Latest blogs for Specialisms

  The European Commission imposed fines of €3.4 billion in July 2016 and September 2017 following findings that a number of manufacturers were party to a cartel at senior management level from 1997-2001. Breakdowns of the fines for the companies involved were as follows: Daimler/Mercedes – €1 billion Scania – €880 million DAF – €752…

  With numerous businesses currently being forced to sell property under compulsory purchase orders (COP’s), a little known tax rule may be of assistance in enabling you to diversify your investment in your trade into a buy-let-investment without incurring any tax: HMRC guidance HS292 Business asset rollover relief is a long established rule which allows…

  For many years now, many mid-sized UK charities have been required to subject their annual statutory accounts to independent examination. For such charities, with income within the range of £25,000 to £1m and gross assets of less than £3.26m, an independent examination is a lighter touch of independent scrutiny than a full audit. As…

In recent years the tax system has been used increasingly to try to influence behaviour in the buy to let property market – the increases in Stamp Duty Land Tax, the restriction of tax relief for mortgage interest and the higher rate of capital gains tax for residential property sales are all examples of government…

SDLT for First time buyers – The government has introduced a new relief from SDLT for first-time buyers (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) for all transactions with an effective date on or after 22 November 2017. The relief works as follows: £300,000 or less: no SDLT payable £300,001 and £500,000: no SDLT on the…

As we predicted in past blogs, the Chancellor announced a consultation into IR35 private sector contractors in the Autumn Budget. Since April 2017, contractors in the public sector are no longer responsible for evaluating their IR35 status; the end client is required to carry out an IR35 assessment instead. The Treasury believe this has increased…

What’s in it for Tech Companies? Philip Hammond’s second Budget had to steer a precarious path. Within the parameters of slowing UK growth, preparing for Brexit and a lack of spare money, he had to somehow end public sector austerity and continue reducing the deficit. Whilst trying to restore his own political reputation. Not an…

  The Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) has now replaced the large company R&D scheme. This credit is mandatory for accounting periods ended 31 March 2017, and we are now seeing the implications of claiming the new relief. The credit applies to large companies, and SME’s who claim under the large company scheme, for…

  The decision has recently been published in a European Court of Justice case, Shields and Sons Partnership v the Commissioners for HM Revenue & Customs. The case revolved around the authority of HMRC to remove the partnership from the VAT flat rate scheme for farmers. It is reported that the partnership had benefited over…

  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…