On budget day (or 3 March 2021 for those of you who didn’t have this in the diary) the Chancellor confirmed that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will now run until 30 September 2021. Up to and including 30 June 2021 you can claim, and must pay the employee, 80% of their reference pay...

Since the pandemic began, our charity clients have been asking us if they are allowed to hold meetings virtually instead of in person. To help charities understand what action they must take, our charity expert Kevin Ferguson brings you some useful Q&A’s on the subject in relation to the requirements of the Scottish Charity Regulator,...

If you are eligible for the fourth SEISS grant it is likely that HMRC have already contacted you by email, letter or text message to invite you to apply from late April 2021. The exact date on which an individual’s personal claims window opens will differ from person to person but the scheme will close...

The Chancellor announced that the British Business Bank will manage the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS), which opened to applicants on 6 April 2021 and will run until 31 December 2021. Various major banks (23 at last count) have already been accredited for this scheme – here is the full list Finance is available for ANY...

HMRC’s new refund verification system looks disconcertingly like a scam. We have had several clients recently receive SURF1 and SURF2 letters from HMRC in response to 2019/20 tax returns that requested a refund. The SURF1 is being sent mainly to people who are newly registered in self assessment and it is a fraud prevention tactic....

Something that many people have discovered during lockdown is that it is possible to work effectively from home. But perhaps you are now keen to create a more permanent work space at home and are thinking of investing in a garden office. What are the key things to consider and are there any tax implications?...

Your company’s financial year ends soon. Despite the difficult trading conditions over the last year the accounts will show a profit. But what steps can you take to legitimately reduce the corporation tax bill? Joanne Gibson advises. Generally, expenses that your company incurs are tax deductible. However, special rules mean that tax relief for some...

Despite the financial pressures caused by the pandemic, the government has gone ahead with the planned extension to tax breaks for environmentally friendly vehicles. What might this mean for your business? Bob Johnstone advises. Businesses wanting to take advantage of the capital allowances (CAs) tax break for environmentally friendly cars and other vehicles have been...

You recently saw a press article about tax and Gift Aid donations, it said that people who donate to charity and whose income has been hit by coronavirus can face unexpected tax bills. Are you at risk of this? Helen Johnstone provides the answer. As you probably know, under the Gift Aid scheme charities and...

Small and medium-sized businesses can now apply for grants of up to £2,000 to help them adapt to new customs and tax rules when trading with the EU. The grant can be used to help fund training or professional advice that may be required due to the changes in customs, rule of origin and Vat...