2017 -
December
IHT - 22.12.2017
Immediate IHT relief for company owner managers
You started your company with share capital plus a loan. There’s no prospect of the loan being repaid soon and so your accountant has suggested it’s converted to share capital for tax efficiency reasons. What are the tax advantages?
INCOME TAX - 22.12.2017
Scottish taxpayers: better or worse off?
Scotland’s Finance Secretary has made radical changes to income tax rates for 2018/19. These will affect Scottish taxpayers, and their employers, all over UK. What’s the full story?
FINANCE COSTS - 22.12.2017
Turning property into cash flow
Your business needs cash. An associate has suggested you find it by selling high value business assets and leasing them back. You like the idea, but you’re worried about the tax consequences. What are they?
STAMP DUTY LAND TAX - 22.12.2017
The new first-time buyer relief - tips and traps
If you’re planning the purchase of your first home, or are a parent intending to help with the financing, the new stamp duty land tax relief is good news. However, one wrong step and it could be lost. What traps should you watch for?
PROFIT SPLITTING - 22.12.2017
Dividing profit - can you use alphabet shares?
You want to share your company’s profit with your spouse. You’re considering issuing her with a different class of shares so you can pay dividends at different times and rates. Will HMRC challenge this?
BENEFITS - VANS - 22.12.2017
How to avoid HMRC’s van tax trap
Driving a van as your company vehicle has tax advantages over a car. The tax charge is generally low compared with a car, and can even be zero in circumstances where a car would be taxable. What conditions must be met for tax-free use?
PROPERTY - 22.12.2017
Efficient buildings: good news for tenants
The rules that govern the energy efficiency of buildings are changing in April 2018. What are the key changes to be aware of and how could your business be affected if it’s a tenant or a landlord?
TAX - TRAVEL EXPENSES - 22.12.2017
Tax-free perks for business travellers
Where you stay away on business and your company reimburses you for or pays the bill, there’s usually no tax or NI liability to worry about. But what if your bill includes personal expenses, will you then have to pay tax?
SUPPLIERS - 22.12.2017
Time to go local?
More businesses are seeking domestic suppliers as the fallout from Brexit continues. Should you follow their lead and, if so, what are some of the key considerations?
HEALTH & SAFETY - 22.12.2017
Greater productivity by keeping the noise down
Research shows that noisy office areas usually result in reduced staff productivity, sometimes by as much as 71%. So what cost-effective steps can you take to ensure that office noise isn’t a costly problem for your business?
TAX - 22.12.2017
HMRC loses termination payment tax and NI
The Upper Tribunal recently ruled in favour of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in a dispute with HMRC over payments it made when two employees ended their contracts. Why is the decision important when drafting employment contracts?
BANKING - 22.12.2017
The ban on card surcharges
From 13 January 2018 businesses will be unable to charge consumers a debit or credit card surcharge in most instances. But what’s the position if a business debit or credit card is used?
TELEPHONY - INTERNET TELEPHONY - 22.12.2017
Skype revamped
A while ago, the new version of the popular Skype tool was launched. What are the new features, how useful are they, and how do you extend the possibilities of Skype even further?
BUSINESS - RECRUITMENT - 22.12.2017
Looking to recruit in 2018?
The top sites in various categories were rewarded at the 2017 NORAs. They can be a useful guide for SMEs and other companies planning to hire staff.
PERSONAL WEBSITE - WEBSITE PROMOTION - 22.12.2017
Turn customers into ambassadors
The online world is the place to spread information. Many web articles are therefore accompanied by buttons that let you share your content with others. How do you integrate these buttons into your own website?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COLLABORATION - 22.12.2017
Sharing files in the cloud
Do you save all your important files in the cloud? If so you can easily share folders or files with others. How do you do this in Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive?
SEARCHING - INTERNET - 22.12.2017
Even more refined searches with Google
Almost everyone uses Google these days, simply because it produces the best search results. Here are some tools and tips which allow you to make your searches even better.
SOFTWARE - BROWSER - 22.12.2017
Does Firefox really make a quantum leap forward?
In the past year Mozilla has developed Project Quantum in order to make its Firefox browser faster. Has this been a success? And what about your existing add-ons?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COMMUNITIES - 22.12.2017
Present yourself in LinkedIn with a slideshow
LinkedIn is a handy and efficient platform for professional networking. Using SlideShare, you can present your activities in an even better way. How exactly can it help you?
