2019 -
March
TAX - CARS - 28.03.2019
Time to get rid of the company car?
These days there’s a high tax and NI cost associated with a company car and it creeps up each year. If it’s more than a few years old it might be more tax efficient to transfer ownership to you. When is the right time to make the change?
TAX - TRAVEL - 28.03.2019
Travel expenses - watch out for the two-year trap
Our subscriber has asked some of her staff to temporarily work at a new location. To compensate them she pays their home-to-work travel costs tax and NI free. Her bookkeeper says that’s wrong. What are HMRC’s rules on this?
COMPANY LAW - 28.03.2019
Are you making the right online disclosures?
We’re not talking about divulging your business secrets. The look and feel of your company’s website are key from a marketing point of view, but do you know what information you must include to comply with the law?
OFFICE COSTS - 28.03.2019
Hire your office furniture?
Ikea is going to start renting out its furniture to businesses in Switzerland. Is hiring desks and chairs something you should consider too and, if so, what might the savings be?
NEW LEGISLATION - 28.03.2019
Crackdown on bogus parking firms
Parking tickets issued by private parking firms can be notoriously difficult to challenge. However, the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 has now been passed. Does this mean good news?
PERSONNEL - 28.03.2019
Get staff to prove themselves
Staff recruitment is a costly business and there are no guarantees that you’ve made the right call. Most employers will therefore place recruits on a probationary period. What are the benefits and traps?
IT - 28.03.2019
It’s Ofcom calling about your broadband
You’ve received a phone message on your landline from Ofcom. It’s asking you to contact it ASAP to discuss your business broadband service. This sounds important but what should you actually do?
MAKING TAX DIGITAL - 28.03.2019
Guidance on exemptions published
HMRC has finally published guidance about when a business might be exempt from the requirements of Making Tax Digital (MTD) after April 2019. How do you secure and request an exemption?
PARTIAL EXEMPTION - 28.03.2019
Letting out space in part of your premises
You have reviewed your shop or office arrangements and realise that you have surplus space that could be sub-let to another business. What VAT issues need to be considered before you make this decision?
VAT GROUPS - 28.03.2019
VAT group opportunity for exempt businesses
You have a VAT-exempt side project, and are looking to form another to pursue a new exempt activity. Your first company will make an annual charge of £150,000 to the new one for shared staff and overheads. How can you avoid VAT issues?
DEREGISTRATION - 28.03.2019
Output tax on stock and assets when partially exempt
A subscriber owns a boat chartering business but now wants to deregister because their income has fallen below the VAT threshold. What pitfalls should they be aware of before giving up their VAT number?
AGENCY RULES - 28.03.2019
Agency solution for a one-off UK selling event
One of your overseas customers has asked you to organise a one-day sale of their goods in the UK. The goods will be imported from America from the customer’s warehouse. Does this create a VAT problem for your customer?
LEGAL FEES - 28.03.2019
Can you claim back VAT on legal fees?
One of your directors is facing litigation that could affect your business reputation. Can you claim input tax on their legal fees if your business, rather than the individual employee, agrees to pay the bills?
CAPITAL ALLOWANCES - 28.03.2019
Buildings and structures allowance
The government has published draft legislation for the new structures and buildings allowance (SBA). While it confirms earlier announcements, there are one or two surprises. How much tax relief can you expect?
MAKING TAX DIGITAL - 28.03.2019
New guidance on MTD exemptions
HMRC has clarified when exemption from Making Tax Digital for VAT is automatic and when you need to apply. What’s the full story?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 28.03.2019
How to reduce tax rates on property gains
You made a healthy capital gain from selling a residential property. The bad news is that special higher tax rates apply to this type of gain. How can you defer paying the tax and reduce it into the bargain?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 28.03.2019
Employing close family - tax efficient or tax trap?
Putting spouses and children on the payroll of your business can be tax efficient as long as HMRC will wear it. Where do you stand if the Taxman challenges your claim for a tax deduction?
EXPENSES - HOMEWORKING - 28.03.2019
Exempt employer payments for homeworking
There’s more than one way to compensate your staff tax and NI free for costs they incur when they work from home. The rules for each are quite different but is one more generous than the others?
LOANS - 28.03.2019
Loans or shares in your company?
Your new company needs working capital. You could provide it by buying more shares in it or you could lend it the cash. The latter might produce a quicker return on your money plus tax savings. How can you take advantage of these?
