Latest blogs for Services

In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, HMRC has updated it’s guidance for employers who offer salary sacrifice arrangements.   Under the terms of a salary sacrifice arrangement, a ‘life event’ is a permitted reason to break the arrangement mid-term.  Previously the list of life events was limited to marriage, divorce, and a partner becoming redundant…

Earlier this week, HMRC reached out to their ‘customers’ to inform them about the information which will be required for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme online portal, due to be open from 20th April 2020.   The online portal will allow employers to submit information to HM Revenue & Customs about furloughed workers in order…

With an increasing pressure on the government to provide financial support to UK taxpayers during the COVID-19 pandemic, amongst other proposals, the government announced the option for taxpayers to defer the payment of their second payment on account for 2019/20. Provided the required payment is made before 31 January 2021, no interest charges will be…

Has your income dropped as a result of the COVID-19 crisis?  If it has, and you have children under the age of 16 and don’t ordinarily claim Child Benefit, you should evaluate whether you are now eligible to claim this benefit.   If you expect both you and your partner will each earn less than…

Back in February, I wrote a blog detailing the effect the annual allowance tapering legislation was having on senior NHS clinicians and many others with a defined benefit pension scheme, which can be found here.   I explain that, although NHS England has stepped in to help some NHS staff affected by the charges for…

At a time when cash flow is key, don’t forget to claim VAT relief on bad debts when preparing your VAT return.  To claim relief, a debt must have remained unpaid for a period of six months from the later of the date payment was due or the date of the supply. If all or…

As a consequence of the Covid-19 lock down, most employees who are able to work from home, and who have not been furloughed, are now working from their private study, spare bedroom, dining room table, etc. So what home expenses can these employees reclaim, tax free, from their employer:   Supply of a mobile phone…

Companies that require their accounts to be audited, and hold significant levels of stock at their year-end, expect a visit from their auditors annually to perform test counts of their stock.   However, during the current lockdown, auditors are considering other ways to gain the assurance they need over the stock levels held. Some suggestions…

The Government has issued guidance notes to clarify the extent to which the Furloughing arrangements can be offered to all public sector workers including contingent workers being paid under PAYE, through an umbrella or their own personal service company.  This means that the scheme can be offered to those individuals who:   work through a…

The marriage allowance allows you to transfer £1,250 of your unused personal allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner in a given tax year.   In order to qualify the one receiving the transfer must not be a higher rate tax payer and the lower earner must have income below their personal tax free…