COMPUTER - NETWORK - 22.12.2017
Make better use of your NAS
A NAS server or network drive allows you to make backups of all your computer data via your network. However, modern NAS servers can do much more than that. The following add-ons will turn your NAS into an even better system.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COLLABORATION - 22.12.2017
Another way of sharing your screen
The communication tool Slack has again extended its screen-sharing function. Plus Workplace by Facebook now lets you share your computer screen. We put these two tools to the test for you.
SECURITY - ANTI-MALWARE - 22.12.2017
Terrified of ransomware?
The press keep coming up with scary reports of ransomware causing havoc in businesses, public services and on private computers. What should you know about ransomware?
AUTO-ENROLMENT - 22.12.2017
New employers must act fast
Since 1 October 2017, all clients who become employers for the first time are immediately within the workplace pension auto-enrolment regime. What particular traps do they need to look out for to avoid making costly mistakes?
AVERAGING ELECTION - 22.12.2017
When is it beneficial to average profits?
The rules for farmers’ averaging changed in April 2016, allowing a choice between a two and five-year averaging period. How do these relaxed rules help your clients, and what should you look out for to avoid them missing out?
ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SCHEME - 22.12.2017
Avoiding traps for the issuing company
A number of tribunal cases highlight traps within the EIS legislation that can cause a loss of relief because of the procedural actions of the issuing company. How can you help your clients avoid any problems?
STAMP DUTY LAND TAX - 22.12.2017
Saving tax on a company property transfer
Your clients may ask for advice on transferring a property held in a company into the shareholders’ personal ownership due to tax charges. What are the tax consequences of this, and is there an efficient way to do it?
CORPORATION TAX - 22.12.2017
Budget sees freezing of indexation
One of the announcements in the 2017 Budget was the removal of indexation allowance for companies going forward. How is this going to work in practice, and which of your clients might be affected?
SHARE OPTIONS - 22.12.2017
How to deal with underwater share options
One of your clients operates an option scheme for its key employees. However, there is some discontent as the share price is currently below the exercise price. What can you suggest that could help?
ENTERTAINING - 22.12.2017
Recovering VAT from your Christmas costs
It is likely that you incurred some costs for staff and/or client entertaining and gifts during December 2017. What is the VAT position, and are there any steps that can be taken to avoid a charge?
PART-EXCHANGES - 22.12.2017
Trade in prices for second-hand cars
If you deal in second-hand cars, you will probably offer a part-exchange allowance as a way of reducing the cash needed to make the purchase. What can you do to save yourself some VAT?
VAT REGISTRATION - 22.12.2017
Registration threshold frozen
After much speculation, the VAT registration was not lowered in the autumn 2017 Budget, but instead frozen for “at least” two years. Whilst this seems good news, why could it still lead to problems?
CRYPTOCURRENCIES - 22.12.2017
What is the VAT position of cryptocurrencies?
What is the VAT position of income received from, and charges made in connection with, the use of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin? Do you need to account for VAT?
FLAT RATE SCHEME - 22.12.2017
Is the flat rate scheme always worth using?
If your business is small you might consider using the flat rate scheme (FRS) to simplify VAT administration. How can combining it with cash accounting mean extra savings? And are there circumstances when you should avoid it?
IMPORTS - 22.12.2017
What can you claim when you import goods?
The government’s December 2017 deal with the EU means that the current rules on VAT and Duty on imports could continue for several years. What can you do to make sure you claim the right amounts back?
HEATING - 19.12.2017
Log burners - a hot topic
You installed a log burner for environmental reasons, but now you’re hearing that they’re not as green as you thought and they could even be banned at some point in the future. What’s to know?
WATER - 19.12.2017
New rules for water abstraction
Anyone taking significant amounts of water from the ground should be aware that the rules are changing. What’s happening?
WEEE - 19.12.2017
Changes to waste electrical regulations
The categorisation of waste electrical and electronic materials is set to change as Defra publishes proposals to amend the relevant legislation. What’s likely to happen and how might you be affected?
MARKETING - 19.12.2017
Working with green bodies - caution required
Organisations such as Greenpeace are campaigning for those who operate in your sector to make green improvements. Should you ignore them or is it worth getting involved?
GAS - 19.12.2017
New penalties for F-gas violations
The government is set to introduce civil penalties for violations of the F-gas Regulations. What is being proposed and what do you need to do to stay within the law?
POLLUTION - 19.12.2017
Construction site polluted watercourse
A development company has admitted a charge of causing illegal discharges from a site where new houses were being built. What happened and what could have been done to prevent it?