VAT - 28.03.2019
VAT collection for newly registered businesses
Registering for VAT can be voluntary or compulsory. Either way it will take time for HMRC to get you in the system and issue a registration number. How should you deal with invoicing your customers during this period?
ENFORCEMENT - 22.03.2019
Why you shouldn’t obstruct an officer
In January 2019 five employees appealed against convictions for obstructing Environment Agency (EA) officers. What can be learned from this?
FUME AND ODOUR MANAGEMENT - 22.03.2019
Control fumes and odours on site
If your premises is emitting a nasty smell, you can be sure of attracting complaints from the neighbours. To prevent this type of pollution use our checklist to review your operations.
WASTE - 22.03.2019
£500,000 fine for illegally storing waste
A haulage company has been fined, and its director ordered to carry out unpaid work, after illegal waste was found on a site in Royston. However, the owner of the land still faced a £2 million clean-up bill. What happened?
FLORA AND FAUNA - 22.03.2019
New powers to conserve land and property
Conservation covenants could be back on the agenda for the government. Why are these being considered, what are they likely to cover and when might they come into effect?
WEEE - 22.03.2019
£1.3 million to be paid back by waste criminal
The Environment Agency has used proceeds of crime legislation to ensure that a waste criminal pays back his ill-gotten gains or face a much longer jail sentence. What are the details?
WATER - 22.03.2019
Water abstraction licences revoked
Network Rail Infrastructure is one of several companies having its water abstraction licence revoked as part of new measures taken by the Environment Agency. What’s happening and how could you be affected?
WASTE - 22.03.2019
Several waste proposals on the table
The government has launched four consultations that detail its plans to improve how waste is managed. What do these cover and when can you expect any proposed changes to come into effect?
COSHH - 22.03.2019
The dangers of low-risk substances
A safety alert published by the NHS identifies that serious incidents could occur if low-risk cleaning products are ingested. How can this be avoided?
WORKPLACE - 22.03.2019
Council prosecuted for wall collapse
Basildon Borough Council has appeared in court in connection with an accident in which a boundary wall fell onto a child. Why was the local authority held responsible?
FIRE SAFETY - 22.03.2019
What’s happening with building regulations?
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has criticised the current fire safety rules. What problems have been identified and what is likely to happen as a result?
MUSCULO-SKELETAL DISORDERS - 22.03.2019
Beating back pain can affect your bottom line
Research by the British Chiropractic Association has highlighted how much sickness absence is caused by back and neck pain. It’s urging employers to do more, but what are your options?
WORK EQUIPMENT - 22.03.2019
“Chinese export” markings: fact or fiction?
One of our subscribers recently forwarded a safety alert which originated from a civil engineering firm, warning of dangerous electrical equipment with incorrect conformity markings. What are the details?
HOT WORK - 22.03.2019
Man lost his leg in drum cutting accident
An agency worker lost a leg from the knee down when he was caught in an explosion. What alternative methods could have been used to safely cut or dispose of an oil drum?
OFF-SITE ACTIVITIES - 22.03.2019
New guidance on school trip safety
Guidance has been published by the government covering health and safety in schools and the specific actions to take when organising school trips. What’s covered and is it compulsory to apply it?
DISCRIMINATION - 21.03.2019
Employee called “baby farmer” wins various claims
A female employee who was referred to as a “baby farmer” after she had her second child has won various claims at the tribunal. Name calling is obviously wrong, but what other fundamental mistake was made by the employer?
FLEXIBLE WORKING - 21.03.2019
Let’s ban working from home!
In March 2019 it was reported that one employer had banned all of its employees from working at home, even if they had pre-agreed arrangements. Can you do this too?
TIME OFF - 21.03.2019
Paid “safe leave” for domestic abuse situations
In March 2019 Vodafone announced a new policy of ten days’ paid “safe leave” for any of its employees who are experiencing domestic abuse. Should you introduce a similar policy in your workplace?
NOTICE - 21.03.2019
Must you accept additional notice?
One of your employees has a contractual notice period of one month but they’ve just given you three months’ written notice. Are you obliged to accept the additional two months or can you insist they leave after one month?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 21.03.2019
How to deal with a “needy” employee
An employee lacks confidence and has become quite needy, often asking for reassurance. Their behaviour is now a serious drain on their line manager’s time and it has to stop. What’s the best way to deal with this situation?
DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS - 21.03.2019
Could a written disciplinary hearing be the answer?
If an employee misses two disciplinary hearings through illness, you might be tempted to arrange a third and go ahead in their absence. However, there is another option available to you. What is it and how can you ensure it’s legal?
