trees? What are the differences and similarities?
SOFTWARE - ANDROID - 26.11.2014
Lollipop, the new Android flavour
The latest version of Android is called Android 5.0 Lollipop. What are the improvements? And what are the differences with the previous Android version, 4.x?
BUSINESS - APPLICATIONS - 26.11.2014
Apps for SMEs
The world is awash with apps and many of them can help SMEs and the self-employed to be more productive. We look at what’s on offer.
E-MAIL - MOBILE - 26.11.2014
More efficient e-mailing on your iPhone or iPad
You probably use the built-in Mail app on your iPhone or iPad. Did you know that there are lots of alternative e-mail clients too? What are their advantages and disadvantages?
E-MAIL - WEBMAIL - 26.11.2014
Outlook.com: it’s improved with age
The webmail service Outlook.com used to be dwarfed by Gmail, but it has improved in recent years. Therefore, it’s high time for a new look.
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 26.11.2014
Better file management with alternative Explorers
You probably use Windows Explorer every day. However, there are alternatives which allow you to manage files and folders more efficiently and which offer extra options. Which of these tools are really useful?
WEB SERVICES - VIDEOCONFERENCING - 26.11.2014
Discuss videos during your videoconference
We previously reviewed various videoconferencing tools for communicating remotely with customers, colleagues, business partners, etc. Some services even let you watch videos during your conversations. How useful is this?
CORPORATION TAX - 26.11.2014
What a difference a day makes
It’s well known that HMRC has twelve months from the filing date to raise an enquiry into a corporation tax return, but does this actually end on the anniversary of the filing date or the day before?
TAX-EFFICIENT INVESTMENTS - 26.11.2014
Getting the EIS income tax relief to work in practice
With more and more clients shunning aggressive tax planning, being able to advise on mainstream solutions such as EIS income tax relief, and how these can be inadvertently lost, is increasingly important. What key information do you need?
INVESTIGATIONS - 26.11.2014
Benchmarking - HMRC’s latest tactic
In an effort to reduce errors being made by businesses in their accounts, HMRC has begun publishing net profit ratio benchmark ranges it expects trades to fall within. Do you know how your clients compare?
EMPLOYMENT STATUS - 26.11.2014
Is “control” the key to employment status?
Control, and the right of control, has been the focus of several 2014 employment status tax cases in which the taxpayer has won against HMRC. What are the key points from these cases that will help when advising your clients?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 26.11.2014
PRR - what evidence is needed?
A case on private residence relief illustrates the kind of evidence needed to support a main residence exemption. What should clients be compiling?
PAYE - 26.11.2014
How should clients deal with negative taxable earnings?
There is often a clawback provision in bonus plans which could lead to an employee ending up with negative taxable earnings. Whether tax relief is available on this was considered in a 2014 case. What do clients need to know?
BANKING - 25.11.2014
Obsolete and counterfeit banknotes
Having checked the daily takings you’ve noticed that some of the banknotes don’t look quite right. On closer inspection, one appears to be fake and another is no longer in circulation. What, if anything, can you do?
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - 25.11.2014
Surveyors: what’s the scope of their valuation?
You’re applying for finance to develop land and commercial property. The bank now requires a valuation by a surveyor and is expecting you to pay for that report. Can you hold the surveyor liable if their valuation is wrong?
INHERITANCE TAX - 25.11.2014
Inheriting the family company tax efficiently
When you transfer ownership of your family company, as long as conditions are met, special tax breaks apply so that tax isn’t triggered. It’s vital your family understands these or the tax breaks can be lost. What does it need to know?
VAT - 25.11.2014
Is your company ready for MOSS?
If you sell services via the Internet to EU customers, you can now sign up to HMRC’s mini one stop shop (MOSS). What is it and why should you use it?
DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY - 25.11.2014
A criminal record for borrowing from your company?
In April 2014 the Financial Conduct Authority took over regulation of consumer credit and promised to take a tough line on firms that flout the rules. Could your director’s loan account land you in trouble?
COMPANY LAW - 25.11.2014
Can your company buy back shares from employees?
To take advantage of tax incentives you gave some of your employees shares in your company. They now want out and have asked you to buy their shares. The trouble is you don’t have the cash. Can your company buy them back instead?
FORK LIFT TRUCKS - 21.11.2014
Avoiding fork lift truck mouse traps
Fork lift trucks are one of the biggest causes of fatal workplace accidents. In almost all cases the driver is “mouse trapped”. What does this mean and how can you prevent such incidents on your premises?
