With changes to employer’s National Insurance and the Employment Allowance, now is the time for businesses to review the most tax-efficient mix of salary and dividends for directors From 6 April 2025 the secondary Class 1 National Insurance threshold reduces from £9,100 to £5,000. At…

In just over a year the first tranche of sole traders and landlords will be required by law to keep digital records to comply with the requirements of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) From April 2026, taxpayers with qualifying trading and property…

The hourly rate will depend on the worker’s age and whether they are an apprentice. Age of workers Hourly rate from 1 April 2025 Hourly rate from 1 April 2024 21 and over (NLW) £12.21 £11.44 18 to 20 (NMW) £10.00 £8.60 Under 18 £7.55…

The sunset clause which was set to end the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme on 5 April 2025 has been extended for a further ten years. The schemes, which offer tax relief for individuals investing in qualifying small and medium-sized…

HMRC has tightened up the process for claiming tax deductible employment expenses following a series of high-profile scandals If you incur job-related expenses of up to £2,500 which are not fully reimbursed by your employer you may be able to claim tax relief. For expenses…

Many more sole traders and landlords will be required to comply with making tax digital (MTD) for income tax when the qualifying income threshold is reduced from £30,000 to £20,000 The Budget confirmed that taxpayers with qualifying income of £50,000 or more will be required…

At the Autumn Budget the Chancellor announced plans to remove the exemption which allows unused pension funds to be inherited tax free Currently, if a pension holder dies before the age of 75 their beneficiaries can generally inherit the remaining funds tax-free, whether as a…

When was the last time you checked your national insurance (NI) record for unexpected gaps or viewed your state pension forecast? Missing qualifying years in your NI record, or ‘gaps’, can reduce the amount of contributory benefits you are entitled to. This includes maternity pay,…

As expected, the Chancellor has confirmed the abolition of the generous tax regime enjoyed by non-UK-domiciled individuals, or ‘non-doms’ Broadly, the current rules apply to a UK resident whose permanent home – or domicile – for tax purposes is outside the UK. These individuals do…

It is common for some employers to pay their workers earlier than usual in December, for example if the business will be closed during the festive period While this may make sense for the business, being paid early can have an unwanted impact on an…

The rates of capital gains tax (CGT) payable on gains arising from assets other than residential property have been increased with immediate effect Rates Those taxpayers who decided to accelerate planned investment disposals before the Budget in anticipation of the predicted CGT hike will be…

Private schools will need to register for VAT and charge output VAT on education and boarding services when the exemption that currently applies is removed from 1 January 2025 All education and boarding services provided by a private school or connected person will be subject…

The Chancellor has announced that the main rate of secondary Class 1 national insurance contributions (NIC) for employers will increase by 1.2 percentage points from 13.8% to 15% from April 2025 The Class 1A and Class 1B employer rates (relating to benefits) will also increase…

The Chancellor has extended the current freeze on inheritance tax (IHT) thresholds until 2030 and announced changes to the treatment of inherited pensions and other IHT reliefs The nil-rate band (NRB) is the amount of any estate that can be inherited tax free. It has…

The stamp duty land tax (SDLT) surcharge levied on purchases of second and subsequent homes has been increased from 3% to 5% with immediate effect The higher rate applies to purchases of second homes and buy-to-let residential properties. The change applies to purchases with an…

If you purchase a double cab pick-up with a payload of one tonne or more before 1 April 2025 for corporation tax, or 6 April 2025 for income tax, you can enjoy the favourable tax treatment available on vehicles primarily suited to the conveyance of…

Showing renewed commitment to promoting electric vehicles over petrol, diesel and hybrid models, the Government has extended the 100% first year allowance for zero-emission cars Businesses and individuals can continue to deduct the full cost of zero-emission vehicles and electric vehicle charge-points from their taxable…

HMRC has completed a long-overdue overhaul of the forms and associated guid­ance used to report chargeable events on which inheritance tax (IHT) is due on a trust. Previously, if you needed to report IHT due on gifts or trusts you had to complete the ‘one-size-fits-all’…

HMRC has published draft legislation explaining how the abolition of the special tax rules for furnished holiday lettings (FHLs) will work. From 6 April 2025 for sole traders and partnerships, or 1 April 2025 for companies, properties currently classed as FHLs will no longer benefit…

HMRC has delayed planned changes to real-time information (RTI) reporting requirements for employee hours worked. Draft legislation was published in May aimed at improving the range of data collected by HMRC. The proposed changes will require businesses to provide more detailed information to HMRC via…

From April 2026, sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 will have to comply with the Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax requirements. Quarterly updatesMandated taxpayers will need to use third party MTD-compliant software to keep digital records and file quarterly summaries…

HMRC is no longer automatically issuing cheques to refund PAYE overpayments. It is common for employed taxpayers to get to the end of the tax year and find that they have under- or over-paid income tax via PAYE. These discrepancies are calculated by HMRC at…

Certain types of company are not eligible to apply the small profits rate for corporation tax, regardless of their profit levels. On 1 April 2023, the main Corporation Tax (CT) rate was increased from 19% to 25%. A small profits rate of 19% was introduced…

