2015 -
July
NATIONAL INSURANCE - 09.07.2015
HMRC gets tougher on NI for landlords
The law relating to Class 2 National Insurance contributions changed in April 2015. What does this mean for landlords and what options are available if you receive a demand?
VAT - 09.07.2015
What’s changed with pre-registration VAT?
HMRC’s internal guidance on reclaiming pre-registration VAT now differs from the advice it gives in its public notices. Yet the legislation has remained the same for years. Which advice should you follow?
PAYE - 09.07.2015
2014/15 tax checks have started
HMRC has started checking to make sure those who pay tax through PAYE have paid enough for 2014/15. That’s good news if you’re due a refund, but where do you stand if you owe the Taxman?
BENEFITS IN KIND - 09.07.2015
Fit for Work changes rolled out
From autumn 2015 employers will be able to refer staff directly to the Fit for Work scheme to help get them back to work sooner. There’s also a related tax break. What is it and how does it operate?
REMUNERATION PLANNING - 09.07.2015
Vouchers - a more tax efficient way to pay staff?
One of your staff has suggested you offer retail vouchers as an alternative to salary increases this year. She assures you that they are a tax and NI-efficient form of remuneration. But what’s in it for you?
HMRC - 09.07.2015
HMRC - hello, is anybody there?
Following damning statistics showing record delays, HMRC’s phone services are to be improved. In the meantime is there a way to get a quicker response?
PERSONNEL - 08.07.2015
How to claw back your training costs
An employee recently completed a costly training course which you funded entirely. Despite this, they’ve just resigned to work for a competitor. Can you claw back the training costs you incurred from the employee?
LOANS - 08.07.2015
How to protect your business investment
You’re starting a new company with a couple of colleagues and you’ve each agreed to inject cash loans to get the business off the ground. What’s the best method of protecting your investment?
PAYE - 08.07.2015
Summer workers PAYE tax and NI trap
If you take on short-term workers and agree to pay them a cash in hand amount you could be letting yourself in for more than you realise. What’s the problem and how can you avoid it?
CONTRACTS - 08.07.2015
Legal tender and cash payments
In June 2015 there were reports about a bus driver who refused to accept a 60p fare partly in pennies and tuppences. Some gave the impression he had done something wrong. When can a payment in cash be refused?
EXPENSES - 08.07.2015
HMRC’s new expenses and benefits rules
In mid July 2015 the first major reform in years to the expenses and benefits in kind tax rules will become law. What are the changes and how are they likely to affect your business?
BUSINESS - SAFETY - 07.07.2015
A focus on health and safety
With the release of an app that helps SMEs to meet health and safety requirements, we’ve taken the opportunity to see how the Web can help in this area.
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 07.07.2015
Time is money
Time is a highly valuable asset for any professional. That is why the free Clocking IT webtool can help you keep track of deadlines for your projects. How does it work?
SOFTWARE - BROWSER - 07.07.2015
Switching browsers: what should you transfer?
Is your current browser becoming sluggish? Would you like to use the extra features offered by a different one? Switching between browsers is relatively simple, but the following tips will make it even easier.
TRAINING - MISCELLANEOUS - 07.07.2015
Learn to type as a pro
Your computer keyboard is part and parcel of your professional life. But do you use it efficiently? Here are some tools that teach you to type faster. In other words: back to school!
LEISURE - PHOTOGRAPHY - 07.07.2015
A common album for your (holiday) photos
Would you like to create an online photo album, for instance for photos of your latest trip with your friends, where others can post their photos too? Here are some of your options.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE CHAT - 07.07.2015
Better chatting with WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a very popular chat app with versions for various mobile platforms. How do you use WhatsApp optimally and safely, and how do you make a regular backup of all your chat messages?
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 07.07.2015
Scheduling meetings the easy way
If you often collaborate with other people - colleagues, customers, suppliers, etc. you will have found that everyone has a busy calendar, which makes scheduling a meeting a chore. How can you bring everyone together easily?
COMPUTER - SMARTPHONE - 07.07.2015
Smartphone or tablet says no. What can you do?
It may happen that your smartphone or tablet doesn’t respond when you hit the start button. Don’t panic: check out the following tips before heading to the computer shop.
SOFTWARE - SMARTPHONES - 07.07.2015
Switching from iOS to Android, or vice versa
Suppose your employer wants you to use a cheaper smartphone, or there’s another reason to switch from iOS to Android (or vice versa). This may be easier said than done. What is the most efficient method?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE FILMS - 07.07.2015
Watching films and TV series with Netflix
As a Netflix user you will of course know how easy it is to view films and TV series online. However, this can be done even more efficiently if you apply a couple of simple tricks.
E-MAIL - E-MAIL SOFTWARE - 07.07.2015
Beefing up Outlook or Thunderbird
Is your desktop e-mail software (e.g. Outlook or Thunderbird) becoming slower by the day? A frequent cause of this is a “polluted” index. What is it and what can you do about it?
COSHH - 03.07.2015
Simple COSHH assessments
The HSE has developed a tool that makes the process of identifying the risks associated with chemicals straightforward. Should you use it?
