HMRC is changing its policy on termination payments. As a result, some businesses will be entitled to a VAT refund while others will owe more. What’s the full story? VAT expert John Craig takes a closer look. In September 2020, HMRC changed its policy on one-off payments made in connection with a contract, e.g. early...

Lots of employees don’t understand how their tax code is made up and they are likely to come to you when they have a question or a problem. What do you need to know to help them? Head of Payroll Joanne Gibson advises. When do codes change? There are several fixed occasions annually when tax...

Your accounting period is due to end soon and your fellow directors want to pay a bonus so the company can reduce its corporation tax bill. However, they don’t want to pay tax on it until the following year. Is this possible? Brona MacDougall advises on the timing and rules that you should be aware...

Can a director take a company vehicle out of the business to sell? Q. A company director bought a car through his business on finance, it has been a company vehicle for a few years. The finance is now paid off, and he would like to sell it, but as the business is VAT registered,...

The government aims to raise £12billion by introducing a new 1.25% levy on both earned income and on employers’ wage bills to raise funds for the NHS and adult social care. From April 2022, the new Health and Social Care Levy (HSCL) comes into effect. It might be called a levy, but the HSCL is...

It is your intention to start buying and renovating residential properties, before selling them and reinvesting the proceeds. But should you operate this through a limited company? And what key issues should you be addressing from the outset?  Helen Johnstone discusses in more detail below. The first thing to do is to consider whether you...

Your father left the whole of his estate, mainly consisting of his share in their home, to your mother in his will. As a result, there will be a big inheritance tax bill waiting when she dies. What steps can you take to reduce it? Nil rate bands While the inheritance tax (IHT) nil rate...

The government is to introduce reforms which will correct one of the great tax injustices. The change in the law will reduce the pressure on separating couples to settle ownership of their asset quickly or face a capital gains tax (CGT) bill. What’s the full story? Married couples and civil partners are in a privileged...

Is VAT payable on cash stolen by employee? Q. We are retailers and have discovered that a member of staff has been understating our sales by taking, say, £30 cash from a customer, and only recording the sale as £25 in the till. Must we account for VAT on the £5 shortfall? Does it make...

Of course all businesses want to keep costs down and having a robust system in place for checking employee expense claims should be part of that regime. But what are the requirements to meet HMRC’s standards? Our Head of Payroll, Joanne Gibson advises. Self-policing expenses policy Generally, HMRC isn’t concerned about the amount that you...