Wokingham Accountants
The official rate of interest is a rate set by HMRC which is used to calculate the benefit in kind tax charge on cheap employment-related loans, and also the amount charged to tax in respect of the provision of employer-provided living accommodation where the cost of that accommodation is more than £75,000. Employment-related loans The … Read more
Employees who incur expenses in undertaking their job may be able to claim tax relief for those expenses where they are not reimbursed by their employer. The expenses will qualify for relief if they are incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of the duties of their employment or meet the deductibility conditions for … Read more
If you are the owner of a personal or family company, it is prudent to review your dividend strategy before the 2024/25 tax year comes to an end as assessing whether paying a dividend before 6 April 2025 would be beneficial. Sufficient retained profits The first point to note is that dividends are payable from … Read more
When starting a business, there are various decisions to make and tasks to perform. One of the first questions to address is whether to run the business as a sole trader, whether to set up a partnership with others or whether to form a company. The way in which a business is operated will determine … Read more
The payment of National Insurance contributions is linked to entitlement to the state pension. If sufficient National Insurance contributions of the right type are paid for a tax year, that year counts as a qualifying year for state pension and benefit purposes. A person may also secure a qualifying year if they are awarded National … Read more
If you are self-employed, you will pay tax on your taxable profit. In working out your taxable profit, you can deduct certain expenses that you have incurred in running your business. The basic rule is that expenses can be deducted if they are incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade. This rule … Read more
One of the key announcements in the Autumn 2024 Budget was the rise in employer’s National Insurance contributions from 6 April 2025. From that date, the rate of secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions is increased by 1.2 percentage points, from 13.8% to 15%. In a further blow, the secondary threshold – the point above … Read more
Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) is a valuable relief which reduces the rate of capital gains tax payable on gains made on the disposal of all or part of a business or the sale of shares in a personal trading company. The relief was previously known as Entrepreneurs’ Relief. A sole trader selling all or … Read more
Employers looking to spread some seasonal cheer can do so in a tax-efficient manner by taking advantage of the exemptions for annual parties and functions and trivial benefits. Christmas parties The tax exemption for annual parties and functions will only apply to a Christmas party if the following conditions are met. Some points are worthy … Read more
The way in which you operate your business determines the taxes that you pay and also your reporting obligations. If you work for yourself and run your business on your own as an individual other than through a limited company, you are a sole trader. By contrast, if you operate your business through a personal … Read more
