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Minimum Wage up 10% in April 2024: Cost to employers

Let’s discuss the cost to employers of the minimum wage rise April 2024.   During the last Tory Party conference, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged that April 2024 would see the minimum wage increase to at least £11.00 per hour. The actual figure, announced on November 21st, is higher than expected, rising to £11.44 per…

mm Mike Blackledge
30 December: Self Assessment Deadline!

Don’t forget the 30 December Self Assessment Deadline!   If you want HMRC to automatically collect tax you owe from your wages and pension you need to submit your tax return online by 30 December and if so you are able to pay your Self Assessment bill through your PAYE tax code as long as all these apply:  …

mm Ben Beech
Autumn Statement: The Follow Up

Autumn Statement: The Follow Up   The Chancellor used his 2023 Autumn Statement to ‘go for growth’.  He has used increased tax receipts from better-than-expected economic performance to fund a headline-grabbing 110 growth-promoting measures.  Highlights include making permanent the ‘full expensing’ capital allowance, R&D tax credit reforms and business rates support for small businesses.  …

Making Tax Digital (MTD): A Simplification

Alongside the Autumn Statement, the government has announced the outcome of its ‘Making Tax Digital’ review for small businesses. The outcome of the review has prompted some welcome simplifications and tweaks to the regime that should make it easier for taxpayers to interact with the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD ITSA) regime.…

DIY Housebuilders Claims Go Digital: 5 Dec 23

Individuals building their own home can submit their DIY housebuilders VAT refund claim digitally from 5 December 2023. The time limit for such a claim will also been extended to six months after completion of the build.   The VAT DIY housebuilders scheme gives DIY homebuilders the ability to reclaim the VAT they pay on building materials…

Dividends Vs Salary: Directors

With the reduction in employees National Insurance (NI) through the Autumn Statement, to 10% and the drop in the dividend allowance to only £500 from April 2024. Alongside the previously announced rise in Corporation Tax rates. The question directors will ask again is, am I better paying myself a higher salary rather than dividends?  …

Amanda Newman
Autumn Statement: How It Effects Private Tax Clients

Are you wondering how the Autumn Statement effects Private Tax Clients?   This year’s Autumn Statement arrived at a time when both businesses and individuals alike are well and truly feeling the squeeze. With the performance of the economy better than expected this year (according to the Office for Budget Responsibility), but expected to grow…

mm Jeannette Hume
Autumn Statement: What’s In It For Businesses?

We all saw the Autumn Statement on 22 November, but the question is, what’s in it for businesses?   This years three words were unsurprisingly Reduce, Cut and Reward, so with inflation reduced, taxes have been cut and there are rewards to hard work.     National Insurance The biggest headlines relate to National Insurance…

mm Whitings LLP
Charities Difficulties Opening Bank Accounts

Having a strong relationship with a bank is crucial for many Charities that depend on the robust controls and support that a bank can provide. In recent years Charities have found it more difficult to open bank accounts particularly with the UK main high street banks, which has added to stresses that Trustees face along…

Preserving Your Family Wealth: Trusts

Have you considered preserving your family wealth?   It is a common occurrence in times of economic uncertainty, most recently the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis, that asset valuations slump. In recent weeks, there has been widespread concern about the economy and in particular the housing market, with the volume of transactions and…