New research has revealed that the affluent area surrounding Guildford in Surrey has the highest proportion of people paying Inheritance Tax (IHT). The study showed that 658 estates were subject to the tax the town in 2015/16, paying on average £231,000 each. In comparison, Wigan in Greater Manchester saw just 31 estates liable for IHT… Read more…

Despite rumours that the Chancellor might scrap Entrepreneurs’ Relief (ER) all together in the Autumn Budget, Philip Hammond decided to retain the tax relief but has made fundamental changes to who qualifies for it. Mr Hammond said that “encouraging entrepreneurs must be at the heart” of the Government’s strategy but he recognised the relief as… Read more…

In his latest Budget speech to the Commons, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced that the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage would increase from April next year. However, despite many employees across the UK welcoming this sudden pay rise, small business owners across the UK are being left to pick up the bill. From April… Read more…

According to a new report by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), there have been a growing number of R40 computation errors on refunds processed by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Individuals can use R40 forms to claim tax refunds on tax deducted from savings income. Following the CIOT report, HMRC has now confirmed that… Read more…

Minimum wage breaches, including breaches of the National Living Wage, have cost workers from across the UK a combined total of £15.6 million in lost wages. Figures released by the Government show that around 200,000 workers were affected in 2017/18, in what was the highest underpayment since the National Minimum Wage was introduced. In total,… Read more…

With only six months left until the launch of Making Tax Digital for VAT, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has finally begun sharing information with businesses about the new regime. While accountants and professional advisers across the UK have been making clients aware of the new digital system for more than two years, the nation’s… Read more…

Recent research has shown that micro businesses are bearing the brunt of late payments, with just 52 per cent of the invoices they issue being paid on time. However, the research found significant regional variation, with 68 per cent of micro businesses in Peterborough encountering the scourge of late payments. The research was based on… Read more…

The number of investigations conducted against estates thought to be avoiding Inheritance Tax (IHT) has increased, according to new data from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The tax authority has revealed that 5,400 estates were investigated during the 2017/18 tax year – a five per cent increase on the previous year’s figure (5,100 estates). This… Read more…