2015 -
April
VAT - 30.04.2015
Maximising your claim for pre-registration VAT
It’s common for new businesses to incur hefty start-up costs. While you can claim a tax deduction from profits for these, tricky rules mean you might not be entitled to reclaim all the VAT. What steps can you take to maximise the VAT recovery?
INHERITANCE TAX - 30.04.2015
Is tax planning allowed under a power of attorney?
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) can be helpful for, say, an elderly person unable to handle their finances. However, this can curtail tax planning during their lifetime and through their will. What tax-saving steps can you take?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 30.04.2015
Is cash in your company a no-go for ER?
If you retire and sell the shares in your company, HMRC will usually approve your claim for entrepreneurs’ relief (ER). But if your company has investments on its books, you might be turned down. Why and what can you do about it?
PROPERTY - 30.04.2015
A rental income trap for couples
HMRC’s rules on jointly owned rental income can be tricky. For example, it’s possible that the share of income on which each owner is taxed can change without their realising. When can this happen and how can it be avoided?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 30.04.2015
Celebrity tax avoidance
Yet another TV celebrity is being criticised for using a tax-saving scheme. What’s involved, is it legitimate and might it be something worth considering?
CARS - 30.04.2015
Can you make pool cars work for your business?
HMRC is notoriously sceptical about anyone claiming “pool” status for their company cars. Most therefore don’t bother trying. But with company tax set to rise yet again, is it worth reconsidering?
CORPORATION TAX - 30.04.2015
Associated companies - do they still exist?
1 April 2015 ushered in a new tax era for companies. For the first time in decades there’s a single corporation tax (CT) rate. So what’s happened to HMRC’s associated company rules and do they matter anymore?
OVERSEAS ISSUES - 29.04.2015
What’s new with Intrastat?
HMRC has published the results of a consultation on the future of Intrastat. What are they and how could your business be affected?
INSURANCE - 29.04.2015
VAT charged - guaranteed
You have every faith in the quality of the goods you sell, but like many businesses, you provide purchasers with a warranty for added peace of mind. Should you charge VAT on this?
INPUT TAX - TRAVEL EXPENSES - 29.04.2015
Claiming back VAT on business trips?
Like any business, you and your staff are often out on the road visiting clients, suppliers, attending events etc. Business travel is something of a soft target for HMRC so what can you claim back?
FLAT RATE SCHEME - 29.04.2015
What counts as a capital purchase?
If your business is operating on the flat rate scheme and it purchases a capital item, then you know you can claim back the VAT. But to take full advantage, what counts as a capital purchase?
BAD DEBT RELIEF - 29.04.2015
The good and bad of bad debt relief
When administering bad debt relief you have to be careful to claim the correct amount - but sometimes you can also have an unexpected windfall. What are the key things to know?
APPEALS - 29.04.2015
Appealing to tribunal
If you can’t resolve a dispute with HMRC, you have the right to appeal to an independent tribunal. What’s the procedure and what are the time limits to pay any assessment in advance of the appeal?
DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY - 29.04.2015
A director’s liability for employers’ liability insurance
Save for a few exceptions, companies employing staff must have adequate employers’ liability insurance (ELI). But suppose your cover turns out to be inadequate. Could an injured employee sue the directors personally?
CONSUMER LAW - 29.04.2015
The Consumer Rights Act 2015
On 1 October 2015 the Consumer Rights Act 2015 will replace existing legislation relating to the sale of goods and the supply of services. It will also give consumers more rights. How can you prepare for this major change?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 29.04.2015
Getting money from your growing business now
Your company is almost ten years old and doing well. You have no intention of retiring yet, but you would like to reap some of the growth in value now. What are your options?
TAX INVESTIGATIONS - 29.04.2015
What can HMRC ask you about your workers?
Your business might have an unblemished tax record, but HMRC’s interest doesn’t necessarily end there. These days it’s just as likely to ask questions about your workers. How should you respond?
VAT - 29.04.2015
Getting VAT back on employee expenses
Where a director, employee or contracted worker incurs expenses in their own name for which you reimburse them, you can claim a tax deduction against your profits. But can you also reclaim the VAT?
PERSONNEL - 29.04.2015
Insisting on sickness absence
A colleague is reviewing your sickness absence policy and wants to know if there are any situations where you can automatically force a sick employee to stay away from work. What’s the legal position here?
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - 28.04.2015
Do you need a fire prevention plan?
