2016 -
May
INSURANCE - 31.05.2016
Dashcam benefits
A 2016 court case resulted in a driver saving £60,000 thanks to an on-board camera. Why was the video footage so valuable and could such a device save you money too?
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS - 31.05.2016
Preparing a business for sale
The managing director, who is also the majority shareholder, has taken you into his confidence and asked you to help him prepare the business for sale. What should you be doing to ensure that the best price is achieved?
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING - 31.05.2016
New standard for in-house accounting
The British Standards Institute has issued its first standard for management accounting. Is this something you should be complying with?
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE - 31.05.2016
Centralised accounts payable
Your business has grown successfully and now operates from a number of sites, each one being responsible for local sales and purchases. Would it be more cost effective to centralise the accounts payable function?
BUDGETING - 31.05.2016
Budget process efficiencies
Last year’s budget process involved too many revisions and the budget wasn’t completed until six weeks into the new year. You want to make sure that the next budget process will be much smoother. What can you do to improve it?
PACKAGING - 31.05.2016
Small packaging; big savings
Retail behemoth Amazon was the subject of intense media scrutiny with its “outrageous” approach to packaging. Is there a lesson to be learned here and some savings to be made?
STAFF COSTS - 31.05.2016
Footie fever?
From 10 June to 10 July 2016 it’s the UEFA European football championships and that means some of your staff might be distracted. What could this cost you and how can you minimise your losses?
COMPANY LAW - 31.05.2016
Are your company’s articles clear?
A 2015 case considered how shares should be valued on disposal under pre-emption rights contained in a company’s articles. The case arose as the company’s articles weren’t clear on the matter. Are yours?
CARS - 31.05.2016
The tax trouble with company cars
If your business provides company cars you need to take extra care in accounting for the cost of fuel. Get it wrong and your business and the driver will be hit with hefty tax and NI bills. What’s the problem and how can you avoid it?
REPORT WRITING - 31.05.2016
Getting more out of Word
Generally, Word is better than Excel for creating reports that contain a mix of narrative, tables and charts. How can you ensure that you are using it in the most effective and time-efficient way?
CONTRACTS - 31.05.2016
How to treat employees who want to leave
An employee has told you that they are unhappy in their role and wish to leave your employment as soon as possible. As their heart clearly isn’t in the job anymore can you treat them less favourably than other employees?
HEALTH & SAFETY - 31.05.2016
Driving for work and prescription medication
One of your employees who is required to drive for work has recently been prescribed medication by their GP. Is this a private matter or can you insist that they disclose this information to you?
DISCRIMINATION - 31.05.2016
Regional, national and foreign-sounding accents
You recently interviewed someone but, due to their accent, it was difficult to understand what they were saying at times. This is a concern but can you use their accent as grounds to reject the application?
TIME OFF - 31.05.2016
Paid time off for a charity event: yes or no?
An employee is raising money for charity by participating in an event that’s set to take place over a few days. They’ve approached you asking if they can have that time off work on a paid basis. Must you agree to this?
RECRUITMENT - 31.05.2016
Recruiting with personal statements
Some employers are now insisting that job applicants submit personal statements for vacancies rather than application forms or CVs. What are these statements and are they a legally safe way to recruit?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 31.05.2016
Unfairly dismissed for being in prison
The tribunal has found that a small employer unfairly dismissed an employee who was sent to prison for six months. What did the employer do that rendered the employee’s dismissal unfair?
DATA PROTECTION - 31.05.2016
Employee’s £180,000 e-mail error
An employer has been fined £180,000 because an employee sent out a bulk e-mail on its behalf, breaching data protection rules. What went wrong and how can you avoid the same fate?
HMRC ENQUIRIES - 27.05.2016
Successfully fighting back against a discovery assessment
HMRC can sometimes make an assessment for underpaid tax outside the normal enquiry window, but only in limited circumstances. When can your clients object to the assessment, and what can you do to maximise the probability of success?
CORPORATION TAX - 27.05.2016
Can your clients take advantage of a group relationship?
One of your client’s companies made a substantial gain from the sale of property. The client also has controlling interests in other companies which have unused trading and capital losses. Can grouping the companies provide a means of reducing the tax?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 27.05.2016
Secure a 10% CGT rate by one means or another
The 2016 Budget contained several measures to clarify the availability of entrepreneurs’ relief. What should you check for on behalf of your clients, and how might a new relief mean they get favourable tax treatment on new investments?
