Latest blogs for Services

In a recent HMRC test case (Ames v CRC), the Upper Tribunal considered whether it was necessary for EIS income tax relief to have been claimed when an EIS investment was made, for the transaction to then potentially qualify for exemption from capital gains tax when the investment was sold. For the case in question,…

It’s the holiday season, many will have recently been or soon be travelling abroad. As well as marvelling at the sights, we will also be struck by how these countries are run, and compare them to life back in home.   It is easy to be jealous of: State pension levels in Sweden Police numbers on…

Occupying a let property as the only or main residence at some point during the period of ownership will not only shelter the gain relating to the period for which the property was occupied as the main residence (and also that relating to the last 18 months of ownership), but will also entitle a claim…

Retiring early is the dream for all of us, it is a chance to do more of what you enjoy, yet unsurprisingly the majority of us have never tried to calculate how much money we will need to save to live comfortably in retirement.  Your likely income needs will depend upon whether in retirement you…

We are fortunate to have many worthy charities in and around our area all making a huge contribution to our community. When it comes to the fraudsters charities do not have any exemption, in fact quite the opposite, they are often seen as a soft touch.  The Charity Commission has just published ‘Tackling Charity Fraud’…

When an employee becomes a trustee it is important to consider what the salary is paying them for – either trustee duties or for their contractual employment. There are only limited circumstances when trustee boards can pay a trustee for carrying out their trustee duties. Whilst there is a general power to pay a trustee…

So, you enjoyed your break in a holiday cottage to the extent that you’re considering investing to make money from a similar property of your own. Jason Jones has this advice because a Furnished Holiday Let is a special type of property business where very different tax rules apply.   These Lets can be seen…

Although we hear of decline in the value of development land, particularly for larger developments, growing houses continues to be more attractive to many than growing crops. Onerous Section 102 levies may apply but the tax regime remains gentle. It should not however be assumed that tax reliefs will be available automatically. Legislation imposes qualifying…

Do you remember when eBay first emerged and become a revolutionary trading platform for buying or selling and, yes, turning a profit? As social-media has expanded, so have trading websites to the extent that there’s hardly a town, village or group that does not have a ‘buy’n sell’ page.   HM Revenue & Customs have…

HMRC have lost a second IR35 case this year, and their second case against the same contractor, putting into doubt their own understanding of the IR35 rules. Ian Wells, director of personal service company Jensal Software Limited provided his services to the Department of Work and Pensions via a recruitment agency during 2012 and 2013.…