Latest Technology

Data Protection and the Blended Working Environment

  In light of the Government’s announcement to go to Plan B, our IT services subsidiary company, decisive:it,  have written an article on data protection and security whilst working from home: Data Protection and the Blended Working Environment

Super early retirement? – Not if under 47 now

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.

Budget: “Hooray for AIA!”

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…

Construction firm wins R&D tax relief case

A tax tribunal has made a landmark ruling against HMRC, by declaring that the construction taxpayer (Quinn) was validly entitled to claim SME research and development (R&D) tax relief totalling approximately £1m, even though this work was specifically undertaken to order for a customer, which would normally mean the ‘subsidised’ rule would prohibit eligibility under…

Covid Support: End to most measures

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 Such businesses should now be planning ahead for when this support is gradually withdrawn: 21-Jun-21 Deadline for arranging with HMRC when to repay COVID related…

Net Zero Carbon: Does your business now need a plan?

From 1 October 2021, to be eligible to apply for public sector contracts over £5m pa, suppliers must have Net Zero Carbon Reduction Plans in place. These will be required to demonstrate a commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 in the UK:  Taking Account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the Procurement of Major Government…

Prevention of abuse of R&D tax credit refunds for small and medium sized companies

From 1 April 2021, HMRC are to introduce a limit on the amount of payable tax credits which can be claimed by a loss-making company. The refund will be restricted to £20,000 plus 300% of its PAYE and NIC liability for the period. Where the accounting year straddles 1 April 2021, the company will be…

Future Fund: New COVID-19 Support for Innovative Companies

As part of it`s support package for UK businesses during COVID-19, the Government have now launched, through the British Business Bank, a new initiative: Future Fund. This is aimed at helping businesses that regularly finance their operations through successive equity funding rounds (ie start-up TechCo`s).   Eligibility criteria: UK based businesses which have been operating…

Budget 2020: What’s in it for TechCo’s?

As Chancellor Rishi Sunak sits down after presenting his first Budget to the Commons, the headlines will all relate to tackling Coronavirus and increased spending on our public services. Reading the small print, however, which is released by HMRC straight after the Budget, announcements that will be of interest to clients running technology companies include:…

R&D Tax Claims: HMRC finally go-digital.

In February 2019 HMRC introduced an online tool to submit Research & Development tax relief claims (both SME and RDEC claims). It is still necessary to make the claim on a company tax return (form CT600), but the accompanying detailed R&D project information can (but does not have to) now be submitted by completion of…