It comes as no surprise that capital gains tax (CGT) was targeted in the government’s Autumn Statement, with the changes forecast to raise some £1.6 billion over the next five years. The annual exempt amount (AEA) will be cut to […]
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Autumn Statement – 17 November 2022
The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement came against the background of a Spring Statement and a September ‘mini-Budget’ (which has now been substantially reversed). The overall context is a European recession and high inflation in the wake of the pandemic […]
pension top-ups for lower paid employees
Employees who contribute to an occupational pension scheme under a net pay arrangement do not currently benefit from any tax relief if their earnings are below the personal allowance. This anomaly will be rectified from 6 April 2024 when HMRC […]
R&D tax relief reform on the cards
New reforms will affect companies claiming tax relief or credits on research and development (R&D) expenditure for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2023. Currently, R&D tax relief for small or medium-sized enterprises provides an extra 130% deduction […]
help to grow: digital scheme expanded
The UK Government’s Help to Grow: Digital scheme has just been expanded to businesses with at least one employee. Previously, only businesses with five or more employees were eligible. The scheme provides a 50% discount towards the cost of software. […]
more time to pay CGT bill for transferring assets following separation and divorce
Couples in the process of separating may find themselves facing a costly capital gains tax (CGT) bill if they miss the tight deadline for transferring assets as part of their divorce settlement. From 6 April 2023, separating couples will be […]
Scotland needs a new tax system and higher tax revenue
This was the conclusion reached in a paper published by Reform Scotland at the end of June 2022 and written by Heather McCauley, a former senior civil servant who has worked for the UK, Scottish and New Zealand Governments. We […]
60% income tax is grabbing the headlines. It’s been around for a decade. (And its 61.5% in Scotland)
The high marginal tax rates created by phasing out the personal allowance are back in the news. ‘A million to pay 60% income tax within years,’ ran a recent headline in The Sunday Telegraph. The next day The Times picked up on the same […]
planes, trains and automobiles – managing employees’ transport challenges
With strikes and cancellations affecting trains, the underground and flights, employers need to decide how they are going to treat employees who cannot get into work or are stuck overseas. Commuting Although inconvenient, there is generally plenty of notice when […]
making tax digital for sole traders and landlords
The widening scope of Making Tax Digital (MTD) is highlighting several issues, including the limited availability of the MTD for income tax pilot scheme, and low awareness of the recent expansion of MTD for VAT to all VAT registered businesses. […]
Reclaiming overpaid inheritance tax
Inheritance tax (IHT) is expected to raise £37 billion over the next five years – £10 billion more than in the past five years. But IHT is sometimes overpaid and it is reported that families have made 32,000 claims for IHT […]
getting the most from salary sacrifice
In these straightened times, salary may be preferable to receiving a benefit. However, the attraction of salary sacrifice has increased since 6 April, and when it comes to pensions it makes sense to take a longer-term view. NIC savings Salary […]
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