The UK Infrastructure Bank Bill, announced as part of the measures in the Queen’s speech, represents the final step in setting up the UK Infrastructure Bank as an operationally independent institution. The new Bank officially opened for business in June 2021 but the Bill will remove legal obstacles so the Bank can lend directly to local
More...There is a significant amount of information about companies that can be obtained from Companies House. Companies House is responsible for incorporating and dissolving limited companies, examining and storing company information and making company information available to the public. Much of this information is available at no cost. This
More...When you issue an invoice to your customer, you must ensure that you charge the correct rate of VAT. Whilst most businesses in the UK charge VAT at the standard rate of 20% there are a number of different VAT rates and exemptions that you should be aware of. In the UK, there are three separate VAT rates, the standard rate @ 20%, the
More...Intrastat declarations were historically used to collect information on the movement of goods from the UK to other EU countries and vice versa. Any business that exceeded the exemption threshold for either arrivals or dispatches of goods were obliged to submit monthly returns. This changed following Brexit and there were further changes
More...HMRC can be called by phone on 0300 200 3410 for help with general Corporation Tax enquiries. You will need your 10-digit Unique Tax Reference (UTR) when calling HMRC and this reference number cannot be provided over the phone. The UTR is the primary identifier for a company and should be used whenever HMRC is contacted. The number can
More...The new Financial Services and Markets Bill, announced as part of the Queen's speech, will provide increased protections for those still dealing with cash. Access to cash remains vital for many people across the UK, including the more vulnerable in society. The government has committed to preserving the use of cash as an option even as
More...HMRC is currently sending the annual tax credit renewal packs to some 2.1 million tax credit claimants and is encouraging recipients to renew their tax credits claim online. HMRC started writing to taxpayers at the end of April and expects all packs to be with recipients by 27 May 2022. A renewal is required if the pack has a red line
More...The furnished holiday let (FHL) rules allow holiday lettings of properties that meet certain conditions to be treated as a trade for tax purposes. In order to qualify as a furnished holiday letting, the following criteria need to be met: The property must be let on a commercial basis with a view to the realisation of profits. Second
More...There are a multitude of rules that new businesses must follow when they start employing staff for the first time. These include ensuring registering for PAYE as an employer with HMRC. This must be done before the first payday and this process must even be completed by directors of a limited company who are employed by the company. There
More...The maximum amount that can be invested in an ISA in the current (2022-23) tax year is £20,000. ISA’s are a valuable and flexible relief and should be considered as an option for most investors. An ISA is a tax-exempt savings account available to UK residents. Whilst the amount invested in an ISA does not benefit from tax relief the
More...The Structures and Buildings Allowances (SBA) allows for tax relief on qualifying capital expenditure on new non-residential structures and buildings. The relief applies to the qualifying costs of building and renovating commercial structures. The relief was introduced in October 2018 at an annual capital allowance rate of 2% on a
More...HMRC publishes a list of income streams that are excluded from a UK property business. The list includes fishing concerns, hotels and guest houses, tied premises, caravan sites, lodgers and tenants in your own home, extra services to tenants and letting surplus trade accommodation. In most cases the income from these activities will be
More...Under new rules that came into effect from April 2017 the tax relief on mortgage costs for residential landlords was restricted to the basic rate of tax. The finance costs restriction was phased in over a number of years and is now fully in place since 6 April 2020. This means that all finance costs, such as mortgage interest on rented
More...VAT for most work on houses and flats by builders and similar trades, like plumbers, plasterers and carpenters, is charged at the standard rate of 20%. However, there are a number of exceptions where special VAT rules apply and a reduced or zero rate of VAT may apply. A builder may not have to charge VAT (zero rate) on some types of
More...There are many benefits to encourage the use of electric cars including lower running costs, the environmental advantages and reduced noise pollution. There are also tax benefits to encourage the purchase of electric cars. We have listed some of these benefits below. The benefit-in-kind (BIK) due on company cars can be significantly
More...An overdrawn director's loan account is created when a director (or other close family member) 'borrows' money from their company. Many companies, particularly 'close' private companies, pay for personal expenses of directors using company funds. Where these payments do not form part of a director’s remuneration, they are usually posted
More...HMRC’s internal manuals consider the reliefs available where there is an exchange of joint interests in land. The manuals state that: The exchange of interests in land which are jointly owned by two or more persons constitutes a disposal by each owner for Capital Gains Tax purposes. In some cases, the exchange is made simply to
More...There are a number of reliefs available that can reduce liability to IHT if you inherit the estate of someone who had died. One of these reliefs is known as Business Relief and is a valuable tax relief for taxpayers with business interests, offering either 50% or 100% relief from IHT on the value of the business assets if certain
More...