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES - 21.11.2014
Warning - hazardous substances
You keep small quantities of chemicals along with petrol and diesel. Is there a requirement to display signs on your storeroom doors? If so, given that there is a choice of styles available, which should you choose?
CONTRACTORS - 21.11.2014
Following a client’s wishes
Although you’ve always been under the impression that it was up to you to identify safe systems of work, some of your larger clients are insisting that you follow their ways of working instead. Should you stand your ground or go with the flow?
LEGIONELLA - 21.11.2014
How to clean your showers
You’ve heard that you should regularly clean shower heads to prevent Legionnaires’ disease, but you’re unsure which parts need to be cleaned, how often and in what manner. What are the answers?
WORKPLACE - 21.11.2014
Upgrading existing steps
You might assume that if a building was constructed to the standards of its day, you don’t have to alter it. However, the prosecution of Repton School shows that this isn’t the case. What happened and why was the school at fault?
FIRST AID - 21.11.2014
What is hydraulic injection injury?
In September 2014 the HSE issued a safety alert following a fatal injury to a mechanic. It highlights that injuries which look like a simple pinprick may have fatal consequences. What should your staff be aware of?
ENFORCEMENT - 21.11.2014
Caught on camera
Thanks to mobile phone technology and concerned individuals, inspectors are being alerted when safety standards aren’t being met. What’s to know?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 20.11.2014
Unfairly dismissed for giving out tomato plants
When an employee gave out homegrown tomato plants to all but one colleague, he was accused of favouritism and subsequently sacked. The tribunal has now held that it was an unfair dismissal. Why?
RETIREMENT - 20.11.2014
Retirement plans: here’s my resignation!
Whilst you can’t enquire about an older employee’s intention to retire, you may encourage them to keep you informed of their plans. Is there any way to ensure an advance notice of retirement is a binding resignation?
PAYSLIPS - 20.11.2014
Deductions from wages must be properly itemised
An employee is entitled to receive an itemised statement of pay on, or before, their pay date which sets out their gross and net pay amounts. When it comes to the actual deductions made, what information must you provide?
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION - 20.11.2014
Disability: can you rely on medical opinion?
You’ve referred an employee to an independent medical professional whose report has concluded that they aren’t disabled under the Equality Act 2010. Is their opinion sufficient for you to defend a disability discrimination claim?
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS - 20.11.2014
Settlement agreement: keep negotiations confidential
Once a settlement agreement is signed by both parties, its terms are strictly confidential. However, before this happens, you won’t want an employee divulging your discussions to anyone who will listen. How can this be prevented?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 20.11.2014
Where is the Health and Work Service?
The government previously said that the Health and Work Service would start being phased in from October 2014. But at the end of November 2014 there’s still no sign of it. What’s going on?
MOTIVATION - 20.11.2014
Is a “punctuality bonus” a good idea?
In November 2014 it was reported that one employer, SilverDoor, pays its employees £150 for each month where they have a 100% punctuality record. Is such an incentive a good or bad idea?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 13.11.2014
Electing to pay CGT can save tax
You transferred your sole trader business to a company and soon after received an offer to buy its shares. The trouble is selling now will mean losing entrepreneurs’ relief (ER). Why and what steps can you take to preserve it?
PAYE - 13.11.2014
Improved RTI reporting
HMRC has made changes to its RTI employer payment summaries (EPSs). When and how might these affect your company’s PAYE reports?
CORPORATION TAX - 13.11.2014
Repaying your director’s loan account
Your company’s financial year ends on 31 December and your director’s loan account is in deficit. To avoid this triggering a tax bill for your company, you could take a bonus to clear the debt. What’s the most tax-efficient way to handle this?
PROPERTY - 13.11.2014
Maximising capital allowances on holiday lets
If you let out a property as a holiday home and meet the right conditions, you can claim capital allowances as a deduction against the rent you receive. But where do you stand if you meet the conditions only some of the time?
PENSIONS - 13.11.2014
How will auto-enrolment affect your business?
Pensions auto-enrolment has been a fact of life for large companies for over a year. It’s now starting to affect smaller businesses. Before your company gets involved are there any tax issues you should consider?
CARS - 13.11.2014
When is company-paid-for fuel tax efficient?
Pump prices are down; in fact, fuel is cheaper than it was in 2011. Despite this, the tax charge where your business pays for fuel that you use for private journeys in a company car has steadily increased. Can it ever be tax efficient?
VAT - 13.11.2014
Reclaiming VAT on employees’ expenses
When you or your employees are out on business, you might incur out of pocket expenses such as car park charges for which you don’t receive a proper invoice. Can your company reclaim the VAT?
