You are considering leasing instead of purchasing cars for your business. This will improve cash flow and, according to the salesperson, allow you to reclaim VAT that you would not otherwise be entitled to. Is this correct?  Naomi Swan explains the rules. Generally, VAT paid on the purchase of cars for use in your business...

Although the Chancellor announced an increase to the VAT registration limit in the Spring Budget 2024, it was fairly modest. As a service business if your turnover exceeds the new limit, can you legitimately avoid having to register?  Associate Jayne Rogerson discusses the implications. Until 1 April 2024, the VAT registration turnover threshold had been...

Tips, service charges or gratuities, whatever they are called, tipping is becoming more and more commonplace in the UK. With that, questions over where those tips actually go have been asked and there is no clear answer, but that won’t be the case for much longer. A new law and statutory Code of Practice on...

You have agreed to reimburse part of an employee’s broadband bill for when they work from home. HMRC’s guidance says that although this is a business expense, you must deduct PAYE tax and NI from anything you pay. Why is this and can it be avoided?  Audrey Rankine advises. Generally, employers can reimburse or pay...

You are making an overseas trip for business and have decided to take your husband and two children, so they can holiday while you are working. The question is, can you put the expense through the company and if so, are there any tax considerations?  Kirsten Hancock looks at the implications. The answer to the...

HMRC’s computer system has identified 4,000 traders in the hot food and catering sector that may be under-recording sales. What might this mean for your business, and could the review be extended to other sectors?  Kenny Logan from our Edinburgh office takes a closer look. It is common for HMRC to identify specific trade sectors...

Can music business be split into two and deregister? Q. My business trades as a limited company, selling musical instruments and giving piano lessons. All lessons are given by me, as I am the sole director and shareholder. The annual fees from lessons are £50,000 but the annual sales of instruments has fallen to £70,000....

You hold the main interest in a family-owned trading partnership and are planning to retire, selling your interest to your adult children. But you have been advised that this could lead to an inheritance tax (IHT) charge?  Partner Kenny Adamson advises. Unincorporated traders Business property relief (BPR) is an extremely valuable tax planning tool. BPR...

Your business sells vouchers to customers that can be redeemed against goods or services that you sell in the future. But how should you account for VAT on these vouchers?  Naomi Swan provides the answer. What is a voucher? Many vouchers issued by your business will be electronic rather than in paper format. This is...

JRW Hogg & Thorburn have just announced the appointment of a new Partner in the firm. Christiaan Hansen, who is based at the firm’s Hawick office, is a tax specialist with particular interest in Inheritance Tax planning and business restructuring, as well as assisting on Trust and Estate related tax matters. Originally from Cape Town...