The Environment Agency (EA) wants businesses which store combustible waste to have a fire prevention plan. Does that include you?
MICRO-GENERATION - 28.04.2015
Movement on solar power
Investing in technology such as solar panels can work. However, decent returns on investment are usually only available to those who stay put for many years. Is this situation set to change?
GREEN INITIATIVES - 28.04.2015
Emission zones - Boris goes ultra low
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has confirmed the launch of the world’s first ultra low emission zone (ULEZ). What does it mean and what are the implications for delivery vehicles and London-based businesses?
WILDLIFE - 28.04.2015
Legislation to deal with invasive species
In March 2015 the Infrastructure Act 2015 received royal assent. Whilst it relates primarily to roads and infrastructure, it includes new powers regarding invasive species. What do you need to know?
VEHICLES - 28.04.2015
Second-hand market for electric cars
In 2014 we reported that bargains were available in the second-hand electric car market. However, these vehicles had big question marks over issues such as battery life. Are they now worth considering?
ENERGY CERTIFICATES - 28.04.2015
Minimum energy standards for rental properties
In April 2015 the government approved regulations which will force landlords to make their properties more energy efficient. What requirements do they introduce and when do they come into effect?
WASTE - 28.04.2015
Illegal scrap metal dealing - know the signs
The Environment Agency (EA) has been clamping down on unlicensed scrap metal dealers and vehicle dismantlers. What has it done, and as a potential customer of such businesses what do you need to know?
TELEPHONY - SMARTPHONE - 27.04.2015
Keep your Android start screen tidy
Most Android smartphone makers add so many bells and whistles to their devices that the home screen becomes too cluttered. How do you keep this screen as simple as possible for you or perhaps an older family member?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE OFFICE - 27.04.2015
Working more efficiently with Google Docs
Google Docs is Google’s free online office suite. Here are some useful tips and tricks for creating documents and spreadsheets faster and more efficiently in Google Docs.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE OFFICE - 27.04.2015
Create your presentations online
The days are long gone when you needed to install PowerPoint in order to create a presentation. Online services now make it possible to create presentations easily in the cloud and share them with others. Which are any good?
TRAVEL - MISCELLANEOUS - 27.04.2015
Taxi market is heating up
The arrival of SPLYT on the taxi app scene has increased the competition in a competitive market. We check out the main players.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE POLLS - 27.04.2015
SurveyMonkey revamped
Online surveys are efficient tools for informing you about, say, the wishes of your customers. SurveyMonkey, the handy webtool that helps you organise online surveys, was recently revamped. We tried out the new functions.
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 27.04.2015
Autocomplete addresses
The “autocomplete” function in your e-mail application starts suggesting addresses as soon as you’ve typed a couple of letters. How does this work and how can you control this feature?
PERSONAL WEBSITE - SITE PROMOTION - 27.04.2015
Automate Google AdWords
Google AdWords is a chargeable service which ensures that your website will appear at the top of the Google search results. The good news is that you can even automate this system.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COMMUNITIES - 27.04.2015
Make the most of your LinkedIn company page
We previously explained how you can create a LinkedIn page for your business. Here are a few more tips for making the most of such a company page and for promoting it.
SOFTWARE - MISCELLANEOUS - 27.04.2015
Discover the whole world with Google Earth Pro
As you know, the free Google Earth software lets you view the earth in 3D: cities, streets, oceans, etc. The Pro version has now become entirely free too. What exactly does Google Earth Pro have to offer?
SOFTWARE - OFFICE - 27.04.2015
Help: my Word document is corrupted!
Have you ever lost a Word document which you had been working on because it became corrupted when you saved it so you couldn’t open it? Here are some tips to help you.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COMMUNITIES - 27.04.2015
All your social media in one place
Is your business active on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter? If so it may be difficult to keep control of all the incoming and outgoing messages. Which tools can help you?
VIOLENCE AT WORK - 27.04.2015
Dealing with “Clarkson” moments
The incident involving Jeremy Clarkson has brought workplace violence into the news. What should you be doing to manage the risks?
WORK AT HEIGHT - 27.04.2015
What to tie on to when working at height
If you’re having work carried out by abseilers, they will obviously need to fix their ropes to something solid. Is it OK if they use existing fixings on the roof such as a cleaning cradle track?
SAFE USE OF MACHINERY - 27.04.2015
Ride-on machine ran out of control
Ride-on cleaning machines operate at a low speed yet, as shown by a case heard in February 2015, they can still present a risk to both driver and pedestrians. What happened and how could the accident have been prevented?
