2019 -
May
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COLLABORATION - 29.05.2019
The new functions of Slack
Slack, the business platform that allows colleagues to communicate in convenient chat rooms, will expand its features in the coming weeks and months. Here are the main novelties to be expected.
TELEPHONY - SMARTPHONE - 29.05.2019
How to transfer files from PC to Android smartphone
For most people, their smartphone has become a computer they always carry with them. At times you will want to move files from your computer to your smartphone. What’s the best approach?
SOFTWARE - MUSIC - 29.05.2019
iTunes: still relevant after all these years?
Apple iTunes has been around for years and is still being updated regularly. Is this software really worth it, and is it still relevant in this era of streaming music services, including Apple’s own Apple Music?
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 29.05.2019
Online assistance for successful meetings
Not all meetings are equally successful and productive, but good preparation and professional follow-up can make the difference. Here are some web tools that will help you to do just this.
BUSINESS - RECRUITMENT - 29.05.2019
Finding staff, keeping staff
The UK’s 5.7 million SMEs don’t have the budgets of large companies but they still need to find and retain staff. What advice is available?
E-MAIL - E-MAIL SOFTWARE - 29.05.2019
The best mail apps for iOS
Are you looking for a new mail app for your iPhone or iPad? There are plenty of apps to choose from, so it may become hard to see the wood for the trees. Here’s our selection of good mail apps.
BUSINESS - MARKETING - 29.05.2019
Do you need your own QR code?
QR codes may have been forgotten for a while but their popularity is on the rise again. Indeed, they offer excellent marketing opportunities for entrepreneurs, traders and the self-employed. So how do you make good use of QR codes?
SEARCHING - INTERNET - 29.05.2019
More efficient searching with Google
To look up information online, you will undoubtedly use the Google search engine. However, are you familiar with the following search tips to obtain the results you’re looking for even faster and more efficiently?
SOFTWARE - PHOTOGRAPHY - 29.05.2019
Snapseed: edit your smartphone photos
The world of photography is changing rapidly. For most people, their smartphone has become their main - or even only - camera. How can the Snapseed app make your photos look their best?
PERSONAL WEBSITE - WEBSITE PROMOTION - 29.05.2019
Things you should know about ad banners
Ad banners offer a popular solution for attracting people to your website. However, how do you ensure that people effectively click through to your website? Here are some tips.
SOFTWARE - DOWNLOADS - 29.05.2019
Faster installation and updates of freeware
You probably have lots of popular freeware installed, possibly even on multiple networked devices. Here are some tools to help you install and update such programs faster.
IN THIS ISSUE - TAX PLANNING WITH TRUSTS - 29.05.2019
Tax planning with trusts in the modern era
A client wants to set up a discretionary trust for the benefit of their family. What tax planning opportunities can you suggest, and what is it essential not to overlook once things are up and running?
INCOME GAINS - 29.05.2019
Top slicing relief refunds?
The First-tier Tribunal has indicated that HMRC’s method of calculating top slicing relief is incorrect. What is the issue, and what might it mean for clients?
HMRC ENQUIRIES - 29.05.2019
Are enquiry-related professional fees deductible?
You spent a considerable amount of time dealing with an enquiry into a client’s tax return. This has now closed and you’ve issued your fee note. Your client wants to know if the extra costs will be deductible from her self-employed profits. What’s the answer?
MAKING TAX DIGITAL - 29.05.2019
How do clients actually sign up for Making Tax Digital for VAT?
Your clients will become mandated into Making Tax Digital for VAT as soon as they meet the historic turnover test. Some may assume HMRC will register them automatically. This is not correct, so what can you advise them on signing up on time?
ENTREPRENEURS’ RELIEF - 29.05.2019
Dilution protection elections - how to benefit
The Finance Act 2019 introduced two new elections to obtain entrepreneurs’ relief where an individual’s stake in their personal company falls below 5%. How can you secure this valuable relief for affected clients and when is the tax due?
FAMILY COMPANIES - 29.05.2019
Tax planning with minor children and the family company
You act for a second-generation family company that wishes to bring minor children into the business. Can the children become shareholders? Is it sensible for them to do so and, if not, is there a better option?
PAYE & BENEFITS - 29.05.2019
Payroll year end - what’s still to be done?
The 2018/19 tax year is now over, but your clients’ reporting obligations for it are likely to need completing. What still needs to be done, and what in particular should you be careful to look out for this year?
VAT - 29.05.2019
Fixed asset sale: is VAT due?