WORKING TIME - 21.03.2019
New ruling on the 20-minute rest break
The Working Time Regulations 1998 grant workers an uninterrupted 20-minute rest break after six hours’ work. The Court of Appeal has now confirmed that this won’t apply in certain situations. What you need to know?
HMRC POWERS - 19.03.2019
Can HMRC use a client’s refund to offset other debts?
You have a client whose business is struggling with cash flow. However, they are owed a tax refund which will help greatly. Can HMRC put a spanner in the works and set the refund off against a liability on another account?
VAT - 19.03.2019
The VAT implications of charities renting or buying property
You act for a charity that is not VAT registered. The charity is seeking to relocate to another building but has discovered that the property owner has opted to tax it. What challenges does this present the charity if it either rents or buys the building?
MAKING TAX DIGITAL - 19.03.2019
Soft landing for “digital links” confirmed
Once in the Making Tax Digital for VAT regime, your clients will need to have digital links between their data and their VAT reporting. Is there an adjustment period to get used to the new methods?
CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING - 19.03.2019
Extracting an unwanted property ahead of a company sale
A husband and wife client of yours has received an offer for the sale of their trading company but the buyer does not want the trading premises. What pre-sale planning can be done to extract the property tax efficiently?
ENTREPRENEURS’ RELIEF - 19.03.2019
The new requirements for entrepreneurs’ relief
Changes to entrepreneurs’ relief announced at the 2018 Budget have now passed into law. How can you help clients to minimise the impact, and why might disposals in 2018/19 cause particular problems?
ROLLOVER RELIEF - 19.03.2019
Keeping the cash from selling business assets
One of your clients is looking to sell assets used in their family company to secure the accumulated value. What traps do you need to look out for and how can the tax payment on any gain be delayed?
MAKING TAX DIGITAL - 19.03.2019
HMRC’s guidance on MTD exemptions finally published
After a long delay, HMRC has published guidance on which clients may qualify for an exemption from Making Tax Digital for VAT including, crucially, exactly how to apply for it. What do your clients need to do and can you apply for them?
EMPLOYMENT STATUS - 19.03.2019
Working freelance in your company
The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has ruled on whether work done by two directors acting as consultants for their own company was subject to PAYE tax and NI. What’s the full story?
PENSIONS - YEAR-END PLANNING - 19.03.2019
Pensions - still time to invest
Pension contributions might not seem like an exciting investment but they qualify for generous tax breaks which might be greater than you think. Why might now be a good time to consider investing a little extra?
BREXIT - VAT - 19.03.2019
Accounting for VAT after Brexit
HMRC has issued new guidance on the VAT position for goods imported after a no-deal Brexit. Imports from inside and outside the EU may be affected. How might this affect your business?
EXPENSES - TRAVEL - 19.03.2019
Are mixed expenses payments exempt
As an employer you decide if expenses you pay or reimburse your employees are exempt or liable to PAYE tax and NI. HMRC says if you get it wrong it will hold you liable for the lost tax and NI. Is that right?
VAT - 19.03.2019
Reclaiming VAT on domestic expenditure
VAT paid on the costs of running and maintaining a private residence can’t be reclaimed except where you or an employee of yours works wholly or partly from home. How much can you claim and what records must you keep?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 19.03.2019
Deferring tax on gains from selling business assets
You’re selling your premises and other business assets and relocating. You know that taxation of the capital gain from the sale can be at least partly deferred. How can you use a little known rule to maximise the deferral?
PROPERTY - 19.03.2019
Residential buy-to-let tax planning
As a residential landlord you’ll know that HMRC is reducing tax relief on interest you pay on loans used to buy properties to let. Transferring a let property to a company is one way to avoid this, but is there a better alternative?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COMMUNITIES - 15.03.2019
Do more with Instagram
Social network Instagram comes with a lot of built-in features, but some of them are not immediately visible. How do you access them and which of them are really useful?
SECURITY - MISCELLANEOUS - 15.03.2019
Safer online: some basic tips
Safety, both online and on your computer, is of the utmost importance. Here are a couple of tips to make your Internet visits safer (antivirus, passwords, PIN codes, etc.).
E-MAIL - E-MAIL SOFTWARE - 15.03.2019
Five handy e-mail utilities
Even though you will not use certain tools or extensions for your e-mail app on a daily basis, some of them can come in handy from time to time. You should definitely try the following tools.
