2017 -
October
BENEFITS IN KIND - 31.10.2017
Tax-efficient benefits for 2017/18 and beyond
In order to retain staff, your clients might ask your advice on what tax-efficient benefits they can provide. What kind of benefits will not hit their employees too heavily in the pocket?
UNINCORPORATED BUSINESSES - 31.10.2017
Basis periods in the final years of a trade
Your client’s unincorporated business will cease trading shortly. There are specific rules that govern how the final profits are calculated. How do you apply the correct basis period, and is there anything else to remember?
PRIVATE RESIDENCE RELIEF - 31.10.2017
When is an off-plan home acquired?
Knowing exactly when a property is acquired is vital in calculating a gain that is not fully covered by private residence relief. How does a 2017 tribunal case shed some light on the treatment of “off-plan” homes?
CORPORATION TAX - 31.10.2017
Tax treatment and relief for goodwill
One of your clients, who started a successful sole trade in May 2002 is considering incorporation. He has asked for advice on the treatment of goodwill. As the tax treatment has changed several times, what do you advise?
RECEIPTS OF COMPENSATION - 31.10.2017
When is compensation taxable?
Compensation is a complex area - sometimes a receipt will be taxable as income and sometimes as capital. Are there any general rules for determining which treatment is correct, and is there a way of escaping tax altogether?
ENTREPRENEURS’ RELIEF - 31.10.2017
What counts as “ordinary” share capital?
Entrepreneurs’ relief can apply to a disposal of shares, provided your client held at least 5% of the “ordinary” share capital. Does this include preference shares?
FINANCE - 30.10.2017
Online and mobile payment options
It’s been suggested that you start accepting payments via PayPal’s traditional online service and/or its newer PayPal Here service. How much will these services cost you and what can its competition offer?
TAX - 30.10.2017
Are your staff training costs tax exempt?
The cost of training employees is usually tax exempt, but if they gain a personal advantage it can trigger a tax bill which you might have to pay. What steps can you take to ensure the cost of training is tax and NI free?
TAX - PAYE CODES - 30.10.2017
HMRC is demanding tax sooner
Earlier in 2017 important changes were made to the rules which determine how HMRC demands and collects tax. The effects of these are only now being seen. What are the changes and how might they affect you?
LEGAL COMPLIANCE - 30.10.2017
Director banned for taking a bonus
A former director has been banned from running a company for five years after awarding himself a bonus (even though it wasn’t paid to him) shortly before his company stopped trading. What’s the full story?
SELF ASSESSMENT - 30.10.2017
Errors in HMRC’s tax calculations
In October 2017 HMRC updated its self-assessment program to fix errors which resulted in incorrect tax demands. Might you be affected and, if so, what should you do now?
DEBT RECOVERY - 30.10.2017
Does the SBC have any teeth?
After a lengthy delay, the government finally appointed the first Small Business Commissioner (SBC) on 2 October 2017. What will the SBC do and do they have any enforcement powers?
RECYCLING - 24.10.2017
Smart bins to segregate waste
In 2015 the Waste (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 came in to force. They require businesses to separate paper, glass, metal and plastic before the materials are collected. Could new bins help you to do this?
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES - 24.10.2017
Chemical laws out of REACH
Firms that use or import small volumes of certain chemicals have to register with the EU regulator by May 2018. But research shows that the costs are high. What can you do about it?
WASTE - 24.10.2017
Illegal waste site prosecution
Two former directors have been given three months to pay over £1m after being found guilty of running a waste site illegally. What happened and how could they have avoided this outcome?
MARKETING - 24.10.2017
How to avoid a PR disaster in a crisis
You’ve fallen foul of the environmental regulator. Somehow the media has found out and a journalist is now asking some awkward questions. How should you handle the situation?
WASTE - 24.10.2017
What’s happening with waste packaging regulations?
According to a government review, producer responsibility regulations for packaging waste should be kept as they are. So is that likely to happen and what else do you need to know?
ENFORCEMENT - 24.10.2017
Regulating air pollution
The Environment Agency (EA) will replace English local councils in enforcing air pollution legislation in some installations. How might this affect you?
GREEN PRODUCTS - 24.10.2017
Developments in LED lighting
Most halogen bulbs are due to be banned from 1 September 2018. What are the benefits of using the alternative option - LED lighting - and will it have a positive impact on your business?