GREEN PRODUCTS - 19.12.2017
Environmentally friendly electronics
A report has ranked smartphone and tech providers on their environmental performance. What does it show and how should this affect the IT equipment you buy, if at all?
FORK LIFT TRUCKS - 18.12.2017
Fork lift training just got tougher
Accredited bodies which oversee the training regime for fork lift truck (FLT) drivers have changed the rules to make it harder to pass the end-of-course test. Why have they done this and what’s the effect?
LIFTING OPERATIONS - 18.12.2017
Guidance on lifting with excavators
Since an excavator can lift a full bucket of soil, it’s logical to assume that it can also be used as a lifting device. But there are restrictions on what is and isn’t permitted. What does the latest guidance tell us?
MATERNITY - 18.12.2017
Risk assessments for new mothers
The European Court of Justice has found in favour of an employee who claimed that her employer did not carry out a suitable risk assessment for her as a breastfeeding worker. What’s to know?
FIRE - 18.12.2017
Guesthouse owner removed staircase
A landlord who removed the internal staircase from his property without the required authorisation has found himself in court. Why did he do it and what were the consequences of his actions?
SAFE USE OF MACHINERY - 18.12.2017
£99,000 fine despite no accident
A furniture manufacturer has found itself with a heavy fine after it failed to take HSE warnings seriously. Where did it go wrong and why was the penalty so severe?
FIRE SAFETY - 18.12.2017
Do you need fire extinguishers?
You’ve heard that the Fire & Rescue Service is encouraging businesses to reduce the number of extinguishers they have. Is this right?
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES - 18.12.2017
Long-term illness linked to use of disinfectant
A long-term study has looked at the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in those using disinfectants and bleach. What were the findings and do you need to change how you work as a result?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 15.12.2017
Unfair dismissal: no evidence of right to work in UK
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that an employee who was sacked on the grounds of “illegality” when he couldn’t produce evidence of his right to work in the UK was unfairly dismissed. Where did the employer go wrong?
WORKING TIME - 15.12.2017
When should weekly rest breaks be taken?
All adult workers are entitled to a daily uninterrupted rest break of eleven hours plus a further 24 hours’ uninterrupted rest in each seven-day work period. Does the law say when the 24-hour rest period must be taken?
MINIMUM WAGE - 15.12.2017
The 2018/19 minimum wage rates
On 1 April 2018 the national living wage (NLW) and the national minimum wage (NMW) rates will all be increased. What will they be and what’s likely to happen to the NLW in 2019/20?
MATERNITY LEAVE - 15.12.2017
Entitled to the same job after maternity leave?
One of your employees is pregnant and will soon be going on maternity leave. Is she legally entitled to return to exactly the same job once her period of maternity leave ends?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 15.12.2017
Fit for work referral service to be axed
The government has announced that the national Fit for Work occupational health (OH) referral service will be closed in March 2018. What help will still be available for employers and is anything else on the cards?
RESIGNATIONS - 15.12.2017
Can you rely on a note that says “I quit”?
Heat of the moment resignations are usually made verbally. But what’s the legal situation if an angry employee scribbles a note on a piece of paper and walks out of the building? Can you hold them to it?
WORKING TIME - 13.12.2017
What rest periods and rest breaks must you provide?
Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, workers have minimum entitlements to both rest periods and rest breaks. What time off work do you have to provide and what else do the statutory provisions say?
SUCCESSION PLANNING - 13.12.2017
How to add value with succession planning
Succession planning is the process of identifying and growing future leaders, managers and key individuals to fill current and future business-critical positions. What are the key considerations?
HOLIDAYS - 13.12.2017
Risk of new holiday pay claims
Following a recent Court of Justice of the European Union case, it’s possible that you may now receive substantial claims for holiday pay from your contractors. Why is this?
FLEXIBLE WORKING - 13.12.2017
How should you deal with a flexible working request?
All employees with at least 26 weeks’ continuous employment have the statutory right to make a request for flexible working. If an employee submits such a request, what practical issues should you consider when dealing with it?
DEDUCTIONS FROM PAY - 13.12.2017
Making wage deductions for the cost of training
When an employee leaves employment, you might wish to recover the cost of any external training they recently undertook. When are you legally able to recoup training costs and can you do this by making deductions from the employee’s final salary payment?
EMPLOYMENT STATUS - 13.12.2017
Uber loses appeal on worker status for its drivers
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has upheld a tribunal’s decision that Uber drivers are “workers” for the purposes of employment legislation. What’s likely to happen next and what are the implications of this decision for other so-called gig economy businesses?