Providing a nursery can be a powerful way to attract and retain staff, with childcare costs in the UK among the highest in the world. Tax relief is available to employers providing workplace nurseries if certain criteria are met. These requirements are strict; many childcare…

From 6 April 2024 the cash basis has replaced accruals as the default method for preparing sole trader and partnership accounts for tax purposes. Previously, only unincorporated businesses with total receipts below £150,000 were entitled to opt out of accruals and file their accounts with…

From 6 April 2024 all unincorporated businesses (sole traders and partners in a partnership) are required to report profits or losses in line with the tax year. Businesses with an accounting period end other than 5 April or 31 March will need to report pro-rated…

From 1 January 2024 online platforms such as websites, online marketplaces and apps that allow individuals and businesses to sell items and services are required to collect and report seller information and income to HMRC. If you sell items through eBay, Etsy, Facebook or another…

A new merged research and development (R&D) scheme has come into effect for periods beginning on or after 1 April 2024. The new scheme unifies the old R&D expenditure credit (RDEC) for large companies and the small and medium entity (SME) relief schemes. In line…

The clawback threshold for the high-income child benefit charge (HICBC) was increased to £60,000 from 6 April 2024. If you are entitled to child benefit and your or your higher-earning partner’s adjusted net income (ANI) is above £60,000 it is possible that you will have…

If you made voluntary Class 2 national insurance contributions (NIC) for the 2022-23 tax year, check whether this payment has been refunded in error by HMRC. Some self-employed taxpayers who made voluntary Class 2 payments by 31 January 2024 may have an unexpected gap in…

HMRC has updated its guidance to clarify the tax position of reimbursed travel costs for hybrid workers. As many employees are now working from home at least part of the time, some employers are offering to repay certain travel expenses. HMRC’s updated guidance includes new…

HMRC has issued guidance on various changes to the existing construction industry scheme (CIS) rules. If you are a sub-contractor, obtaining gross payment status (GPS) allows you to receive full payments from your customers without tax deducted. To achieve GPS, you need to prove that…

There are currently three forms of compensation being awarded to subpostmasters following the Horizon scandal and each will have different tax implications. Money paid to subpostmasters under the Group Litigation Order (GLO) and overturned convictions schemes is not taxable. These payments are awarded in recognition…

The zero rate of VAT has been extended to include the installation of additional energy-saving materials (ESMs) from 1 February 2024. The installation of certain specified energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation is zero rated for VAT. The more common ESMs include: From 1 February…

HMRC has clarified the rules relating to capital allowances claims in mixed partnerships, confirming that all partners subject to corporation tax are eligible for enhanced capital allowances. Corporate members should receive the same level of capital allowances as they would outside of the partnership. Corporate…

The reporting and paying of income tax and Class 1A national insurance contributions on benefits in kind is to be made mandatory via payroll software from April 2026. Most employers who have not entered into a PAYE settlement agreement currently report benefits in kind (BIKs)…

HMRC has confirmed the mandatory dates for making tax digital for income tax self-assessment (MTD SA) as announced in the Autumn Statement 2023. From April 2026, taxpayers subject to income tax on their trade, profession, property income or business and who have income above £50,000…

New guidance from HMRC confirms that profits used to assess student loan repayments and entitlement to student finance will include transitional profits from basis period reform. Student loan repayments for self-employed taxpayers are based on the profits reported in each tax year. For the tax…

HMRC has reminded investors in cryptoassets that they should declare any income or gains above the tax-free allowance on a tax return. If you hold cryptoassets such as Bitcoin you need to pay tax on any income or gains you have made. Most individuals investing…

HMRC has updated the recommended reimbursement rates for employees reclaiming business travel in company vehicles. If you pay for the fuel in your company car your employer can reimburse you for the cost of business journeys in that car at the following mileage rates tax…

Two new savings products have been announced, aimed at supporting growth of UK companies and encouraging a culture of saving. Individuals can currently deposit up to £20,000 each year into an individual savings account (ISA). This is a sensible move as any interest earned is…

The remittance basis tax relief offered to non-UK domiciled individuals (non-doms) will be removed and replaced with a simpler residence-based regime from 6 April 2025. The new system will ensure that all UK residents who stay in the UK for over four years will pay…

Owners of furnished holiday lets will lose their entitlement to favourable income tax, capital gains tax and capital allowances as the FHL scheme is abolished. If you own a property that you rent out on a short-term basis for holiday rentals, subject to certain qualifying…

The higher rate of capital gains tax (CGT) for residential property disposals will be cut from 28% to 24% from 6 April 2024. The lower rate will remain at 18% for any gains that fall within an individual’s unused basic rate band. The 24% rate…

Multiple dwellings relief (MDR) can significantly reduce the stamp duty land tax (SDLT) payable on the purchase of two or more properties in one transaction. When a taxpayer purchases a property that consists of more than one dwelling they may claim MDR to reduce the…

The earnings threshold above which businesses must register for and start charging VAT has been increased.   Effective from 1 April 2024, the taxable turnover above which a business is required to register and account for VAT will be increased from £85,000 to £90,000. This is…