STATE PENSION - 27.05.2016
Maximising your clients’ entitlement to the new state pension
The way entitlement to and payment of the state pension is worked out changed from 6 April 2016, leaving many confused - and some feeling short-changed. Which of your clients might be affected, and what can you advise to help maximise their entitlement?
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SCHEME - 27.05.2016
End of paper reporting
Electronic filing of Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) returns is here - and it’s mandatory. Since April 2016 there is no longer the option to submit CIS paper returns to HMRC. How can you help clients comply?
BENEFITS - 27.05.2016
Putting personal expenses through the company
You son, who’s at university, wants you to pay for his driving lessons. It will cost around £1,000 to get him through his test. Would putting it through your company be a cheaper and more tax-efficient option than paying for it personally?
PENALTIES - 27.05.2016
Escaping a late filing penalty
If you haven’t filed your self-assessment tax return for the year to 5 April 2015, greater penalties kicked in from 1 May 2016. These can soon add up to £900 or more. At this late stage are there any steps you can take to avoid them?
CARS - 27.05.2016
End of the road for car (and other) benefit schemes
Since 6 April 2016 certain types of benefit, mainly cars and vans, have been subject to new rules which mean that directors and employees can’t escape tax by paying their employer a fair price for the perk. What’s the full story?
PROPERTY - 27.05.2016
Buy-to-let, another twist on company ownership
You’re considering getting into the buy-to-let market. You’ve read that because of changes to the rules in April 2016 it is now more tax efficient to buy the property through a company. Is this correct?
EXPENSES - 27.05.2016
Is your assistant (tax) efficient?
In your role as a director having a good assistant is invaluable. But if your company can’t or won’t pay them, can you? If you pay them direct, can you claim tax relief for the expense?
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SCHEME - 27.05.2016
Good news on CIS deductions
HMRC has revised its practice in relation to claims for refunds of construction industry scheme (CIS) deductions. What’s changed and how might this affect your company?
RAISING FINANCE - 27.05.2016
Is crowdfunding taxable?
You’ve started a small business and want to raise some money through crowdfunding. A possible snag is that according to one of your colleagues, money received this way is taxable as income, is he correct?
TAX - PROFIT EXTRACTION - 27.05.2016
What’s a director worth to your company?
HMRC disapproves of director shareholders paying their spouses a salary from the business solely to reduce tax. It considers such arrangements unfair avoidance. Is there an alternative which won’t cause problems with HMRC?
PERSONNEL - 27.05.2016
Employees, shoes and standards of dress
In May 2016 there were reports about a woman who was sent home from work for refusing to wear high heels which her employer deemed to be “more professional attire”. Why is a footwear rule like this dangerous?
VAT - CARS - 27.05.2016
VAT on home-to-work travel
The tax Tribunal considered whether the special VAT charges relating to fuel apply if fuel paid for by the business is used by employees for travel to and from home and their employer’s premises. What was the outcome?
INSURANCE - 27.05.2016
Insurance: the duty to pay out in reasonable time
The new Enterprise Act 2016 places insurers under a statutory duty to pay out on claims made by businesses and individuals within a reasonable time. This is good news but what’s hidden away in the detail?
PERSONNEL COSTS - 27.05.2016
Is there a cost to selling holiday to employees?
Some of your employees have asked if they can buy extra annual leave. While you have no objection, how should you work out the cost of each extra day taking account of all the factors, and how should the employees pay?
LEGAL COMPLIANCE - 27.05.2016
Advertising claims: we’re the most reliable!
You know that your business offers a reliable service and beats all local competitors hands down. On that basis, can you run an advertising campaign which says “We’re the most reliable - it’s undisputed”?
RECYCLING - 27.05.2016
A mug’s game - disposing of coffee cups
Research published in April 2016 has indicated that more staff than ever are heading to local coffee shops and bringing their cups back into the workplace. How should you deal with the waste material this generates?
ENERGY - 27.05.2016
Could you benefit from demand response?
The National Grid will offer you money to shift your power-heavy processes to periods of low demand, as the UK prepares for a summer that will generate excess electricity. What’s happening and how can you take advantage?
GREEN PRODUCTS - 27.05.2016
Can greener be cheaper?
Green products usually attract a premium. However one energy provider has bucked the trend. Is it the only one to do this, or are there other environmentally friendly products available for competitive prices?