You might think that your clients must always account for output tax when they sell an asset owned by their business. But this is not always the case. When can assets be sold without VAT being charged in full and how can you help your clients get it right?
PLASTIC - 28.05.2019
The fight against plastic continues
In an effort to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated, the European Parliament has voted to ban items made of single-use plastic. What does this mean for the UK?
CLIMATE CHANGE - 28.05.2019
Climate emergency declared
Amid environmental protests the government declared a national “climate emergency” in April 2019. Might you be affected by this?
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES - 28.05.2019
Roundup manufacturer in cancer lawsuit
The agricultural company Monsanto has been fined $80 million after one of its products was found to have been partly responsible for causing cancer. What happened and does it affect us in the UK?
WATER - 28.05.2019
Charity benefits following pollution incident
A donation of £150,000 has been made to the Trent Rivers Trust following an incident in which a manufacturing company allowed polluting material to enter a nearby watercourse. What are the details?
ENVIRONMENTAL QUICK CHECK - 28.05.2019
A quick check of your environmental standards
Do you know what impact your business is having on the environment? If you’ve never checked, you might want to carry out a review. Our document will help you achieve this.
POLLUTION - 28.05.2019
Fire may have caused ground contamination
Soil within a 1.2km radius of Grenfell Tower has been found to contain high levels of toxic chemicals. What is the problem and what options are available to businesses and others who find their grounds are similarly affected?
MICRO GENERATION - 28.05.2019
Changes to rules for medium combustion plants
The Environment Agency (EA) plans to change the way it regulates the use of generators. What do you need to know to stay ahead of the game and make sure your equipment is compliant with the law?
MANUAL HANDLING - 24.05.2019
Pallet deliveries causing a strain
Your deliveries frequently arrive on pallets, and the drivers simply drop them on the pavement and expect staff to unpack and carry everything into the building. Is this acceptable and if so is there a legal limit to observe?
ENFORCEMENT - 24.05.2019
Safety fines up 450%
A report into the outcome of safety prosecutions has shown that fines have increased dramatically. What do you need to know?
SAFE USE OF MACHINERY - 24.05.2019
£1.4 million machinery blockage
You have a duty of care to ensure the safety of your employees, including when they are trying to unblock machinery. However, it seems some businesses aren’t doing enough. How can you avoid the risks?
FIRE SAFETY - 24.05.2019
Your fire blanket questions answered
Updated practical guidance on selecting, installing and maintaining fire blankets has been issued by the Fire Industry Association. It answers every question you might have on the subject. What’s included?
WELFARE - 24.05.2019
Appeal over rest breaks won by employer
A Network Rail employee has lost his claim that he had insufficient rest breaks. Given that he could not always take a 20-minute break every six hours, his case seemed strong. So why did he lose?
WORK AT HEIGHT - 24.05.2019
Man injured in shaft fall
A worker suffered life changing injuries when he fell in to a ventilation shaft while carrying out grounds maintenance work. What were the circumstances behind the accident and what should have been done differently?
ELECTRICITY - 24.05.2019
Worker killed by overhead power line
A court has heard how a driver was killed when the grab arm he was operating came in to contact with an overhead power line. How could this have been avoided?
CONSTRUCTIVE DISMISSAL - 24.05.2019
No meeting = constructive dismissal
An employee has won her claim for constructive dismissal at the Employment Appeal Tribunal after she was issued with a formal improvement notice by her employer. What did they do wrong?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 24.05.2019
Summer’s here - let’s talk dress codes
During the summer you might decide to relax your rules on dress. However, some outfits which are perfect for hot weather are unlikely to be appropriate for your workplace. What can you do to avoid this problem?
HARASSMENT - 24.05.2019
Diversity training ends with harassment claim
An employer has lost a tribunal claim for racial harassment simply because of the way its equality and diversity training was delivered to staff. What shouldn’t happen in these training sessions?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 24.05.2019
Skiving but could allege discrimination
You’re sure that a disabled employee is skiving and not genuinely sick. If you question them about the situation, will that automatically be an act of disability discrimination on your part?
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS - 24.05.2019
How much paid time off for workplace companions?
An employee has been appointed to act as a workplace companion by a colleague who is facing a disciplinary hearing. Is the workplace companion entitled to unlimited paid time off to fulfil this role?
PROMOTION - 24.05.2019
Can a promotion be subject to a probation period?
