2017 -
November
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY - 30.11.2017
VAT and service charges on domestic property
If you are a residential landlord or property management agent and make a service charge to tenants/owners, what is the liability of the supplies and do you have to charge VAT?
VAT - 30.11.2017
Bad news for smaller businesses?
The Office of Tax Simplification has published a “long overdue” report on modernising the VAT system. Why might this lead to an unexpected and nasty surprise for smaller businesses?
OVERSEAS VAT - 30.11.2017
Temporary movement of goods
Businesses sometimes move their own goods to another EU member state on a temporary basis, for example to undertake some work there. If you do this does it mean you have to register for VAT in the other country?
INPUT TAX - TRANSPORT - 30.11.2017
When is VAT charged on passenger transport?
If you or your staff travel on business, sometimes you will be charged VAT and on other occasions you won’t. How can you know when you will have VAT to claim back?
VALUATION - 30.11.2017
What value do you account for VAT on?
Businesses often take goods in part exchange, offer discounts or offset one supply against another. How do you ensure that you account for VAT on the correct value in these circumstances?
DEBT FACTORING - 30.11.2017
The VAT consequences of factoring debts
Owing to difficulty obtaining finance, many businesses look to use debt factoring. But if you do it can affect when you have to account for VAT or when you claim bad debt relief. What do you need to know?
STUDENT LOAN DEDUCTIONS - 29.11.2017
What if the assessment is too high?
If you have clients with student loans, you may find yourself having to deal with the collections via self-assessment. How can you help your clients to avoid the common problem of overpaying their loans?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 29.11.2017
The tax consequences of divorce or separation
When a marriage breaks down, tax is unlikely to be high on the priority list - however, there can be unforeseen charges that arise if care is not taken. What can you advise clients contemplating separation in order to minimise the tax consequences?
CORPORATION TAX - 29.11.2017
Could your clients benefit from CASC exemptions?
The tax benefits of registering as a charity are relatively well known. However, there are also exemptions for community amateur sports clubs that can often go under the radar. How can you check to see if your client qualifies, and how could it benefit them?
INCOME TAX - 29.11.2017
Rent-a-room relief
Since April 2016, your clients have been able to claim up to £7,500 of exempt rental income via rent-a-room relief where they let out a room in their home. Is the exemption lost if the income exceeds this figure?
HMRC POWERS - 29.11.2017
Landmark case restricts HMRC’s reach
HMRC has wide-ranging powers that can require your clients to provide it with information about their tax arrangements. But what about non-resident clients? Can HMRC get to them too?
INHERITANCE TAX - 29.11.2017
When is quick succession relief due?
Inheritance tax is becoming applicable to more estates, thanks to the freeze in the nil rate band. As it’s charged at a relatively high rate, can some relief be claimed where assets are inherited twice in a short space of time?
IN THIS ISSUE - BUSINESS PROPERTY - 29.11.2017
Business property relief: the family business
A client’s family business can often grow to reach a substantial value before their death. Many clients will assume that relief is available to exempt it from inheritance tax - but things are not that simple. How do you set about advising clients on ensuring they don’t fall into the traps?
SMARTPHONE - PRINTER - 28.11.2017
Printing from your smartphone?
If you want to print an e-mail or webpage from your smartphone, you will probably forward it to your computer and print it from there. But there are easier solutions!
SOFTWARE - OFFICE APPLICATIONS - 28.11.2017
Handy office apps for Windows
Here are some office applications for Windows (some of which also run on Mac OS) which help you to you work more efficiently and will increase your productivity.
PERSONAL WEBSITE - PRICING - 28.11.2017
Boost sales in your webshop
The customers in your webshop are subconsciously influenced. By applying the right pricing psychology, you can have them buy more. Here are some concrete tips from various e-commerce specialists.
BUSINESS - ADVICE - 28.11.2017
Mentoring for SMEs
It has long been recognised that SMEs that take the time to seek advice from mentors improve their chance of success. We’ve looked at online tips and advice.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COLLABORATION - 28.11.2017
Collaborating with Redbooth
Launching a new website, setting up an extra branch for your business, creating a new mission for a customer, you will probably work with multiple people on such projects. Redbooth wants to help you, is it successful?