WASTE - 27.05.2016
A definition of waste - updated
In 2012 the government produced definitive guidance which determined what is and isn’t waste. At the beginning of May 2016 a section of the guidance was updated. What do you need to know?
MARKETING - 27.05.2016
Lights out on energy labels
A lighting industry insider has blown the whistle on the fact that some products aren’t as green as the manufacturer would like you to believe. What have they identified and how might you be affected?
WASTE - 27.05.2016
Fly-tippers on the spot
Councils have been granted additional powers to help tackle fly-tipping. What action can they take and how could you get caught up in this?
POLLUTION - 27.05.2016
Water company fined £1.1 million
Yorkshire Water has been ordered to pay a massive fine after it polluted the River Ouse near York. It was permitted to discharge treated sewage effluent from the works but what went wrong?
ASBESTOS - 26.05.2016
Client shared blame for asbestos incident
In a case heard in April 2016, two companies were prosecuted for the same incident of asbestos disturbance. Why was the client fined alongside the contractor and what can you do to avoid the same fate?
CONSTRUCTION - 26.05.2016
Does CDM 2015 apply to the entertainment industry?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) apply to all construction work, but does this include the entertainment sector? The HSE has stepped in with some clarification.
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES - 26.05.2016
Fancy a hot tub?
The price of spa pools has reduced over the years making them seem like an affordable option for many tourism and leisure businesses. If you’re tempted to follow suit, what are the potential pitfalls?
CARBON MONOXIDE - 26.05.2016
The lowdown on carbon monoxide detectors
You’ve heard that most premises should have a carbon monoxide detector. Is this true, and if you do install one, must it be battery or mains powered and what are the rules on testing and maintenance?
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT - 26.05.2016
Maintaining safety standards on remote jobs
If your staff are asked to work in an unfamiliar environment, such as your clients’ premises, it’s important that you have systems in place to maintain safety standards. How should you go about this?
CUSTOMER SAFETY - 26.05.2016
Keep customers out of harm’s way
Travis Perkins (TP) has been fined £2 million following the death of a customer at one of its retail outlets. How did this happen and what lessons can be learned from this case?
STORAGE - 26.05.2016
Cheese trap
A fork lift truck operator was trapped but uninjured after racking collapsed at a warehouse. How did he escape injury and how could the incident have been avoided?
APPRENTICES - 23.05.2016
The new apprenticeship standards
Apprenticeships in England have undergone a complete overhaul and by autumn 2017 approved standards will be applied to all of them. What does this mean for you?
MISCONDUCT - 23.05.2016
Warning notes: don’t be tongue in cheek
In May 2016 there were reports about an employer who often left notes for an employee called “Shane”. They told him, in a tongue in cheek way, about things he was doing wrong. This may be amusing but why is it a bad idea?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 23.05.2016
“Out of time” claim allowed to proceed
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that an employee who submitted a claim two days late must be given a full hearing by the tribunal. Has its decision created a dangerous new precedent for employers?
DRESS CODES - 23.05.2016
Dress codes: wearing skirts and trousers
Many employers require their staff to wear a uniform or comply with a dress code. If you fall into this category, can you insist that female employees wear a skirt or must you allow them to wear trousers too?
HOLIDAYS - 23.05.2016
Holiday dates refused, taking the time off anyway
An employee recently submitted a holiday request which you rejected for legitimate business reasons. However, she’s now informed you that she will be taking that time off anyway. What should you do now?
SOCIAL MEDIA - 23.05.2016
What is Facebook costing you?
The average employee visits Facebook 13.8 times every working day for two minutes and 22 seconds each time. This behaviour is reckoned to cost employers £824 per employee annually. How can you stop it?
BULLYING - 23.05.2016
I’m being bullied (but please don’t do anything)
One of your employees has said that they are being bullied by a colleague but they don’t want you to carry out a formal investigation. Should you respect their wishes or could that land you in hot water later on?
CARS - 19.05.2016
Are there tax advantages to plug-in cars?
You’re considering going green with your next company car to take advantage of the government’s grant for plug-in vehicles. But how will it affect your and your company’s tax position?
VAT - 19.05.2016
Can you reclaim VAT on a work of art for your office?
You’ve just bought a work of art for the reception area of your offices. It was quite pricey and included a charge for VAT. As the item doesn’t play a direct role in your business are you entitled to reclaim the VAT?