SOFTWARE - AUDIO - 15.03.2019
Keep audio under control
Has it happened to you that a website suddenly starts making more noise than you expected? Here are some ways to avoid such annoying (or embarrassing) moments in the future.
TELEPHONY - INTERNET TELEPHONY - 15.03.2019
Skype 8: better than expected… at last?
In November 2018 Microsoft stopped supporting the “classic” version 7 of its Skype software, and upgrading to version 8 is obligatory now. What are the improvements, if any?
CONSUMER AFFAIRS - FINANCIAL - 15.03.2019
Do people owe you money? PayPal helps!
A recent study by PayPal shows that claiming money from colleagues or friends, e.g. after a joint activity, is not always plain sailing. That’s why this payment service now enables its users to send free payment requests.
SOFTWARE - OFFICE - 15.03.2019
Flow: automation in Office 365
One of Microsoft’s Office 365 cloud services is Flow, a tool that allows you to create automated workflows among applications and services. What does this mean, and what is the difference with the popular IFTTT?
TRANSPORT - SERVICES - 15.03.2019
On the road - cutting costs
Some SMEs have car fleets, others operate company car schemes or make use of car rentals. But what about car sharing or car clubs for businesses?
SECURITY - PASSWORDS - 15.03.2019
Has your password been stolen?
Earlier this year, another two data leaks came to light. The first involved more than 700 million e-mail addresses and passwords, the second no less than two billion accounts! How can you find out if your password has been stolen?
E-MAIL - E-ZINE - 15.03.2019
Create an e-zine that works
Within your communication mix, the electronic newsletter constitutes a cheap and flexible medium to reach (potential) customers. How do you ensure that such an e-zine effectively reaches its goal?
SOFTWARE - VIDEO - 15.03.2019
Kodi, a fully-fledged media centre
Kodi is currently the most comprehensive media centre package around, and it’s completely free. You can run Kodi on your TV or just on a PC or laptop. How do you do this efficiently?
PENSIONS - 14.03.2019
A pay rise or a pay cut in April?
As a result of the final stage of pensions auto-enrolment being rolled out in April 2019, some employees will get a hidden pay rise from their employers, but only if they take a pay cut. Why is that?
NEW TAX YEAR - 14.03.2019
2019/20 tax year - payroll implications
The new tax year is almost upon us, meaning potentially lots of changes for you to get to grips with. If you don’t, employees will be the first to let you know. So what are they key changes this time around?
COMPANY CARS - 14.03.2019
Company car - perk or expensive taxable benefit?
The changes in company car taxation rules that mean more tax is payable each year are causing some employers to ditch the benefit in favour of a cash allowance. What are the rules and what’s likely to change?
TAX YEAR END - 14.03.2019
A happy end to the year?
It’s getting to that time of year again when employers need to close down the tax year with HMRC. From a payroll perspective what are the key things you need to get right for the 2018/19 year end?
EMPLOYER BULLETIN - 14.03.2019
HMRC Bulletin explained!
The last HMRC employer Bulletin for the 2018/19 tax year was published in early February. What are the key payroll points to draw from it?
INSOLVENCY - 14.03.2019
Business heading for trouble?
Many businesses are struggling to keep their heads above water in the current economic climate, but how do you know if your company is heading for serious financial trouble? More importantly, what can you do about it?
TAX - HMRC POWERS - 14.03.2019
Your rights when HMRC comes calling
The timing of most HMRC visits is agreed in advance but in recent years there has been an increase in unannounced arrivals. What can and should you do if HMRC knocks on your door?
VAT - 14.03.2019
Customers, expenses and a tricky VAT trap
A customer disputes your bill because they think you’ve added VAT to something they consider to be a disbursement. What is or isn’t a disbursement is a notoriously tricky question. How can you ensure you get the VAT treatment right?
TRANSPORT - 14.03.2019
Road traffic law changes - are you affected?
In October 2018 the government published new proposals for a “new and improved Highway Code”. You and your drivers need to be aware of these to avoid fines and keep safe on the roads. What’s to know?
TAX - IR35 - 14.03.2019
IR35 consultation launched
HMRC has just published its final consultation about the new IR35 regime. What does it say about who the new rules will apply to and how it will work?
SOCIAL MEDIA - 14.03.2019
How to identify fake LinkedIn profiles
You want to boost your LinkedIn presence and are happy to receive “let’s connect” requests from those in your wider business network. Why should you check all potential contacts carefully and what are the tricks to be aware of?