H&S MANAGEMENT - 27.04.2015
Health and safety reforms - how are they going?
The government has given itself top marks for the programme of health and safety reforms delivered in the parliamentary term ending 30 March 2015. What’s changed and is there more to come?
CONSTRUCTION - 27.04.2015
Planning construction work
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require contractors to produce a construction phase plan (CPP) for all jobs. What does this entail and what’s the best way of producing one?
WORKPLACE - 27.04.2015
Are your pipes burning hot?
It’s a hazard which may not be obvious but, as this case from early 2015 shows, hot pipes can be a killer. How did they cause such a serious outcome in this instance and when must you take action to prevent a similar occurence?
FIRE SAFETY - 27.04.2015
Does your fire contractor need third party certification?
You’ve heard that when selecting a contractor to carry out fire safety work, such as installing an alarm system, you should check they have “third party certification”. What does this mean and, if it’s necessary, how can it be verified?
DEDUCTIONS - 23.04.2015
Deductions from wages claims
From 1 July 2015 employees will no longer be able to issue unrestricted deductions from wages claims, such as for unpaid wages and holiday pay. How are their rights going to be curbed?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 23.04.2015
A fit note for one day’s sickness absence
In April 2015 there were reports about a doctor who wrote an amusing letter when an employee was asked to produce medical evidence for one day’s sickness absence. What are the rules regarding the issue of fit notes?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 23.04.2015
Drugs test dismissal costs employer £84,000
The tribunal has awarded a former bus driver who tested positive for cocaine £84,000 compensation. What did the employer do wrong which meant that the employee’s dismissal was unfair?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 23.04.2015
Social media: please remove your comments!
You’ve been tipped off about a former employee who has posted offensive comments about your business and certain managers on social media. What action, if any, can you take?
RECRUITMENT - 23.04.2015
Jobs with “genuine occupational requirements”
As a general rule, employers can’t aim job ads at a particular group - they must be open to everyone. However, this rule doesn’t apply where a role has a “genuine occupational requirement”. Where might this arise?
AGE DISCRIMINATION - 23.04.2015
“Santa” loses age discrimination claim
An employee in his 50s, who was described as “being stuck in his ways” and asked to dress up as Santa, has lost his age discrimination claim. Does that mean that it’s OK to make age-related references?
PAY - 23.04.2015
Pay cuts to avoid redundancies
Sometimes it will be possible to avoid redundancies by implementing a pay reduction. However, you can’t simply impose a pay cut on your employees - you must have their express consent first. How can this be obtained?
CAPITAL ALLOWANCES - 16.04.2015
How to double your business’s AIA
Currently, the annual investment allowance (AIA) is set at a record high of £500,000, but it’s due to fall to just £25,000 from 1 January 2016. Is there anything you can do to improve on this?
HMRC - 16.04.2015
HMRC’s latest digital revolution
To coincide with the new tax year HMRC has launched new digital services. What are they and who can use them?
EXPENSES - 16.04.2015
Entertaining - don’t miss out on tax deductions
Whether you’re planning a summer ball or a more modest event to promote your business, the Taxman’s guidance says you can’t claim a deduction for the cost. But is this always correct?
INHERITANCE TAX - 16.04.2015
What’s really happened to tax on inherited pensions
Once again the national press is awash with articles suggesting that since 5 April 2015 you can pile your money into pensions to avoid IHT. In fact, most pension savings weren’t liable to IHT anyway. So what has changed?
LOANS - 16.04.2015
Directors’ loans - dodging a tax trap
Several years ago you injected your own cash into your company, but now you need some back. Your accountant says that where your company repays part of what it owes you it can trigger a tax charge. Why, and how can it be avoided?
FINANCES - 16.04.2015
Child maintenance options
When a relationship breaks down child maintenance payments can come into play. However, the Child Support Agency - which was known to hound business owners - has been shut down. So what happens now?
LEGAL COMPLIANCE - 16.04.2015
Mandatory gender pay gap reports?
The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 has introduced mandatory gender pay gap reporting and fines for non-compliance. Will this affect your business?
BANKING - 16.04.2015
Time for a new company bank account?
In theory, opening a business bank account is straightforward. However, if you trade through a company it can be more tricky than you might think. What’s the problem and how can you work around it?
