News
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment 2023-24
30/03/2023
The Cost of Living support package has been designed to help over 8 million households in receipt of means tested benefits. The details for Cost of Living payments due in the 2023-24 tax year have been published.
Eligible recipients will receive up to three Cost of Living Payments of £301, £300 and £299. This includes those receiving
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Energy Bills Discount Scheme
30/03/2023
The new Energy Bills Discount Scheme replaces the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which came to an end on 31 March 2023. The new scheme will offer support to eligible non-domestic energy customers, including UK businesses, the voluntary sector, for example charities, and the public sector such as schools and hospitals from 1 April 2023 - 31
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Bank of England and HMRC increase interest rates
30/03/2023
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on 22 March 2023 and voted 7-2 in favour of raising interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.25% in a move to tackle continued, rising inflation. This is the eleventh time the MPC has increased interest rates with rates now the highest they have been since November 2008.
This means
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Company share buy-backs
30/03/2023
Company share buy-backs are also commonly known as a company purchase of own shares. A company may decide to buy back their shares for a number of reasons including to return cash to shareholders or to provide for a shareholder exit.
The relevant legislation allows a company to purchase its own shares if its Articles of Association
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Associated companies and Corporation Tax
30/03/2023
There are two rates of Corporation Tax effective from 1 April 2023. Taxable profits up £50,000 continue to be taxed at the 19% Small Business Profits Rate. Taxable profits in excess of £250,000 will be taxed at 25%, the main rate. Taxable profits between £50,000 and £250,000 will pay a rate that gradually increases from 19% to 25% by
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Spring Finance Bill published
30/03/2023
The government published the Spring Finance Bill 2023 on 23 March 2023. The Bill is officially known as the Finance (No 2) Bill, because it is the second Finance Bill of the 2022-23 Parliamentary session. The Bill contains the legislation for many of the tax measures announced in the recent Spring Budget as well as previously announced
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Powering Britain from Britain
27/03/2023
Britain’s rollout of clean, affordable, home-grown energy is moving full speed ahead, with the UK government offering £205 million in its latest renewables auction, boosting energy security, growing our economy and powering more of Britain from Britain.
The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the government’s flagship mechanism for
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Solvency continues to be a pressing issue
27/03/2023
The recent rise in inflation and interest rates underlines the fact that the UK and world economies are still suffering from the effects of the continuing war in Ukraine.
Accordingly, if you have managed to retain profits in your business this buffer will help to see you through difficult trading periods as we endeavour to emerge from
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Tax Diary April/May 2023
24/03/2023
1 April 2023 - Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 30 June 2022.
19 April 2023 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 April 2023. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 April 2023).
19 April 2023 - Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 April 2023.
19 April 2023 -
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More time to top-up NICs
23/03/2023
In some circumstances it can be beneficial to make voluntary National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to increase your entitlement to benefits, including the State or New State Pension.
Usually, HMRC allow you to pay voluntary contributions for the past 6 tax years. The deadline is 5 April each year. However, there is currently an
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Changes in VAT penalties
23/03/2023
The first monthly returns and payments affected by HMRC’s new VAT penalty regime were due by 7 March 2023. The new VAT penalty rules apply to the late submission and / or late payments of VAT returns for VAT return periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023.
Under the new regime, there are separate penalties for late VAT returns and
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Scottish Parliament approves 3% rent cap
23/03/2023
The Scottish Parliament has approved a new 3% rent cap for most private renters that will come into effect from 1 April 2023 for an initial six-month period with the option to extend for another six-month period if required.
These changes follow a temporarily freeze on rent increases for private and social tenants, and for student
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Transferring nil rate band for Inheritance Tax
23/03/2023
The Inheritance Tax residence nil rate band (RNRB) is a transferable allowance for married couples and civil partners (per person) when their main residence is passed down to a direct descendent such as children or grandchildren after their death.
The allowance increased to the present maximum level of £175,000 from 6 April 2020. The
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Do you need to file a tax return
23/03/2023
There are a number of reasons why you might need to complete a Self-Assessment return. This includes if you are self-employed, a company director, have an annual income over £100,000 and / or have income from savings, investment or property.
Taxpayers that need to complete a Self-Assessment return for the first time should inform HMRC as
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Reduce CGT by claiming rollover relief
23/03/2023
Business Asset Rollover Relief is a valuable relief that allows for deferral of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on gains made when taxpayers sell or dispose of certain assets and use all or part of the proceeds to buy new business assets. The relief means that the tax on the gain of the old asset is postponed. The amount of the gain is
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Keep talking
22/03/2023
During recent disruptions to trade, ascribed to Brexit, COVID, the war in Ukraine or other global economic challenges, we have become used to online meetings and facetime calls to keep in touch with business associates, staff and friends.
Now that restrictions are easing it is worth reconsidering the value of face-to-face
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Spring Budget 2023 - Childcare changes
16/03/2023
One of the main areas targeted by the Spring Budget was changes to childcare. Billed as a revolution in childcare, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, said that he wanted to reform the childcare system to help more than a million women come back to work.
The 30-hours per week of funded childcare for eligible 3 to 4-year-olds in England will be
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Spring Budget 2023 - Capital allowances
16/03/2023
Designed in part to help offset the increased Corporation Tax main rate, the Chancellor announced the introduction of a new ground-breaking 100% first-year capital allowance for qualifying plant and machinery assets. This measure is also expected to help boost business investment and growth.
The new measure, known as full expensing, will
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