PPE - 03.07.2015
Flimsy footwear season
Now that the weather has warmed up your staff have started coming to work wearing shoes that are more suitable for the beach than a workplace. Are there any health and safety rules to consider?
CONFINED SPACES - 03.07.2015
Employee trapped inside machine
Tyre manufacturer Pirelli was prosecuted over the death of an employee found inside an industrial autoclave. How did the accident happen and what should have been done to prevent it?
ASBESTOS - 03.07.2015
Health surveillance required for asbestos work
In May 2015 the law changed so that workers undertaking notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW) on asbestos must have regular medical surveillance. If you’re affected what should be your response?
FORK LIFT TRUCKS - 03.07.2015
Employing a fork lift truck driver from overseas
Some of your applicants for a warehouse vacancy are migrants from other parts of Europe, including one who has a “fork lift truck licence”. Is this likely to be valid and are there other factors to consider in your recruitment process?
HEALTH AND SAFETY INDUCTION CHECKLIST - 03.07.2015
Safety training from day one
Providing a structured health and safety induction programme will set your new recruits off on the right foot. Use our template as a starting point to create your own checklist.
LIFTING OPERATIONS - 03.07.2015
Crane manufacturer in the dock over lifting errors
A case heard in June 2015 concerned the injury to an employee struck by a falling beam during a lifting operation. What actions should have been taken to prevent the accident?
INPUT TAX - 02.07.2015
Good news for charities
Changes in Budget 2015 will now allow charitable hospices to recover VAT relating to their non-business activities. What’s the full story?
PARTIAL EXEMPTION - 02.07.2015
Improve your VAT recovery
If yours is a partly exempt business you don’t have to include all of your exempt income in your partial exemption calculation. But what will HMRC let you leave out enabling you to maximise your VAT recovery?
DISBURSEMENTS - 02.07.2015
Does HMRC understand disbursements?
Disbursements is a subject that even trips up HMRC. Many businesses pay costs on behalf of their customers but when do they count as disbursements? What can you teach HMRC?
REGISTRATION - 02.07.2015
Look out for the registration trap
Registering a business for VAT has never been straightforward. But now you need to monitor any applications for VAT registration or you could fall foul of HMRC’s aggressive new attitude to penalties. What’s to know?
PAYMENTS - 02.07.2015
How to delay paying your VAT
If you supply services over prolonged periods and invoice periodically, you can take a few simple steps to postpone the payment of output tax and ease your cash flow. What are they?
PENALTIES - 02.07.2015
Do you have a reasonable excuse?
You know that if you send in your VAT return or payment late you will find yourself in the penalty regime. But can you avoid such a penalty if there’s a reasonable excuse for your tardiness?
BRIBERY - 02.07.2015
What can we learn from FIFA?
The FIFA arrests show the reputational damage bribery allegations can cause to an organisation. Are your procedures adequate to prevent bribery?
PRODUCTIVITY - 02.07.2015
Managing non-revenue generating time
Your employees always seem so busy and the department managers are pressing for more staff. What can you do to verify that more staff are actually needed and what advice can you offer the business to improve efficiency?
SPREADSHEETS - 02.07.2015
Calculating borrowing costs
The company is looking to take out a business loan to fund an expansion project. What’s the most efficient way to use Excel to work out how much the interest will be and produce a loan amortisation schedule?
ENERGY - 02.07.2015
Worth the energy?
There’s another study showing how much you can save if you are energy efficient. But behind the numbers are there examples of simple ways to cut costs on the cheap?
SOFTWARE - 02.07.2015
Accounting software upgrade made easy
You’ve selected your new accounting software and the time has arrived for implementation. What steps should you be taking with your team to ensure that the implementation process runs as smoothly as possible?
INSURANCE COSTS - 02.07.2015
Legal expenses cover - can you choose your solicitor?
If your company is facing a regulatory investigation, e.g. for a possible breach of health and safety laws, then immediate legal assistance is vital to protect its interests. But do you have to use a solicitor from your insurer’s panel?
CREDIT CONTROL - 02.07.2015
Customer invoice dispute resolution
You’ve noticed that debtor days have started to lengthen over the last six months. The managing director has asked you to investigate the reasons behind this trend and suggest some solutions. Where do you start?
MILEAGE RATES - 02.07.2015
Going the extra mile
Your employees have questioned why they are not paid the mileage rate of 45p recommended by the government. You want to up their rate but it’s expensive. Is there a tax saving you could make use of?
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS - 02.07.2015
FRS 102: handling derivatives
For accounting periods starting on or after 1 January 2016, small companies will be expected to account differently for derivative financial instruments such as forward foreign exchange contracts. What are the changes?
FOOD - 02.07.2015
Sandwich savings?
It might seem like a hassle to make your own lunch, but a few minutes could save you a packet. What are the potential savings from bringing your own food to work?
TYRES - 02.07.2015
Roll on tyre savings
Labels on tyres should show you how efficient they are when it comes to fuel consumption. How much you’ll save depends on lots of factors but could a new calculator help you track the real savings?