BUSINESS - INTERIOR DESIGN - 28.11.2017
Virtual interior design for your office or shop
Are you planning a refurbishment at your office or shop? New functions in iOS 11 make it possible to design the space realistically, for instance filling it with virtual furniture. How does it work?
COMPUTER - SMARTPHONE - 28.11.2017
The new iPhone X: is it a real revolution?
Ten years after the original iPhone, Apple launched the new iPhone X (or ten). Is this really “the future” or is this nothing more than a marketing ploy? We’ve put the device to the test.
E-MAIL - E-MAIL SOFTWARE - 28.11.2017
The smartest e-mail app?
Some mobile e-mail apps are smarter than others. Is Astro, an e-mail app which applies artificial intelligence, the best one around? Or are there any other good “smart” apps available?
SOFTWARE - APPS - 28.11.2017
Find your way in the app store
The Google Play Store or the iOS 11 App Store are the places for downloading apps to your mobile devices. But in the latest versions of these two shops, you can do more than just download apps. Here are some tips.
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 27.11.2017
Stay connected or risk losing ER
If you make a gain from selling your company, entrepreneurs’ relief (ER) can reduce your tax bill if you’ve been employed by it for at least a year. However, this condition has a catch. What is it and how can you avoid getting caught?
EXPENSES - 27.11.2017
Tax deductions for “spouse’s wages”
Your new bookkeeper has suggested you pay your other half a salary and claim it as a business expense. He says as long as you actually pay them HMRC can’t object to the tax deduction. Is this really correct?
CORPORATION TAX - 27.11.2017
More tax planning opportunities for group companies
The amended substantial shareholding exemption (SSE) rules are on the cusp of becoming law. What sort of tax-saving opportunities do the new rules offer and when can you take advantage of them?
BENEFITS - EXEMPTIONS - 27.11.2017
Training costs - tax relief, yes or no?
As a self-employed trader the cost of keeping up to date in your chosen field is tax deductible, but not the cost of learning new skills. The latter can be very expensive, so are there any steps you can take to qualify it for tax relief?
VAT - 27.11.2017
Avoiding a VAT trap on promotional deals
You’ve been approached by a business promotions company to join their scheme. It will sell vouchers to its customers who can use them to buy goods or services at a discount from you. How should you account for the VAT?
CARS - 27.11.2017
Less tax on optional car benefit
HMRC has changed its view on how you work out the taxable amount where an employee sacrifices pay for a company car. As an employer what do you need to know?
PENSIONS - 27.11.2017
Use your pension saving to fund your business
Your business could use some extra funding to help it grow. You could borrow from the bank, assuming it would approve a loan, but could you instead use your pension savings as a more tax and financially efficient option?
INSURANCE - 27.11.2017
Insurance claims denied due to missing documents
Despite their substantial premiums, many insurers will find reasons not to pay out if a claim is made is on the policy. Can “your documents have not been received by us” be one of them or not?
COST CUTTING - ACCOUNTANCY FEES - 27.11.2017
Tips for reducing your accountant’s bill
Last year the bill for preparing the annual accounts was almost twice what you expected. You want to avoid a repeat performance this year, so what steps can you take to achieve this?
LEGAL COMPLIANCE - 27.11.2017
Small companies and modern slavery statements
The government is encouraging companies with an annual turnover below £36 million to publish a slavery and human trafficking statement each financial year. Why might this help you and how can you draft a statement?
TAX - VAT - 27.11.2017
VAT, Christmas, seasonal gifts and parties
This time of year can be expensive for business owners who are expected to pay for social events and gifts for staff and perhaps customers. A sixth of the cost is down to VAT, but how much of this can you reclaim?
TAX - INCOME SHIFTING - 27.11.2017
Can you transfer personal income to your company?
You personally own a property which you let. A colleague has suggested that if you transfer the right to the rental income to your company you would reduce your overall tax bill. Will the plan work?
HEALTH & SAFETY - 27.11.2017
Refusing a home visit on safety grounds
Due to the nature of their work some employees will visit people in their homes. If a particular home is dirty or even a health hazard, does the employee have the legal right to refuse to work there?
TAX - 27.11.2017
Attack on company owners halted
HMRC has recently changed its stance on business owners who use their companies to shelter profits. This seems like good news, but what’s the full story?
RENEWABLE ENERGY - 23.11.2017
Biogas market opened up
The water regulator Ofwat has made it easier for companies to generate energy using treated sewage. What’s happening and might this be something that you should look into?
