Latest Retail

The government is to increase the earliest age pension savers can access their pension pots from 55 to 57, wef 6 April 2028. Members of the firefighters, police and armed forces public service schemes will not be affected by this increase.

Well, mixed news in the Budget for our hospitality sector, I would say.   A cut in business rates by 50% for qualifying businesses in retail, hospitality, and the leisure sector for a further year will hopefully help with that large overhead. No extension of the temporary reduced rate of VAT beyond 1 April 2022…

In the Chancellor’s Budget on 27 October 2021 it was announced that the planned date for reducing the Annual Investment Allowance limit from £1m to £200k is being extended from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2023. This will effect businesses who are planning on investing more than £200k in plant and machinery from January…

When COVID directly impacted upon the UK in Spring 2020, the Government introduced a range of measures specifically targeted to help SME businesses survive the expected period of financial strain. Such businesses should now be planning ahead for when this support is gradually withdrawn: 21-Jun-21 Deadline for arranging with HMRC when to repay COVID related…

Normal Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) can be paid to your employees from the fourth day they are absent from work if they meet the following criteria: They are classed as an employee and have done some work for you Earn an average of at least £120 per week Have been ill for at least 4…

As 1-Jan-21 draws ever nearer what changes should your SME business prepare to adopt ready for Brexit: Exporting Goods to the EU  Despatches are renamed exports. Apply for an EORI number (which will look something like: GB123456789123). Check whether what you sell is a restricted good that requires an export licence. Check whether there are…

HMRC have announced more details on the Job Retention Bonus scheme they set forth in July. The JRS allows an employer to claim a one-off payment of £1000 per employee furloughed and claimed for through the CJRS and kept employed until at least 31st January. This money is to be paid to the employer and…

After many years of perceived abuse, the Government has announced that they are soon to introduce new laws to require stricter, independent, scrutiny (by an ‘Evaluator’) where connected parties purchase a failed business out of  administration (a Pre-pack). In announcing the move, the government said that while pre-pack administration sales are widely considered to be…

  With the Autumn Budget cancelled the Chancellor has announced a Winter Economy Plan introducing a package of measures to support businesses.   The highlights are:   The Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme (CJRS) – Will end as planned on 31 October 2020.   A new Job Support Scheme – To support viable UK employers who…

On 24th September the government announced the launching in November of the Job Support Scheme to replace the existing Furlough Scheme that is feted to end on 31st October. The JSS is to run from 1st November through to 30th April, but initial rules may be amended after three months.   To qualify for the…