CONTRACTS - 16.04.2015
Inconsistent order methods and your T&Cs
Let’s suppose your company has done business with another for years and, during that time, orders have been placed in different ways. What impact does this have on your standard terms and conditions (T&Cs) of business?
TAX - 16.04.2015
HMRC’s new benefits in kind exemption
A new tax exemption has been drafted to replace the current concession for certain staff perks, but a late change to the proposed rules has thrown a spanner in the works. When will you be able to take advantage of the new tax break?
PERSONNEL - 16.04.2015
Can you “sack” a self-employed worker?
Like many companies, the BBC often hires people who are self-employed. However, in its recent dealings with Jeremy Clarkson - who falls into this category - it gave the impression they can be sacked. Is that true?
COMPUTER - MISCELLANEOUS - 09.04.2015
Working more efficiently with your mouse
The computer mouse has been around for ages but is still used a great deal - even on laptops. Did you know that there are tools for increasing its efficiency?
SOFTWARE - PDF - 09.04.2015
Manage your PDF documents efficiently
The PDF format has become hugely popular. If you often work with PDF files, you will of course want to manage them efficiently and be able to retrieve and search them at any time. The following tools make this possible.
SOFTWARE - CALENDARS - 09.04.2015
A better calendar for your smartphone
The default calendar app on your smartphone will do for most purposes, but there are more versatile alternatives. For example, Google Calendar for iOS was released recently. Which ones are the best?
BUSINESS JOBS - 09.04.2015
Job searching for all
Two new websites that focus on job searches made us put the spotlight on that area. Here, we look at those new kids on the block and some competition.
SOFTWARE - OFFICE - 09.04.2015
Windows apps for efficient document management
It would seem that most Windows 8 users prefer working in the classic Windows interface. However, even for the “tile interface” there are a number of useful Windows apps for working with documents.
ENTERTAINMENT - PHOTOGRAPHY - 09.04.2015
Making better photos using alternative camera apps
The default camera apps in the most recent versions of iOS and Android are very versatile. However, dedicated apps have even more features on board. Which photography app should you use and when?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COMMUNITIES - 09.04.2015
How to advertise via your Facebook page
Via your business’s Facebook page, you can insert ads to highlight certain qualities and to reach more people in a targeted way. How do you go about doing this?
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 09.04.2015
Personalised mailings in Word
Suppose you have a large customer database and you would like to send a personalised e-mail message to each of them individually? With Excel, Word and Outlook you can create a “mail merge” list. How does it work in Office 2013?
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 09.04.2015
Manage e-mail notifications
In some cases you will want to be alterted to new e-mail instantly. In other cases, you will want to disable notifications so as not to be constantly distracted. How do you control your e-mail notifications?
BUSINESS - MISCELLANEOUS - 09.04.2015
Stand out with a striking logo
Are you looking for a logo for your business that will make you stand out from the crowd? There are several online services and tools which can assist you. We’ve checked them out.
REFERENCE WORKS - ENCYCLOPAEDIA - 09.04.2015
Better than Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is hugely popular as an online source of information, but quite often you will hear claims that the information it provides isn’t reliable. Are there other online reference works that can serve as alternatives?
ENFORCEMENT - 09.04.2015
More powers for magistrates’ courts
Changes to the legal system mean that fines for health and safety offences are likely to rise significantly. What’s to know?
WORK AT HEIGHT - 09.04.2015
Failure to assess work at height risks adequately
A case heard in March 2015 concerned an accident involving a surveyor who fell from a loft in a derelict building. What was wrong with her employer’s risk assessment and what could it have done to improve it?
CONTRACTORS - 09.04.2015
When your gardener’s subcontractor has an accident…
If your grounds maintenance contractor subs out the work that they were employed to do, could there be any comeback on you if there’s an accident and, if so, what should you do about it?
PPE - 09.04.2015
How to choose slip-resistant footwear
The Health and Safety Laboratory has been working on a new rating system for slip resistance in footwear. How does this work and is it something to use when purchasing new boots and shoes?
ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT/REPORTING - 09.04.2015
What’s the situation on “over three-day” accidents?
One of your staff recently had an accident and wasn’t able to work for three days. A colleague says the accident is “reportable” but you’re sure that that requirement went years ago. Who’s right?
WORK EQUIPMENT REMINDER CHECKLIST - 09.04.2015
Have you got everything?
If your staff work away from your premises, to enable them to follow the safe systems of work, they must have the correct tools for the job. Use our checklist to make sure that this happens.
