Latest Business Support

  We have recently become aware of an announcement in October 2017 by the Rural Payments Agency regarding Active Farmers Accountant Certificates. This concerns farmers who are in receipt of payments from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2017 and follows a European Union audit requiring the Rural Payments Agency to check the active farmer status…

  Cloud software providers FreeAgent have been in partnership with Natwest and Royal Bank of Scotland for some months now. Small business customers of these banks are offered the software for free, and are being advised there are host of benefits such as forecasting and simplifying tax.   But is there a downside to this?…

  Xerocon is the big event where not only do Xero promote and demonstrate their software but a host of other businesses shop-window software that links to Xero. We attended and are now in talks with a number of suppliers of apps. Having braced Xero the next step for Whiting & Partners and our clients…

  What is Atom: an app based bank? Basically there are no branches and they don’t act like conventional banks. They use biometric security: face and voice recognition to log into their app. Everyone who joins Atom is given their own unique personalised brand. Put simply they get to name their own bank, have their…

  I have blogged on this subject before. Unfortunately, this type of fraud is on the increase.   HMRC have published an up-dated warning with examples of bogus emails, text messages, and social media scams purporting to be from HMRC.  They also mention again bogus callers leaving messages about the need to make immediate tax…

  The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has begun carrying out employer spot checks to make sure employers are complying with their automatic enrolment duties and that they are giving their staff the workplace pensions they’re entitled to. According to the TPR these inspections help them to understand any challenges employers are facing, and whether TPR need…

HMRC have issued their latest guidance to employers in the August edition of the Employer Bulletin. This publication, which is issued every two months, includes articles on: Reporting Pay As You Earn in real time Optional Remuneration Arrangements Tax codes – Get it right first time PAYE penalties – continuation of the risk-based approach to charging penalties…

HMRC have announced the introduction of a new online tax forum and webchat service for small businesses. HMRC are advising that the new service called the Small Business Online Forum offers advice on tax matters as well as help with: starting a business support for growing a business – including taking on employees and expanding…

New company car advisory fuel rates have been published which took effect from 1 September 2017. The guidance states: ‘You can use the previous rates for up to one month from the date the new rates apply’. The rates only apply to employees using a company car. The advisory fuel rates for journeys undertaken on or…

The government is to introduce new data protection rules under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which takes effect from 25 May 2018. Under the GDPR businesses will have increased obligations to safeguard the personal information of individuals which is stored by the business. These rules apply to the information of customers, suppliers or employees.…