The headline news from the Spring Budget was further cuts to national insurance contributions (NIC) of 2% each for self-employed taxpayers and employees. The main rate of primary Class 1 NIC paid by employees on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 per year will be cut…

The threshold for earnings above which you have to pay back some or all of your child benefit will be increased from 6 April 2024 with a full overhaul of the regime promised in April 2026. If you or your partner receive child benefit and…

HMRC has introduced two new measures to tackle the rise in fraudulent research and development (R&D) claims. Claim notification form. For accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2023, a digital pre-notification form is required to inform HMRC in advance of R&D claims. This…

Cash basis to replace accruals for the self-employed as standard tax reporting method for 2024-25 (first year of tax year accounting). From April 2024, as part of a move to simplify calculation of taxable profits for Making Tax Digital, all self-employed taxpayers and partnerships will…

Individuals who build their own home, or complete part of the build project themselves, are entitled to reclaim the VAT paid on materials under the VAT homebuilder’s scheme. When engaging builders and contractors to build your home, their labour and materials are zero-rated, so the…

The online form for requesting overlap relief information for basis period reform is now live. Overlap profits normally arise in the first two tax years of a new trade where the accounting date of the business does not align to the tax year end and…

HMRC has updated its Employment Income Manual to bring the guidance on charging electric company cars at home in line with the legislation. Until now, the guidance in the Employment Income Manual (EIM23900) has contradicted the legislation in advising that if an employer reimburses an…

A dramatic simplification of the MTD processes to be introduced in 2026 including no EOPS; cumulative submissions each quarter; and restrictions for complex situations. Taxpayers with turnover over £50,000 will be brought into MTD ISTSA from April 2026. The £50,000 threshold applies to gross total…

The NLW currently applies to workers aged 23 and above and stands at £10.42 per hour. Workers under the age of 23 and apprentices are entitled to the national minimum wage (NMW) instead. The age above which workers qualify to receive the NLW will be…

The Chancellor has announced cuts to national insurance contributions (NIC) for self-employed taxpayers and employees. The headline news from the Autumn Statement was the reduction of primary Class 1 and Class 4 NIC and the removal of compulsory Class 2 NIC. The main rate of…

HMRC has confirmed that requirements to report additional information will come into effect from the 2025-26 tax year or possibly a later period. HMRC has set out its intention to collect data relating to trade sectors; locations; occupations; hours worked; shareholdings and dividends paid; and…

The Nationwide Building Society has paid what is described as a ‘fairer share’ of £100 each to around three million of its customers. To qualify for this payment the customer must have held a qualifying current account plus either a savings account (including ISAs) with…

In Spring Budget 2023 the Chancellor announced a welcome change to the tax treatment of pensions – the scrapping of the Lifetime Allowance (LTA). The LTA stood at £1,073,100 when the process began on 5 April 2023 with the removal of the LTA charge. This…

Claiming child benefit is, after the initial claim, an incredibly straightforward process (subject to the issues raised above regarding higher earners). However, after sixteen years of automatic claiming it is easy to forget to update HMRC on whether you will continue to be entitled for…

HMRC has given taxpayers an extra two years to plug any gaps in their NIC record from April 2006. The deadline for making voluntary contributions has been extended from 5 April 2023, as previously reported, until 5 April 2025. The deadline was first extended to…

In families where child benefit is claimed, it is important that the individual or couple receiving the child benefit keeps a close eye on their income level. If the higher earner has income of more than £50,000 some or all of the child benefit received…

There is currently no legislation specifically targeted at social media influencers, however the fast-growing industry is very much on HMRC’s radar. Earlier this year HMRC sent nudge letters to thousands of influencers as well as gamers and online traders on sites such as Etsy and…

The traditional way to hide sales from HMRC is to take payment in cash and not put it through the books. Nowadays technology helps dishonest traders to hide sales by using electronic sales suppression (ESS) software. The sale is not recorded on the normal till…

Occasionally you may reward your employees with something special such as a holiday or a hamper. If the value exceeds the tax-free amount permitted under the rules for say long service awards, trivial benefits, or staff suggestions it will be taxable. To avoid your employees…

Student loan repayments (SLR) are normally deducted under PAYE from employment income so many people incorrectly assume that SLR are not due on other ‘unearned’ income such as rent or pensions. SLR will in fact be payable where the unearned income exceeds £2,000 per year…

The changes to the pension rules announced in the Spring Budget were designed to dissuade higher earners from retiring early to avoid pension charges on high contributions but the new rules could have the opposite effect. Individuals can now contribute up to £60,000 per year…

When HMRC asks for more PAYE than you have deducted from your staff’s wages it is often the result of double-counting somewhere in the process. A persistent bug in the PAYE system is caused by the HMRC computer creating a duplicate employment record which it…

Petrol and diesel pump prices are high but the tax-free mileage rates payable to employees who use their own vehicles for business have not been adjusted for over a decade. Many employees cannot afford to use their own car or motorbike for business journeys if…

The annual capital gains exemption (currently £12,300) may cover most of the capital gains that you make on your share portfolio. However that exemption will be cut to £6,000 on 6 April 2023 and £3,000 in April 2024. If you are planning to make large…