Latest Topical Tax Planning Ideas

As Benjamin Franklin once said; the only two certainties in life are death and taxes. Although it’s a sombre subject, it is important to put in place the right planning so that when we are hit by one, we can avoid the other. We want to ensure we are able to leave as much of…

The chance to take advantage of the generous temporary uplift in the AIA annual limit of £1,000,000 is coming to an end when it is due to revert to £200,000 from 1 January 2022.   It is a perfect time to plan to capitalise on claiming 100% tax relief on qualifying purchases without getting caught…

Many taxpayers who are required to file a self-assessment tax return to HM Revenue & Customs should now be preparing for their next tax payment which is due by 31 July. The amount payable is the second payment-on-account for the 2020/21 tax year and is automatically calculated as half of the total tax liability for…

Under current rules, businesses draw up annual accounts to the same date each year. The profit/loss for the tax year is usually the profit/loss for the year to the accounting date – called the basis period.  Tax is paid on profits earned in the basis period ending in the tax year in question.   However,…

There has been an ongoing debate since the government started to reduce tax relief available on mortgage interest that having property in a company could be more beneficial.   In order to transfer the property from personal ownership there could be a CGT charge depending on the difference in value from when you bought it…

In what was seen my many as a Budget lacking in ideas to kick start the economy back into life, Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a notional 30% uplift to eligible capital allowances headlined as the proverbial ‘rabbit out of the hat’. The tweaked allowances will give businesses purchasing brand new plant and machinery more tax…

Business owners who have built up a valuable private investment company (holding cash, private or quoted equity and/or property), accumulated either from scratch or after the sale of a trading company subsidiary, will be all too aware that the lack of entitlement to Business Property Relief (BPR) creates a problematic inheritance tax (IHT) exposure –…

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has been in consultation with individuals, businesses as well as professional advisers – including accountancy bodies – to review the capital gains tax system and see whether there is any scope to simplify the current tax system. The consultation process closes on 9th November 2020.   Speculation has been…

To reflect the exceptional trading position many companies find themselves in during the Covid-10 pandemic, HMRC has updated its internal guidance regarding companies making claims for repayments of corporation tax based on anticipated losses, and claiming a repayment of corporation tax paid under the quarterly instalments regime.  Companies wishing to make such a claim will…

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…