Rather than hiring an external candidate, you’re thinking about promoting an existing employee who ticks most of the boxes. Can you make the promotion subject to a probation period in case things don’t work out?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 24.05.2019
Arguing over tea break costs employer £20,000
An employee who was dismissed following an argument over a tea break has successfully claimed unfair dismissal and been awarded over £20,000. Where did the employer go wrong?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 24.05.2019
Managing long-term sickness absence
If an employee is absent on long-term sick leave, there will come a point in time when you need to consider whether dismissal is appropriate. What are the legal risks here and what fair process should you follow?
REFERENCES - 24.05.2019
The truth about references
You haven’t bothered asking for references previously because you doubted their value. But the new boss is insisting you start referencing new candidates. What can you ask, and are employers obliged to provide this information?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 24.05.2019
Politics in the workplace
Brexit has demonstrated that politics enters every workplace. Whilst it can be positive to have a work environment where reasoned discussions are encouraged, there is a line to be drawn. What does the law say and where should you draw that line?
AGENCY WORKERS - 24.05.2019
Repeal of the Swedish derogation
New regulations will repeal the Swedish derogation for agency workers from 6 April 2020. What will its revocation mean for temporary work agencies?
EMPLOYMENT STATUS - 24.05.2019
Guidance on new off-payroll working rules
The government has published guidance to help you prepare for the changes to the off-payroll working rules that will take effect from 6 April 2020. What advice is it offering?
GRIEVANCES - 24.05.2019
How to conduct a grievance investigation
When an employee raises a grievance, you’ll need to appoint an investigating manager to properly investigate it. How should they go about conducting an effective workplace grievance investigation?
MAKING TAX DIGITAL - 22.05.2019
Penalty warning for early MTD joiners
There’s still plenty of time to register for Making Tax Digital for VAT (MTDfV). In fact, tax experts are warning those who have already signed up that they are at greater risk of penalties. What’s the full story?
STAMP DUTY LAND TAX - 22.05.2019
Reclaiming the extra SDLT - don’t leave it too late
Our subscriber paid extra stamp duty land tax (SDLT) when he bought his new home because he still owned his old one which he was doing up to get a better price. How long does he have to reclaim the extra SDLT?
CORPORATION TAX - 22.05.2019
The trouble with changing your accounting date
You’ve extended your company’s current accounting period to 18 months. This has the advantage of spreading the profit and the tax bill for a bumper year over a longer period, but how does it affect tax returns and payments?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 22.05.2019
Tax-efficient structuring of share buy-back
You’re planning to exit your company (it will buy your shares) and start out on your own. The normal strategy is to ask HMRC to treat this transaction as liable to capital gains tax (CGT), but might there be a cheaper option?
EXPENSES - 22.05.2019
Directors’ start-up costs - how to claim them?
You paid expenses personally to get your company up and running. You don’t expect it to be able to repay these or give you a salary for some time yet. Can you claim a tax deduction for the start-up costs?
INVESTMENTS - 22.05.2019
Lifetime ISAs v pension savings
The government offers similar looking tax incentives for pension contributions and lifetime ISAs. However, appearances can be deceptive so we’ve peaked under the bonnet of both investments. Which comes out on top?
VAT - 22.05.2019
Selling a pre-registration asset - don’t overdo the VAT
When you registered for VAT you reclaimed all the VAT you could for goods and services you bought prior to registration. However, you’re about to sell an asset for which you weren’t entitled to reclaim VAT. Should you add it to the sale price?
IR35 - 17.05.2019
HMRC says get ready for IR35 changes
HMRC has published guidance on what steps businesses affected by IR35 should take before the new rules take effect. What’s the full story?
TAX - 17.05.2019
Advance travel expenses - what’s the tax and NI catch?
One of our subscribers is going to pay his staff an advance to cover travel expenses. He’s getting conflicting advice about the tax and NI consequences. What steps should he take to avoid trouble with HMRC?
PENSIONS - 17.05.2019
How to create state pension rights
Your partner’s current job doesn’t generate enough income to earn NI credits that count towards the state pension. To get around this a friend suggested your business tops up your partner’s income. Will that work?
HEALTH & SAFETY - 17.05.2019
Health and safety duties owed to the self-employed
You might need to bring in self-employed specialists or contractors to undertake specific tasks. You know that you have some health and safety responsibilities towards them, but how far do they extend?
HOLIDAYS - 17.05.2019
Unlimited holiday madness
More and more small businesses are offering staff unlimited holiday. Is it really a sensible idea and if not, what other options are available if you wanted to extend entitlement?
DATA PROTECTION - 17.05.2019
Could your data be held to ransom?
