The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) ended in September but many firms could still be subject to a CJRS compliance check in the weeks and months ahead. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has been sending out letters to employers throughout the year telling them they need to pay back CJRS payments because they claimed too … Continue reading →

Thousands of taxpayers across the UK have received ‘nudge letters’ from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) encouraging them to declare unpaid tax.  The reasons for being targeted vary but the impact of being contacted by HMRC can cause a lot of stress, leaving many taxpayers unsure about what they should do. Who is HMRC targeting … Continue reading →

Official research has found increasing confidence amongst SME employers, with 26 per cent saying they expect to increase their employee headcounts over the coming year. The findings from the Small Business Survey, carried out by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), show that the number of small employers – those with fewer … Continue reading →

The National Minimum Wage has been in place for more than two decades. It currently stands at £8.91 per hour for adults over the age of 23 (The National Living Wage), while the lowest figure is £4.30 per hour for an apprentice. While a sizeable number of breaches will be down to errors or incorrect … Continue reading →

Couples may be missing out on tax breaks without realising it, according to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Savings can be made both with Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) by using their personal tax allowance. For CGT, a couple’s two allowances (each equal to £12,300) can be combined to reduce the final tax … Continue reading →

It is a nightmare that plagues both business and private users alike, but cyber security experts are continuing to fight back against the online crooks using email scams targeting their organisations. The UK’S cyber police force, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), has published guidance for businesses on a new reporting tool that can be … Continue reading →

While rising property values may seem like good news, as prices go through the roof it could land you with a hefty Inheritance Tax (IHT) bill. The latest data from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) show that the average IHT tax bill stood at nearly £210,000. IHT is a charge on the value of the … Continue reading →

As the UK emerges from the economic crisis caused by the pandemic there are many positive indicators of financial recovery, such as a fall in COVID-induced public spending, a rise in job vacancies and a decline in unemployment, all of which are encouraging businesses to grow. The economic indicators are good news for SMEs with … Continue reading →

Where grants claimed under the self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) do not correspond with records held by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), it will auto-correct 2020-21 tax returns and issue a new SA302 calculation to both taxpayer and acting agent. Corrections may be necessitated if: The grant amount was omitted; The amount received appears in … Continue reading →

With predictions that the UK economy is set to grow at its fastest pace in 80 years and could recover to its pre-pandemic size by the end of this year, SME owners are feeling more optimistic and are keen to invest in growth. However, they are also frustrated by the mix of financial options open … Continue reading →