Chancellor commits to review of IR35

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid has announced that the major review of all aspects of self-employment, promised in the Conservatives’ manifesto, will include the proposed extension of the Off-Payroll working rules to the private sector from April 2020. Speaking on Radio 4’s Money Box Election Special, Sajid Javid said that, as part of… Read more…

Minimum wage rates announced

The government has announced a 6.2% increase in the National Living Wage (NLW), which applies to workers aged 25 and over. From 1 April 2020 the NLW will rise from the current rate of £8.21 to £8.72 an hour, in the largest raise since it was introduced two decades ago. The government has confirmed that… Read more…

Chancellor announces Budget date

Chancellor Sajid Javid has announced that he will deliver the 2020 Budget on Wednesday 11 March 2020. The 2020 Budget will be the first to be delivered after the UK’s scheduled departure from the EU on 31 January 2020. It is also Mr Javid’s first Budget as Chancellor, following the cancellation of last November’s planned… Read more…

Research and Development spend

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that UK businesses spent £25 billion on Research and Development (R&D) in 2018. Data from the ONS showed that total R&D expenditure increased from £23.7 billion in 2017 to £25 billion in 2018.     The report showed: the aerospace industry saw the largest increase in R&D… Read more…

Latest guidance for employers

HMRC has issued the latest Employer Bulletin. This issue includes articles on a number of areas including:         guidance for employers on reporting PAYE information in real time when payments are made early at Christmas electronic payment deadline falls on a weekend Ultra Low Emission Vehicle High Income Child Benefit Charge deadline… Read more…

HMRC issues guidance on cryptoassets

HMRC has published guidance for people who hold cryptoassets, typically cryptocurrency or Bitcoin, explaining what taxes they may need to pay and what records they need to keep. HMRC has also published further information for businesses and companies about the tax treatment of cryptoasset transactions. HMRC advises that these papers set out HMRC’s view of… Read more…

Check employment status for tax tool update

HMRC has issued an update to the Check employment status tool (CEST) in advance of the introduction of new tax rules proposed for individuals who provide their personal services via an ‘intermediary’ to a medium or large business. The tool is designed to give HMRC’s view of the status of contracts and has received criticism.… Read more…