More than 282,000 working families used a Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account during March 2021, according to figures from HMRC. HMRC stated that it is the highest recorded number of families in any one month since the scheme was launched in April 2017. These families received a share of more than £33 million in government top-up… Read more…

Three schemes were launched on 1 July to deal with VAT on business-to-consumer supplies of goods and services to EU customers. They are known as the ‘Union’, ‘non-Union’ and ‘import’ schemes. The schemes are designed to facilitate the collection of VAT by one EU member state, which is then passed on to the member state… Read more…

HMRC has launched nearly 13,000 investigations into alleged abuse of the government’s coronavirus (COVID-19) financial support schemes. A freedom of information request revealed that, up to the end of March 2021, HMRC opened 12,828 investigations into alleged cases of fraud. 7,384 of these investigations related to abuse of the COVID-19 support schemes. 5,020 investigations were… Read more…

From 1 July 2021 there are changes to the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) and Land Transaction Tax (LTT) bands for residential property. SDLT is payable by the purchaser in a land transaction occurring in England and Northern Ireland. The following rates and thresholds apply for SDLT from 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021:… Read more…

The government has confirmed that employers of all sizes in England can now apply for £3,000 in extra funding to help them take on new apprentices. The boost to the apprenticeship incentive scheme was confirmed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the Budget in March. The claims portal opened on 1 June and businesses can apply… Read more…

The government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) begins winding down from 1 July. The latest data from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) shows that at the end of April 3.4 million jobs were still on furlough so the change to the furlough scheme will affect thousands of employers across the country. Since last March,… Read more…

The pursuit of health and happiness is difficult enough at the best of times but when you factor in a demanding office job, it can seem almost impossible. Long hours, constant sitting, unhealthy snacks and general stress can all take their toll on your wellbeing. Fortunately, there are ways to adapt your working day, to… Read more…

HMRC has confirmed that the fifth Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant covering the period May 2021 to September 2021 will open to claims from late July. To be eligible for the grant, an individual must be self-employed or a member of a partnership. They must have traded in the tax year 2019/20 and submitted… Read more…

Businesses that deferred VAT payments last year have less than a month left to join online and pay in monthly instalments under the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme, HMRC has warned. The online portal for the new payment scheme will close on 21 June 2021. Over half a million businesses deferred £34 billion in VAT… Read more…

Freeport operators will be able to take advantage of a zero rate of secondary national insurance contributions (NICs) for employees, the government has announced. The National Insurance Contributions Bill 2021, which legislates reliefs for those operating in Freeports, has now been published. The Bill confirms that from April 2022, organisations with employees spending 60% or… Read more…