LIFTING EQUIPMENT - 20.10.2017
Elderly resident slipped through hoist
A court has heard how an elderly resident was left with injuries which may have hastened her death after she slipped from a lifting hoist. Why did this happen and what should have been done to prevent it?
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH - 20.10.2017
A pain in the joints
A new employee suffers from arthritis. What can and should you do to ensure they are comfortable in the workplace? What does the law require you to do in terms of adjustment?
WORK AT HEIGHT - 20.10.2017
Scaffold inspectors falsified findings
Two employees have been prosecuted for falsifying scaffold safety certificates. How did their actions lead to a serious accident and what were the personal consequences?
IONISING RADIATIONS REGULATIONS - 20.10.2017
Major update to radiation regulations
The HSE has announced that new regulations will come into force in January 2018 regarding ionising radiation. What are the changes and who will be affected?
STATISTICS - 20.10.2017
HSE publishes annual figures
The HSE has published provisional annual data for work-related fatalities, as well as figures for those known to have died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma. What do the results show?
ENFORCEMENT - 20.10.2017
Fee for intervention - how to appeal
The HSE’s fee for intervention (FFI) scheme has been amended in response to court proceedings. What’s the latest information and how could the changes affect you?
CONSTRUCTION - 20.10.2017
What’s happening with site visits?
The Unite union has discovered that the HSE has reduced construction site inspections. However, the HSE says that it’s on top of things. What’s to know?
APPRENTICES - 20.10.2017
Can you trial a potential apprentice without pay?
You’re thinking about hiring an apprentice and a colleague has suggested that you offer a potential candidate one week’s unpaid work experience to enable you to see how they perform. Will it work?
PAYROLL - 20.10.2017
How long do you have to issue a P45?
In October 2017 a prankster handed Theresa May a P45. Although she hasn’t changed jobs, this document must be given to an employee when they leave your employment. Does the law state by when you must issue it?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 20.10.2017
The best way to handle several minor issues
One of your employees is driving you to distraction. Whilst there’s no major problem that would justify you taking formal action, each week there’s a minor performance or misconduct issue. How should you handle it?
CONFIDENTIALITY - 20.10.2017
Personal documents on work systems
In a 2017 case the employee saved a document on their employer’s server which contained his personal financial information. Bearing in mind its content, was it automatically private?
RECRUITMENT - 20.10.2017
Job ads: keeping things British
Several employers have been referred to the Government Equalities Office after they posted job ads specifying “no EU nationals” or “British workers only”. Why is this wrong?
BUSINESS - BUSINESS TRIPS - 19.10.2017
Indispensable apps for your business trips
When you’re abroad on a business trip, you will probably have your smartphone on you all the time. Here are some apps which would be useful to have installed on your device.
BUSINESS - ADVERTISING - 19.10.2017
Reaching your target audience
With the Guardian launching an app that gives SMEs the opportunity to put their own ads online, we look how digital advertising is evolving.
COMPUTER - HARD DISK - 19.10.2017
How much free space for your hard drive?
It’s best not to allow the section of your hard drive containing your system files to fill up completely. Exactly how much space should you keep free? Here’s the answer.
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 19.10.2017
Windows 10 faster and more efficient
If you’ve been using Windows 10 for a while, it may be a good idea to optimise the system. Here are some tips, tricks and tools to get your Windows 10 into perfect shape again.
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 19.10.2017
Searching in your e-mail
Finding information on the Internet is straightforward thanks to Google and other search engines. But how can you find that one important e-mail in your huge e-mail archive?
SOFTWARE - GRAPHICS - 19.10.2017
Free (or cheap) graphical tools
Adobe offers outstanding software for graphical applications: Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. However, if you’re not a professional designer, their price may be too steep for you. Fortunately, there are cheaper or even free alternatives.
HEALTH - EXERCISE - 19.10.2017
Give yourself a break
We all know how unhealthy it is to sit in front of a computer screen for hours on end. What break time software is out there to remind you to take a break once in a while?
SOFTWARE - E-BOOKS - 19.10.2017
Manage all your e-books with Calibre
Do you sometimes read e-books on a Kindle, tablet, smartphone or computer? Calibre lets you manage all your e-books, in almost all formats in a similar way to a virtual library. What does the program have to offer?
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 19.10.2017
Working faster with Windows Explorer
You probably use Windows Explorer every day. Ideas to work more efficiently with this tool may therefore save you a lot of time. Here are some of our preferred tips and shortcuts.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COMMUNITIES - 19.10.2017
Facebook marketing: a checklist
You can use your business Facebook page as a handy and cheap marketing channel. The checklist below will ensure that you don’t overlook anything important.