ENERGY PERFORMANCE - 23.11.2017
Landlords forced to improve energy ratings
Regulations are coming into force which will require rental property to be energy efficient. What is the legislation, what are the specific requirements and when will they apply?
GREEN PRODUCTS - 23.11.2017
Green and clean
Tesco has launched its own range of “eco” cleaning products that are half the price of other leading brands. Are they any good and does this mean you should go green for your cleaning?
GREEN INITIATIVES - 23.11.2017
Green Deal for businesses
The Green Deal is being revamped making it more attractive for small businesses. What’s changing and should you be interested?
STATUTORY NUISANCE - 23.11.2017
Smoke gets in your eyes
Your neighbour often burns large items of waste and it’s causing smoke to drift across your premises. Do you have grounds for a complaint and if so how should you go about it?
WASTE - 23.11.2017
Selecting a new waste contractor
You’re on the lookout for a new waste contractor. Before you sign on the dotted line, what are the key questions you should ask to help you select the right one for your business?
ENERGY SAVING - 23.11.2017
ESOS is working - even for small businesses
A new report says that the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is working. What is it and how can you jump on the bandwagon, saving money and energy via auditing?
COMPUTER - USB STICK/SD CARD - 21.11.2017
Can you salvage a damaged USB stick or SD card?
You plug your USB stick or SD card into your computer and suddenly an error message pops up telling you that the stick/card is empty, or that it uses an unsupported file system. Can you still access your files or photos?
COMPUTER - CAMERAS - 21.11.2017
360° camera - is it something for you?
More and more 360° cameras are appearing on the market, some of them are even quite affordable. Why would you want to buy such a device and what should you pay attention to?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE STORAGE - 21.11.2017
Practical extra features for Dropbox
You probably already use Dropbox as a handy tool to save files in the cloud and synchronise them among all your devices. But are you familiar with these extra tools?
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 21.11.2017
How to clean up a Windows 10 computer?
To make your Windows computer run more smoothly, you will need to clean it up every once in a while. What are the things you should do, and what is best left alone?
SECURITY - ANTI-MALWARE - 21.11.2017
Protect your computer with the best free software
If you don’t fancy paying for security software then, fortunately, there are lots of free tools which can protect your computer adequately. Which of them should you install?
REFERENCE WORKS - USER MANUALS - 21.11.2017
Create your own user manual
Would you like to create a user manual for your products or services for your customers or staff? How can you get started? What tips and tools ensure a good result?
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 21.11.2017
Online bookings via your website
Do you provide a service which requires customers to call or e-mail you in order to make an appointment? If so you can use a web module to allow them to do so easily.
BUSINESS - PENSIONS - 21.11.2017
Online advice on pensions
The Budget is due next week and pensions are likely to be in the Chancellor’s thoughts. We’ve looked at online sites for information, advice and choices.
COMPUTER - SMARTPHONE - 21.11.2017
How to filter out blue light for a good night’s sleep?
We previously recommended the f.lux tool as good protection against being subjected to too much light before going to sleep. Windows 10 contains a similar tool. Which of the two is best?
E-MAIL - E-MAIL ADDRESS - 21.11.2017
Keep your address book up to date
Without the correct e-mail address you cannot send someone an e-mail. However, most address books become a mess after a while. What is the best way to create some order?
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 21.11.2017
All your business information centralised
More and more businesses save their documents in the cloud. This makes all the business information available at any time and everywhere for the entire staff. To what extent can a platform such as Confluence offer extra value?
STATISTICS - 20.11.2017
Latest accident statistics - good news?
The HSE has published its annual accident and occupational ill-health statistics. Are there signs of improvement or is it more of the same?
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH - 20.11.2017
Working with epilepsy
You have an employee who has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy. What do you need to do as an employer to ensure their working environment is suitable for their condition?
CONSTRUCTION - 20.11.2017
Bemused builders blocked the wrong flue
Residents in a 13-storey building were left in serious danger after two construction companies failed to manage risks appropriately. What went wrong and what could they have done differently?
WORKPLACE - 20.11.2017
Installer jailed for powered gate accident
A gate fitter has been jailed following the death of a woman who was trying to open her faulty electric gate. What went wrong and what should have been done to prevent it?