HOLIDAYS - 11.12.2017
Bank holiday problem in 2018
It’s that time of year when many of your employees will be using up holiday entitlement ready for the start of the next holiday year. But are you aware of the bank holiday problem in 2018?
PENSIONS - 11.12.2017
Don’t mention the pension…?
With the advent of auto-enrolment and universal workplace pensions, employers are now worried about being seen to advise on pension matters. How far does the law allow you to go?
END OF YEAR TRAPS - 11.12.2017
Avoiding the seasonal slips
Christmas should be a time of goodwill to all men (and women). But the end of the year often brings challenges for those operating payroll. What are they and how best can you manage them?
BUDGET 2017 - 11.12.2017
Autumn Budget and payroll
The Autumn Budget saw the usual mix of announcements, some taking effect now and some in future tax years. What are the key changes affecting payroll that you need to be aware of?
AUTO-ENROLMENT - 11.12.2017
Opt down or out?
The Department for Work and Pensions is considering how to prevent employees opting out when the contribution figure rises to 3% in April 2018. So what’s the plan?
BUSINESS - ADVICE - 11.12.2017
Co-working spaces for SMEs
Co-working facilities are booming for use by SMEs, freelances and start-ups. Many offer extensive shared facilities and extras such as mentoring and events.
PERSONAL WEBSITE - WEBSITE DESIGN - 11.12.2017
A web form that blocks spam
A contact form on your website allows customers to request information, place an order, request a quote or subscribe to your newsletter. However, such an online form is vulnerable to spam. How can you protect yourself?
INTERNET CONNECTION - WI-FI - 11.12.2017
Better Wi-Fi with a “mesh network”?
Does it annoy you that your Wi-Fi reception is poor in certain rooms at home or at the office? Perhaps a “mesh network” can help. What is it and how does it work?
SOFTWARE & WEB SERVICES - OFFICE - 11.12.2017
Make your presentations interactive
Suppose you have to give a presentation and you would like to actively involve your audience (for instance customers, colleagues or investors). How can you do this?
COMPUTER - MOBILE DEVICES - 11.12.2017
Your smartphone or tablet as peripheral
Most people use their smartphone or tablet as an autonomous device. However, you can also turn such a mobile device into an extension of your computer. Here is how.
WEB SERVICES - CALCULATIONS & CONVERSIONS - 11.12.2017
Convert your files online
Do you sometimes receive a file that you can’t open because of an unknown file extension? Or do you want to convert a file before sending it to someone? Here are some tools to convert files online.
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 11.12.2017
Organise your Gmail inbox with Drag
To plan and monitor your daily activities you need a good overview. Drag, a relatively new extension for your Chrome browser, wants to help you to create order in your Gmail inbox. Is it useful?
SOFTWARE - E-MAIL - 11.12.2017
E-mailing more efficiently with filters or rules in Outlook
E-mail filters (or rules) can be used to carry out specific actions automatically on incoming e-mail. If you receive lots of e-mails, this will become an indispensable tool for working efficiently. How do you do this in Outlook?
COMPUTER - SMARTPHONES - 11.12.2017
Make optimal use of your Android microSD card
Android smartphones have little internal memory, and Android alone uses 6GB. When adding apps, photos and videos, you will quickly run out of space. Fortunately, you can extend memory using a microSD card.
SECURITY - ANTI-MALWARE - 11.12.2017
Are you unwittingly “mining” bitcoins?
You’ve probably heard about a new type of malware which hijacks your browser in order to “mine” bitcoins surreptitiously. What is this all about and how can you prevent it?
SECURITY - ONLINE STORAGE - 11.12.2017
Working with iCloud on your iPhone or iPad
The iCloud service is installed by default on your iPhone and iPad. What is iCloud, how do you configure it properly on your device and what are the alternatives for Windows?
VAT - 08.12.2017
Do you have to pay VAT on postage?
You’re breaking into mail and online orders as a way to boost sales and are in the process of creating a price list for your website. The price you charge for postage etc. needs to be to reflected in this, but should you add VAT to it?
ENQUIRIES - 08.12.2017
What’s the right way to report an error to HMRC?
If you’ve overlooked income you should have declared to HMRC or made a mistake in your or your company’s tax return, you need to put it right. Should you just send a letter explaining the position or is there a better alternative?
SELF-ASSESSMENT - PAYMENTS - 08.12.2017
Last minute ways to reduce your tax bill
The deadline for paying HMRC any tax you owe for 2016/17 is only weeks away. Even though the tax year ended almost nine months ago there are still ways you can reduce your tax bill. How’s it done?
