Latest Tax Planning

From 6th April 2024 HMRC want to encourage more of the self employed to use the cash basis when completing their accounts and self-assessment tax returns.   The new cash basis from 6th April 2024 will mean: The cash basis will be the default, with an opt-out for those wishing to use the accruals basis.…

With the upcoming General Election we are thinking about tax planning for SMEs.   The 4th July election day will be with us before we know it and many SME business owners are starting to think about whether they should undertake any protective actions. Especially if they think a change in government is looking likely.…

It’s the question which many start ups ask themselves, ‘Should I be a Sole Trader or a Limited Company?’   It’s something that we here at Whitings are more than happy to advise on and help you with. So whether this is your first business venture or you’ve had businesses before, it’s always helpful to…

Have you thought about your end of year tax planning?   As another tax year end comes around we turn our thoughts to any tax planning that can be undertaken before the 5 April.   You can find a link to our general tax planning guide here Tax Year End Planning Feb 2024, as a reminder…

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…

From 1 April 2023 the rules changed so that the rate of corporation tax that a company pays, and when, is dependent on the level of its profits as well as the number of its associated companies.     Rate Of Corporation Tax Standalone companies from 1 April 2023 with profits exceeding £250,000 will be…

The ‘gifts out of surplus income’ exemption is a powerful, yet often forgotten about, Inheritance Tax (IHT) exemption. As the name suggests lifetime gifts made from surplus income are immediately exempt from IHT, provided that certain conditions are met.   To qualify for this valuable relief, the following conditions need to be satisfied: The gifts…

We are seeing a lot of tax calculations (forms P800) and ‘Simple Assessments’ (forms PA302) being issued by HMRC recently.   Many of the tax calculations we have seen are incorrect – either because they only include an estimate of non-PAYE income (i.e. bank interest, life assurance gains, property profits), or they omit non-PAYE income…

The CTD scheme allowed individuals, companies, personal representatives, and trustees to deposit funds with HMRC, which could later be used to pay certain tax liabilities.   The scheme for new purchases closed on 23 November 2017. Existing certificates will be honoured until 23 November 2023. Any remaining certificates after this date should be promptly submitted…

As of 31st May 2023 certain VAT-registered businesses are now able to arrange VAT payment plans directly with HMRC via their online account.   HMRC – Set Up A VAT Payment Plan   Businesses will be eligible to set up the payment plan online if: the latest VAT return has been filed; the total amount…