Latest News
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Were capital losses deductible for income tax?
The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) recently considered if an individual was entitled to tax relief for losses when a company he invested in went bust. It ought to have been simple but a refinancing deal complicated matters. What did the FTT decide?
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Rogue refunds of Class 2 NI due to HMRC failure
HMRC has incorrectly refunded Class 2 NI to some self-employed taxpayers. What should you do if you get an unexpected payment?
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New online service for voluntary contributions goes live
If you have gaps in your NI history, you can pay voluntary contributions to increase your entitlement to certain benefits, e.g. the state pension. You can now do this online. How do you access the new service?
Newsletters
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The IHT exemption that HMRC hides
You have the task of obtaining probate for your mother’s estate which involves completing tricky inheritance (IHT) tax forms. One of these requires you to report lifetime gifts. How might the form’s wording cause you to miss out on an IHT exemption?
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Gifts of shares to children: direct or via a trust?
You want to give away some shares in your company to help provide an income for your children. Is it better to make a direct gift to them or should you transfer the shares to a trust with your children as beneficiaries?
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Are work-related benefits for disabled persons tax free?
A loyal employee has suffered a disability and needs special equipment to do her job. If she also uses the equipment in her personal life, will it count as a taxable benefit for her?
Monthly Focus
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MONTHLY FOCUS: SECONDARY INCOMES
In 2023 it was revealed that HMRC would enjoy new data-sharing information from online selling platforms from 1 January 2024, including eBay, Etsy, etc. This led to media speculation that innocent people selling second-hand items would soon be hearing from a tax inspector. In this monthly focus, we look at the tax consequences of starting a small trade, or taking a second job.
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SPECIAL FOCUS: TAX UPDATE AND 2024 SPRING BUDGET
The 2024/25 tax year is just days away. In this special Monthly Focus we look at the changes that you need to be aware of for the forthcoming year, as well as highlighting the key measures announced at the 2024 Spring Budget.
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MONTHLY FOCUS: CAPITAL GAINS TAX SAVINGS WITH SHARES
Capital gains tax, or CGT for short, applies to gains made on the disposal of chargeable assets. There are a number of tax reliefs available that you can take advantage of when planning your investments. In this Monthly Focus, we look at some of those that apply to shares.
Practical Guides
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Practical guide: are you ready for the cash basis by default?
Following a consultation, the cash basis is being simplified and will become the default basis of accounts preparation for unincorporated business from 6 April 2024. What are the implications of this decision for your business?
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Practical guide: do you need to apply the salaried member rules?
The main partner in your firm, a limited liability partnership (LLP) that provides investment management services, has asked whether one of its members meets the conditions of the salaried member rules. What are these rules, and what guidance does recent case law provide?
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Practical guide: using cheap loans to beat high street rates
HMRC’s official rate of interest, used for calculating the taxable amount on participator loans, is very low compared with high street rates. How can you use this to your advantage in a tax and NI-efficient way?
Tools and Calculators
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Income tax calculator
The introduction of special tax allowances, rates and rate bands which interact differently depending on your level and type of income has made the calculation of income tax liability far from straightforward. Our calculator can be used to work out your income tax liability, and can be used where you receive any combination of earnings, savings income, dividends and most other types of income. It will also calculate any adjustment required to finance costs relating to letting income.
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Business incorporation calculator
Where you run a business as a sole trader it might save tax and NI if you transfer it to a company. However, doing so has immediate and long term tax consequences.
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VAT number checker
You are only entitled to reclaim VAT on purchases where the supplier is registered. When buying from a business for the first time it’s a sensible precaution to check that they have a genuine VAT registration.
Tax Documents
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Alternative ways to challenge HMRC
After several months of trying to get your point across to HMRC you’re getting nowhere. Might a formal review help resolve the issue and how do you go about applying for one?
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Director's or employee's loan account record
Director’s loan account record A taxable benefit in kind may arise where a director is provided with a loan, either interest free or at a rate of interest below HMRC’s official rate (3% for 2016/17). Use this document to calculate what, if anything, you need to declare to HMRC. Make a note Where a cheap rate or interest-free loan is no more than
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Amending a personal tax return letter
You are entitled to amend entries on your personal self-assessment tax return within the “amendment window”. Where you completed and submitted your return electronically either using HMRC’s or commercial software, you can use it to make amendments. However, where you submitted a return in paper format you will need to write to HMRC with details of the corrections.
Tax Rates
Calendar
* All dates are subject to possible adaptations