Tax implications of company failure
With interest rates falling, business growth should follow. While this is waiting to happen, companies continue to close. The latest statistics published by the Insolvency Service state that 'After seasonal adjustment, the number of registered company insolvencies in...
Five common capital gains tax errors
HMRC have revealed that every year lots of simple errors are made in tax returns in relation to capital gains tax which result in the taxpayer suffering additional tax, interest and penalties. Here are some common mistakes, and how to avoid them. Using the correct...
Taxation of company cars in 2024/25
A taxable benefit arises where an employee has the private use of a company car. Unless the car is an electric car, a further benefit arises if the employer meets the cost of fuel for private travel. Car benefit charge The amount that is charged to tax depends...
HMRC informers – How important are they in reducing the ‘tax gap’?
The 'tax gap' is a phrase that has been around for almost twenty years and refers to the difference between HMRC’s expected tax revenue and the total tax received from all taxpayers. Notably, it is an estimated figure compiled on an annual basis and, although...
Partnerships – Cessation on death of a partner
Partnerships exist in either ordinary format or as limited liability partnerships (LLP). An ordinary partnership is legally defined by the Partnership Act 1890 and is commonly chosen to set up a business to be owned by two or more sole traders. The partners share all...
Employer-provided equipment – Tax implications for employees of working from home
Since the start of COVID-19 in March 2020, the number of people working from home in the UK has dramatically increased. As of January 2023, research shows that 44% of workers in the UK work from home – which translates into approximately 23.4 million people. Many of...
Advertising or promotion verses entertainment or hospitality – Which is allowable?
To be allowable as a tax deduction whether under the corporation tax or income tax rules, most expenses must be incurred ‘wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade’. Unlike the equivalent rule for employment expenses, the expense is not required to be...
Training costs and the self-employed
A sole trader or proprietor of an unincorporated business may incur training costs. The tax treatment of those costs depends on whether the costs are regarded as ‘revenue’ or ‘capital’ expenditure. HMRC have revised their guidance in this area, expanding the range of...
Business rates for 2024/25 and changes to empty property relief
Business rates, rather than council tax, are payable on non-domestic properties. The rates are worked out by applying the relevant multiplier to the property’s rateable value. However, there are a number of reliefs that are available which may reduce or eliminate the...
The confusion surrounding the VAT reverse charge
VAT can be confusing at the best of times, with the reverse charge being arguably one of the more complex applications. It does not help that different rules depend on different scenarios. For example, the reverse charge mechanism does not apply in the case of a...