TAX CREDITS - 19.05.2016
Tax credit deadline - renew online
HMRC is urging anyone who needs to renew their tax credits claim for 2016/17 to use its digital services instead of the post or phone. Is it something you should consider?
COMPANIES - 19.05.2016
Using special stock values to reduce the tax
If you transfer your sole trader or partnership business to a company of which you’ll be a director shareholder, you might have to pay tax on the value of unsold stock. How can you avoid this happening and save tax in the process?
INHERITANCE TAX - 19.05.2016
IHT and trusts for your children’s education
Paying for the welfare and education of your children is expensive. However, until you spend the money it stays part of your estate for IHT purposes. Is there a more IHT-efficient alternative to provide funding?
NATIONAL INSURANCE - 19.05.2016
Are you missing out on NI loss relief?
If you make a loss from your unincorporated business you can use it to reduce the tax on your employment income. It can also reduce your NI contributions, but the rules for this are tricky. What should you be looking out for?
EXPENSES - 19.05.2016
HMRC’s new guidance on business travel
Business travel expenses which you pay or reimburse to your employees are now exempt from tax and NI, as long as HMRC’s conditions are met. What are these and how can you be sure of meeting them?
WEB SERVICES - VIDEO - 18.05.2016
Livestreaming via Facebook
Livestreaming enables you to keep your customers posted with events such as an open house or a product presentation. Facebook has begun to offer such a function. Is it useful?
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 18.05.2016
Windows 10 wants to know your location
Just like your mobile device running iOS or Android, your computer equipped with Windows 10 can track your location and subsequently use this information. How does this work and how can you disable this feature?
SOFTWARE - BROWSER - 18.05.2016
Vivaldi: a new browser for power users
Modern browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Microsoft Edge want to keep everything as simple as possible. But now there’s a newcomer, Vivaldi, which does exactly the opposite and gives you loads of options. Does it succeed?
ENTERTAINMENT - PHOTOGRAPHY - 18.05.2016
The end of Picasa?
Google recently pulled the plug on its popular and versatile photo editor and manager, Picasa. What are the consequences, and has Google come up with an alternative?
CONSUMERS - FINANCE - 18.05.2016
Sharing bills: how?
Are you going on an outing or a business trip with others, or sharing lunch at a restaurant? Or do you rent a house with other people? Here are some handy apps to share joint bills.
E-MAIL - SECURITY - 18.05.2016
How well is your e-mail account protected?
Normally speaking your e-mail account will be protected via a password. However, some e-mail applications offer other types of protection. How do they work?
NEWS - NEWS SITES - 18.05.2016
News in circles and colours
Google recently launched Unfiltered.news, a website displaying news items in an original manner on a world map. Is this newcomer useful, and are there any alternatives?
PERSONAL WEBSITE - MISCELLANEOUS - 18.05.2016
How expensive is e-commerce?
Suppose you’re not yet selling your products online but are considering taking the step towards e-commerce in the near future. A great idea, but how expensive will this be?
BUSINESS - PROPERTY - 18.05.2016
Business premises wanted
Frequently, SMEs and start-ups need to find premises or change location. That’s especially a concern for London-based firms. Where’s the best advice and help?
SECURITY - PRIVACY - 18.05.2016
Protect your privacy in Facebook
Many Facebook users have problems checking what information is public or accessible to friends only. Using the proper settings, and making a number of changes, you can drastically improve your privacy.
INTERNET CONNECTION - WI-FI - 18.05.2016
Who’s using my Wi-Fi network?
All kinds of devices are linked to your Wi-Fi network: computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, printers, etc. How can you check who or what is connected? Indeed, you don’t want uninvited guests using your bandwidth.
FLOW CHART - ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION - 16.05.2016
Tell key staff how to investigate accidents
If one of your employees had an accident would you be confident that the supervisor or manager on duty would know what information to collect, which reports to fill out and so on? Our flow chart will keep them on track.
DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT - 16.05.2016
The role of screen-break monitoring software
According to the union Unite, one of its members has won damages after developing a repetitive strain injury. An unusual aspect of the case was the use of work monitoring software. How did this influence the outcome?
PPE - 16.05.2016
New PPE Regulations
In April 2016, new European legislation was published on the subject of personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE). How is this likely to affect you and what, if anything, do you need to do to comply?
