Blog

18-09-2018
Budget date remains to be confirmed

The Chancellor Philip Hammond, has stated before the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, that he is not yet in a position to announce a date for the Autumn Budget 2018 saying it was 'difficult to fix'. Last year, the Chancellor had used his ... read more

18-09-2018
Help-to-Save scheme launched

The new Help to Save scheme for people on low incomes was officially opened with effect from 12 September 2018 following an 8-month trial. The new scheme allows those in work entitled to Working Tax Credit, and in receipt of Working Tax Credits or ... read more

18-09-2018
CGT record keeping

The annual Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exemption for individuals is £11,700 for 2018-19. A husband and wife each benefit from a separate exemption. Same-sex couples who acquire a legal status as civil partners are treated in the same way as married ... read more

18-09-2018
Childcare and compensation claims

The Tax-Free Childcare Scheme (TFCS) helps support working families with their childcare costs. The scheme provides for a government top-up on parental contributions. For every 80p in the £1 contributed by parents, an additional 20p or 20% is funded ... read more

18-09-2018
Spotless but not tax deductible

The First-Tier Tribunal (FTT) recently heard three joined appeals that concerned the availability of tax relief for employee expenses. In each of the cases the expense claims related to the costs incurred cleaning and sanitising working clothes ... read more

18-09-2018
Stamp duty and leasehold property

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is payable whether you buy a freehold property, a new or existing leasehold property or a shared ownership property. SDLT has been replaced in Scotland by the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and in Wales by the Land ... read more

18-09-2018
Accommodation expenses and benefits

There are special rules for the provision of living accommodation to employees under certain circumstances. In most cases, employees will pay tax on any living accommodation provided by an employer unless they qualify for an exception. However, where ... read more

18-09-2018
Paper Self-Assessment return deadline

The 2017-18 tax return deadline for taxpayers who continue to submit paper Self-Assessment returns, is 31 October 2018. Late submission of a Self-Assessment return will become liable to a £100 late filing penalty. The penalty usually applies even if ... read more

13-09-2018
Self-employed Class 2 NIC changes cancelled

In a surprise move, the government has announced that, following a lengthy consultation, the planned abolition of Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (NIC) will not take place in the current parliament. The announcement was made in a written ... read more

13-09-2018
Receipts to cover certain expenses to be abolished?

A new measure to remove the requirement for employers to check receipts for expense claims made by employees using the HMRC benchmark scale rates or overseas scale rates is to be introduced. The change will be included in the Finance Bill 2018-19. ... read more