Ransomware is a cyber attack that blocks access to a business’ data until a ransom is paid. It’s the big cases that hit the headlines, like “WannaCry”, but no business is too small for the hackers. How can you protect your data?
STRESS - 17.05.2019
Workers took their own lives at Amnesty
Following the deaths of two workers, an independent review was commissioned to look into the workplace culture at Amnesty International. What was discovered and what can be learned from the findings?
ENFORCEMENT - 17.05.2019
HSE hikes enforcement rate
The HSE has increased the rate it charges for its inspectors’ time under the fee for intervention scheme. How much could this cost you?
CONTRACTORS - 17.05.2019
Are pre-qualification checks about to get slicker?
The Common Assessment Standard has been developed by a group of construction sector giants in the hope of finally putting an end to the drawn out bureaucracy faced by many sub-contractors. What do you need to know?
WORKPLACE - 17.05.2019
Crushed by potatoes
A court has heard how an employee of a food manufacturer was injured when he was struck by boxes of potatoes being carried by a fork lift truck. His employer had already taken measures to protect pedestrians, so what went wrong?
FIRST AID AT WORK POLICY - 17.05.2019
A current policy for first aid
The HSE updated its online first aid guidance in 2018. How might this affect the contents of your first aid policy? Use our template to bring your own written arrangements up to date.
CONSTRUCTION - 17.05.2019
Children used construction site as playground
A case heard at Cardiff Crown Court illustrates how companies can take the blame if children enter their site and injure themselves. What happened and what should have been done to prevent it?
WORKING AT HEIGHT - 17.05.2019
MEWP rescue guidance
The Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group has published guidance which will help you to plan, manage and carry out rescues from a mobile elevating work platform. What does it include and should you apply it?
TAX CODES - 16.05.2019
Tax codes under the spotlight
HMRC has launched a new dynamic coding trigger in respect of tax code accuracy. What are the key things you must now do as a result?
HOLIDAY PAY - 16.05.2019
Happy holiday or expensive mistake?
Over recent years there have been numerous holiday pay cases that have resulted in an employment tribunal claim and subsequently taken to appeal. What do you need to know to avoid the same fate?
ENFORCEMENT - 16.05.2019
How to avoid a late filing penalty
If you fail to submit your RTI returns on time you may face an automatic penalty. However, there’s a way around this in certain circumstances. What do you need to know to avoid a fine?
COMPLIANCE - 16.05.2019
ESCaping an HMRC claim
If HMRC demands unpaid tax from you as an employer, you don’t have to roll over and pay up. In fact, you can rely on an Extra Statutory Concession (ESC) to avoid an unexpected tax bill. What’s to know?
EXPENSES & BENEFITS - LIVING ACCOMODATION - 16.05.2019
Getting your house in order
Employer-provided accommodation is one of the most prized benefits in kind. But it’s rarely tax free and the rules are complicated. What are the key elements to get right to avoid an unexpected tax bill?
SOFTWARE - APPS - 10.05.2019
Make your own apps
Would you like to have a smartphone app for your company, product, service or brand to complement your website? You can outsource its creation, of course, but there are also many DIY platforms. Are they any good?
E-MAIL - WEBMAIL - 10.05.2019
News from Gmail
The mobile Gmail app remained virtually unchanged for ages, but an update has recently been released. In addition, we’ve got some news concerning other versions of Gmail. So here’s an update…
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 10.05.2019
Boost your productivity with ClickUp?
As a self-employed person, professional or entrepreneur, you have a lot of responsibilities. ClickUp brings together all your tasks and projects in one platform and promises to boost your productivity in this way. Does it deliver?
DIGITAL TRENDS - 10.05.2019
The need for a digital strategy
A recent survey of companies showed that concerns about having a digital strategy outweigh worries over Brexit. We’ve looked at the main areas of interest.
WEB SERVICES & SOFTWARE - AUDIO - 10.05.2019
How and where to find good podcasts?
Podcasts have become increasingly popular of late and what’s on offer is becoming more and more interesting. What do you need in order to find quality podcasts and play them?
E-MAIL - E-MAIL SOFTWARE - 10.05.2019
Alternatives for the default Android e-mail app
The e-mail app that comes standard with new Android smartphones is not all that powerful. If you want more options, let’s have a look at some good, free alternatives.
WEB SERVICES - NOTES - 10.05.2019
Forget nothing, thanks to virtual post-its
With your busy schedule, do you need to be reminded of some tasks? If so virtual post-its can come in very handy. We tested a few web-based services and a desktop tool.