CONSUMERS - CONSUMER INFORMATION - 19.10.2017
How valuable are ratings on the Internet?
Are you, like so many other consumers, influenced by countless reviews on the Internet when you plan to buy something? To what extent are these reviews reliable?
CONTRACTS - 18.10.2017
Changing terms of employment
You intend to make a change to your employees’ terms of employment but there isn’t a flexibility clause in their employment contracts you can rely on to implement it. If you need to make a change that isn’t authorised by the contract, what are your options?
MATERNITY LEAVE - 18.10.2017
Pay and benefits during maternity leave
During maternity leave, benefits continue to accrue but pay is replaced by statutory maternity pay (SMP), unless there’s a contractual maternity pay scheme in place. However, there are a few difficult areas that you need to be aware of. What are they?
WHISTLEBLOWING - 18.10.2017
The importance of whistleblowing training
Whilst you probably already have a whistleblowing policy in place, it’s now just as important to carry out regular staff training on whistleblowing. How can such an exercise help protect your business?
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS - 18.10.2017
When and how should you suspend an employee?
Where allegations of serious misconduct have been made against an employee, you may wish to suspend them whilst the investigation takes place. How should you implement a suspension and when might there be risks in doing so?
ON THE JOB LEARNING - 18.10.2017
Development on the cheap or real value added?
One of the major challenges for SMEs and HR professionals in developing staff is to decide where to invest. How can you ensure you get the right balance for your organisation - is on the job learning a real option?
MONITORING AT WORK - 18.10.2017
To what extent can you monitor employees’ e-mails?
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has held that an employer acted unlawfully in monitoring an employee’s personal messages on a work account. Does this mean you can no longer monitor staff e-mails?
RIGHT TO WORK CHECKS - 18.10.2017
How can you prevent illegal working?
Employers of illegal workers have been penalised to the tune of £10.5 million in the first quarter of 2017. As it’s seemingly a growing problem, what should you be doing to stay on the right side of the law?
P800S - 16.10.2017
Are you ready for P800 questions?
Autumn is the time of the year when around 8m taxpayers receive a tax calculation related to the tax year that ended on 5 April via Form P800. If it’s accompanied by a cheque everyone is happy, but when it’s an underpayment demand they’ll blame payroll. How should you prepare?
NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE - 16.10.2017
Avoiding the NMW traps
The most recent naming and shaming exercise of employers failing to pay the NMW included some high-profile employers that should have known better. Why is it so easy to fall foul of the legislation?
PAY GAP REPORTING - 16.10.2017
Time to close the gap?
By 4 April 2018 you might be required to publish the results of your gender pay gap analysis on your organisation’s website. Will you be caught by this requirement and, if so, how should you be preparing?
PAYROLL FRAUD - 16.10.2017
Staff on the fiddle?
A recent survey has estimated that over £40m is lost annually to employee fraud. As payroll has been identified as a high-risk area, what measures can you take to detect and prevent it?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 13.10.2017
Closing a company and getting your money out
You and your fellow director shareholders want to shut down your company and go their separate ways. It’s all amicable, but naturally you each want to get your hands on your share of the company’s assets. What’s the quickest way to do this?
PERSONNEL - 13.10.2017
How to properly induct a new hire
According to new research, many employees feel that they would have settled into a business much more quickly if they had received a proper induction. What should an induction for a new starter include?
FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS - 13.10.2017
The flight to nowhere
You booked a flight to Paris to attend a sales conference. Two days before you were due to travel the airline cancelled the flight. What are your rights ?
COMPANY LAW - 13.10.2017
Inspecting a company’s register of shareholders
By law, all companies must keep an up-to-date register of shareholders which includes the shareholders’ names, addresses and their shareholdings. Must this register be disclosed to anyone who asks to see it?
DEBT RECOVERY - 13.10.2017
New steps needed before court action
If you want to sue a customer for unpaid bills you’ll have to follow new guidelines before going to court, but not in every case. In what situations do the new rules apply and what extra steps must you take?
NATIONAL INSURANCE - 13.10.2017
Taxable perks and an NI loophole
Benefits in kind are usually more NI efficient than salary. However, the opposite can be true for director shareholders who receive a low salary, perhaps topped up with dividends. What savings are possible and how can you take advantage?
