With many people looking to get on to the housing ladder in 2018, it has never been more important to have easy access to a mortgage. However, since HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) changed the way it issues details of tax calculations and tax year overviews for submission with mortgage applications last year, self-employed workers… Read more…

The majority of businesses across the UK are making preparations to increase their minimum workplace pension contributions, having successfully enrolled more than 8.5 million staff into schemes. Auto-enrolment minimum contributions were due to rise in October 2017 under the original plans and then again in October 2018, but the Government took the decision to push… Read more…

While most people will be focused on the festive celebrations at this time of the year, businesses and their owners must not forget the all-important Self-Assessment deadline. The deadline for sending 2016-17 tax returns to HMRC is midnight on 31 January 2018. The penalty regime for missing the 31 January filing deadline includes an initial… Read more…

A new study has revealed that almost half of all shoppers will not spend money with a business this Christmas if it doesn’t provide facilities to pay by card. A study, commissioned by card machine provider Paymentsense, has found that 45 per cent of UK shoppers walk out of cash-only smaller retailers and independent outlets… Read more…

Businesses across the UK have welcomed the Chancellor’s decision to bring forward plans changing the way business rates are set by two years. In the Autumn Budget, Philip Hammond announced that from April 2018 business rates would rise in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation, not the Retail Price Index (RPI).… Read more…

The abolition of Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (NIC) will now be delayed until 6 April 2019, according to a new written statement to the House of Commons. HM Treasury has written to MPs to let them know that the move has been delayed to allow additional consultation with interested parties, particularly in respect of… Read more…

Earlier this year, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) introduced Simple Assessments for some taxpayers who have, until now, been required to complete Self-Assessment Tax Returns. Those affected are taxpayers with relatively straightforward financial affairs where HMRC considers that it already has sufficient information to be able to calculate the tax owed. The first groups to… Read more…

Outstanding payments can be a major headache for SMEs as they can have a significant effect on cashflow and seeking payment can take up time that would be better spent on running the business. In fact, according to Bacs, the not-for-profit entity that runs the eponymous payment service, late payments cost UK SMEs more than… Read more…

The Office for Tax Simplification (OTS) recently published its findings following a review intended to ensure the VAT system remains relevant. On the basis of its findings, the OTS made eight core recommendations: The Government should examine the current approach to the level and design of the VAT registration threshold, with a view to setting… Read more…