PERSONNEL - 13.11.2014
Company property: that’s your dough!
The courts have ordered an employee who intentionally damaged machinery worth £27,000 to reimburse his employer for the repair costs. How can you ensure employees pay for any damage they cause, accidental or otherwise?
COMPANY TAX - 13.11.2014
HMRC scraps IR35 guidance
HMRC has decided to ditch its business entity tests (BETs) for IR35, but not until April 2015. So how should you respond if HMRC asks a question of your company between now and then?
COMPANIES HOUSE - 13.11.2014
Companies House now on GOV.UK
The Companies House (CH) website and its online services have now moved to the GOV.UK portal. Its new homepage is up and running there, but what’s the problem?
EXPENSES - 13.11.2014
When are business travel costs tax deductible?
As the company’s sales director you spend a lot of money wining and dining customers. However, HMRC doesn’t allow a tax deduction for this, but there are exceptions to the rule. When do they apply?
DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY - 13.11.2014
Intellectual Property Act 2014: new criminal offences
A fellow director has heard that the Intellectual Property Act 2014 introduced new criminal offences in relation to registered designs. What’s changed and how can you stay on the right side of the law?
INSURANCE - 13.11.2014
D&O insurance: can you go to the Ombudsman?
If you have an unresolved complaint with a personal insurance provider, it can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). But what if you’re unhappy about your directors and officers (D&O) cover? Can it deal with that too?
HOUSEKEEPING - 10.11.2014
The best way to remove wood dust
You’ve always insisted that your workshop area is swept clean at the end of the working day, but one of your employees says it shouldn’t be done with a brush. Is he right to be concerned?
ASBESTOS - 10.11.2014
Beware asbestos
The HSE has launched a website dedicated to managing risks associated with asbestos. What’s covered and is it worth a look?
ACCIDENT BOOK - 10.11.2014
Accident reporting: dispelling the myths
You thought that keeping an accident book was a legal requirement, but you’ve heard that small employers are exempt. What are the rules on accident records and what must you do to comply with them?
SAFE USE OF MACHINERY - 10.11.2014
Drills, don’t get drawn in
Two firms have been prosecuted within the space of a few days for accidents involving pillar drills. What failings did the employers have in common and how can you save your staff from being injured in the same manner?
REGULAR FIRE SAFETY CHECK record - 10.11.2014
Record your fire checks
You’re under a legal requirement to complete regular checks on fire alarms, extinguishers etc. Use our new document to keep a record of what you’ve done and when. How is it set out?
WORKPLACE TRANSPORT - 10.11.2014
Driving up standards
In October 2014 the HSE published the third edition of its guidance on workplace transport, in the hope of making it easier for businesses to understand what’s needed when organising on-site transport routes. What’s to know?
LADDERS - 10.11.2014
Can a brand new ladder be faulty?
A civil case heard by the Scottish Court of Session in October 2014 highlighted some interesting points about ladder condition. What happened and where, if at all, did the employer go wrong?
PRICE COMPARISON - 07.11.2014
Can you trust PCWs?
Price comparison websites (PCWs) are an important way of easily comparing prices of many products and services. But can they all be trusted?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE STORAGE - 07.11.2014
Working even more efficiently with Dropbox
Dropbox (2GB free, 1TB for £7.90 per month) is undoubtedly the most popular cloud-storage service. Besides its own excellent app, there are various other tools and apps which add handy options to the service.
SECURITY - PASSWORDS - 07.11.2014
Share your passwords safely
“Never share your password” is excellent advice. Still, you may sometimes have to share a password (temporarily) with a colleague, family member or friend. How do you do this safely?
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 07.11.2014
Improve your e-mail efficiency
You will probably be applying different methods for processing your e-mail efficiently - think of the “Inbox Zero” principle. The following tips help you to improve your e-mail use even more.
TELEPHONY - SMARTPHONE - 07.11.2014
Why use an alternative iPhone keyboard?
Thanks to iOS 8, it’s now possible to use alternative virtual keyboards on your iPhone or iPad display. How do these keyboards compare with the built-in iOS 8 keyboard?
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 07.11.2014
Creating mind maps using MindMup
“Mind mapping” lets you organise and visualise your business ideas in a clear way. You can do so on paper, but also via a dedicated tool. We put the new MindMup to the test.
COMPUTER - TROUBLESHOOTING - 07.11.2014
My PC won’t boot!
When you turn your computer on you expect the Windows login screen to appear a few seconds later. What if you don’t see anything at all or at best some confusing error messages?