VAT - CARS - 13.10.2017
Can you save VAT by leasing a car?
Unless you buy and sell cars as a trade, or use them exclusively for your business, you can’t reclaim any VAT on their cost. On the other hand, you can reclaim some VAT where you lease a car. How much can you save?
BENEFITS - 13.10.2017
How many mobile phones are tax free?
Your company provides you with two mobile phones. Only one can be covered by the special tax exemption. As the bills vary for each phone you want to shift the exemption between phones from month to month. Is this allowed?
RETURNS - 13.10.2017
Self-assessment scaled down
“Simple assessment” has arrived and with it HMRC’s plan to cut the number of tax returns it issues. How might this affect you?
VAT - 13.10.2017
Dodging an easy-to-miss surcharge trap
Where you’re late submitting a VAT return HMRC will issue a surcharge notice. But if it’s your first or second offence it won’t fine you. Is it safe therefore to treat the notice as just a slap on the wrist, or should you take other steps?
CAPITAL ALLOWANCES - 13.10.2017
Company or personal capital allowances - what’s better?
As the director shareholder of a company you can choose to personally buy equipment for your business or do it through your company. The tax consequences of each differ. What’s the best option for you?
EXPENSES - 13.10.2017
HMRC back tracks (a little) on overnight expenses
When the benefits and expenses regime was overhauled in 2016 HMRC withdrew its long-standing agreement for overnight allowances paid to truck drivers. It’s now agreed a new deal. What’s the full story?
PAYE - 13.10.2017
Directors’ remuneration and RTI trouble
Real time information (RTI) requires you to report payroll information on or before the date you pay an employee. This can be tricky for directors because special rules determine the date they are paid. How can you be sure to get it right?
PENALTIES - 13.10.2017
Did you miss the 5 October deadline?
You’ve heard from a reliable source that if you owe tax for 2016/17, but haven’t already told HMRC about it, you’ll be fined. Is this correct, and if so, are you too late to avoid a penalty?
SOFTWARE & SERVICES - PDF - 11.10.2017
Extract images from PDF documents
Suppose you come across a PDF report or presentation on the Internet containing an image or a chart that interests you. How do you extract these images from the PDF document?
SECURITY - PRIVACY - 11.10.2017
Better control of your privacy
When using a computer, and especially while accessing the Internet, you inevitably leave traces behind, some of this data may be privacy-sensitive. How can you keep this under control?
E-MAIL - WEBMAIL - 11.10.2017
Useful add-ons for Outlook.com
If you use Outlook.com (the former Hotmail), you will have discovered that this web service has quite a lot to offer, now you can even install add-ons. Which ones are useful and what do they do?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE STORAGE - 11.10.2017
Doing more with OneDrive
OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud service, gives you 5GB of free storage space - ideal for synchronising your most important documents and files in the cloud. How can you make efficient use of OneDrive? Here are some tips.
BUSINESS - TRANSPORT - 11.10.2017
Top tips for business travel
Websites and apps that help you find the best travel options are changing continuously. Train, plane, four wheels or two feet, we have it covered.
PERSONAL WEBSITE - WEBSITE PROMOTION - 11.10.2017
Adapt your SEO to voice search
To conduct their searches via Google, more and more people are speaking into their smartphone. How can you gear your “search engine optimisation” strategy to this “voice search” function?
INTERNET CONNECTION - WI-FI - 11.10.2017
Free Wi-Fi for your customers?
Studies show that customers think that their waiting experience is more important to them than the actual waiting time. By offering Wi-Fi at your business premises, you can make their stay more pleasant.
WEB SERVICES - MAPS & ROUTES - 11.10.2017
Calculating the fastest route to different customers
Suppose you want to visit several customers or suppliers in the course of one day. Using Google Maps, you can chart the smartest routes yourself, but there are tools which calculate the most efficient trajectory for you.
SOFTWARE - windows - 11.10.2017
Work more efficiently with a tidy desktop
Do you use your Windows desktop to dump lots of files, links and photos? It won’t be long before you can no longer see what’s what. What is the best way to organise your desktop?
TELEPHONY - MOBILE PHONES AND SMARTPHONES - 11.10.2017
A checklist for your power bank
Your smartphone or tablet make you completely mobile. At least, as long as the battery holds out. A power bank keeps you from losing contact when no power socket is around. How do you choose the best power bank?