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES - 20.11.2017
Staff injured in cleaning accidents
A hotel and its management company have been ordered to pay £70,000 in fines and costs after three workers were hospitalised. What happened and how could this situation have been prevented?
FIRE - 20.11.2017
Confused by fire guidance?
Since 2006 official fire risk assessment guidance has been published as a series of sector-specific guides. Is it sensible to have a copy to hand, and what changes should you be aware of?
ASBESTOS - 20.11.2017
Update on training for work with asbestos
The HSE has reviewed and updated its asbestos essentials task sheets in order to highlight the importance of information, instruction and training. What else has changed and what training is required?
HARASSMENT - 17.11.2017
Large potted plant grows a racial harassment claim
An employee who complained that the positioning of a large potted plant amounted to segregation has won his claim of racial harassment. What happened and where did the employer go wrong?
HEALTH & SAFETY - 17.11.2017
What are the key risks to lone workers?
Those who are employed in lone working roles face a variety of risks. The most obvious one is the threat of violence, but what other key areas should you consider when undertaking a risk assessment for these types of worker?
DISCRIMINATION - 17.11.2017
Must you ban Christmas trees in your workplace?
Every year, several of your employees have great fun decorating a workplace Christmas tree. This year, a new member of staff has said that you should stop this tradition as it’s an unlawful practice. Are they right?
REDUNDANCY - 17.11.2017
No voluntary redundancy = breach of contract?
An employer has breached several of its employees’ contracts by failing to offer them the opportunity to apply for voluntary redundancy. Are you legally required to do this before making compulsory redundancies?
HOLIDAYS - 17.11.2017
Warning if your holiday year is 1st April - 31st March
Due to the way the bank holidays fall in 2018 and 2019, some employers will be in breach of the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) if they don’t give their employees an additional day’s holiday. What do you need to know?
MENTAL HEALTH - 17.11.2017
Handling disclosures about mental ill health
Each year, approximately one in four people will experience mental ill health and 1.5 million of us have been diagnosed with a long-term condition. If one of your employees discloses a mental health condition, how should you handle it?
DATA PROTECTION - 17.11.2017
GDPR and subject access requests
Currently, you have 40 days to respond to a subject access request (SAR) and can charge a £10 fee. What will happen when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force in May 2018?
DATA PROTECTION - 15.11.2017
GDPR: officers, breaches and data protection by design
Under the General Data Protection Regulation, you may need to appoint a data protection officer and must ensure you have procedures in place to report data breaches. Plus, you’ll have to consider data protection by design. Exactly what action will you need to take?
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS - 15.11.2017
Can an investigating officer’s report be too comprehensive?
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has overturned a tribunal’s decision that a misconduct dismissal was unfair because the employer’s disciplinary investigation was “too thorough” in considering previous non-disciplinary incidents. How far can you go in your investigation?
CORPORATE LIABILITY - 15.11.2017
Failing to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion
Two new corporate criminal offences of failing to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion came into force on 30 September 2017. What does the law say and how should you protect your business from liability?
HOLIDAYS - 15.11.2017
The bank holiday working time bomb
If your holiday year runs from 1 April to 31 March and you provide “20 days’ paid annual leave plus bank holidays”, you could have a problem in 2018/19. What’s the issue?
CONTRACTS - 15.11.2017
Changing terms of employment
If you need to make a change to an employee’s terms that isn’t authorised by their employment contract, one option is to implement a dismissal and re-engagement. What exactly does this involve and how safe is it?
REDUNDANCY - 15.11.2017
The duty to search for alternative employment
As part of a fair redundancy procedure, you must explore whether there’s any available alternative employment for the employee who would otherwise be made redundant. How far must you go to find them an alternative job in the business?
CONFLICT - 15.11.2017
An opportunity in conflict?
With ever-increasing ethnic, cultural, gender and multi-generational workforces emerging, at some point there’s likely to be conflict in the workplace. But can you channel it in a positive way?
STUDENT LOANS - 15.11.2017
Student loans - devolution worries
There’s no longer any such thing as “the UK” for employers, the devolved administrations have control over much of what you do and how you do it. Student loans is a case in point. What do you need to know?
UNIVERSAL CREDIT - 15.11.2017
A credit to RTI?
After a very long and phased rollout, the controversial Universal Credit, a new benefit to support those who are working and on a low income or those out of work, is ramping up. But what is the interaction with RTI data?
