The new dividend tax regime and how it could affect you. In the Summer Budget, George Osborne announced fundamental changes to the way in which dividends are taxed. The changes will not take place until dividend receipts from 6 April 2016 but individuals who extract profits from their company as dividends may need to consider...

By Joanne Gibson BA CA, Associate, JRW Chartered Accountants Putting savings away for your children’s future definitely won’t impress a young child much now – especially when they realise they can’t access that pot of money till they are 18. But as the old saying goes ‘they grow up fast’ and they most certainly do,...

After someone dies, the people looking after their affairs have to add up the value of what is left behind and take off any debts and expenses. Depending on how much is left in the person’s estate (their property, money and possessions) there might be Inheritance Tax to pay. Inheritance Tax is paid if a...

We deal with all types and sizes of business and a question we are asked on a daily basis is ‘What type of business structure should I trade under?’ Of course this is always a vital consideration for new business start ups but because your business format is not set in stone forever, established businesses...

by Kevin D. Ferguson BA CA, Partner , JRW Chartered Accountants   In this month’s article we provide a summary of the key tax points from the Summer Budget. We have mainly concentrated on the tax measures that will directly affect individuals, employers and small businesses in 2016 and 2017. Tax rates and the personal...

On 6 April 2015 a new Marriage Allowance came into effect, offering tax benefits for eligible couples.  The allowance applies to married couples and civil partnerships where one of you doesn’t pay tax and the other doesn’t pay more than the basic rate of income tax (20%).  It allows the non-tax payer to transfer up...

Are you one of an increasing number of people who work from home? The number of people working from home has risen to its highest level since records began -according to the Office for National Statistics. There were 4.2 million home workers in the UK in the first three months of 2014 amounting to 13.9%...

As motorists, our growing demand for reduced costs and greater efficiency coupled with increased choice and performance, has resulted in a quadrupling of plug in car sales. By Robert J Johnstone, Associate, JRW Chartered Accountants There has been a huge surge in demand for ultra-low emission vehicles in the UK, with sales of electric and...

A huge change in the way people fund their retirement is expected following the Chancellor’s well reported ‘pension revolution’. From 5th April this year, millions of people reaching retirement age will be able to spend their pension pot in any way they want. The move will remove the requirement on many people with defined contribution...

It might surprise you to know but Inheritance Tax (IHT) is starting to become more of a concern to many people, the main reason for this being rising property prices. Most estates (the assets you leave when you die) are still not charged with Inheritance Tax, as the total value is not high enough, but...