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
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
If you are entitled to a refund of tax deducted from savings and investment income, you can claim the refund using form R40 if you do not complete a self-assessment return. If you do complete a Self Assessment tax return, you do not need to make a separate claim as any tax due to you … Read more
For many people, there will come a time when it becomes sensible or necessary to sell the family home, either to downsize or because of a move to live with a relative or into care. This may result in funds being released, which may be considerable. Thoughts may turn to whether now is the time … Read more
The nil rate band is the amount that a person may leave free of inheritance tax. Each person has their own nil rate band, which for 2024/25 is set at £325,000. A person’s estate may also benefit from a further nil rate band – the residence nil rate band (RNRB) – where they leave a … Read more
Up to certain limits, it is possible to enjoy some savings income tax-free. The extent to which this is possible depends on the rate at which you pay tax; not all routes are open to all. Personal allowance If you do not fully use your personal allowance elsewhere, any balance not otherwise used can be … Read more
Most people do not want to give money to the taxman when they die. However, while it is said that inheritance tax (IHT) is a voluntary tax that can be avoided by giving away money during your lifetime, there is the practical issue that people need money to live on while they are alive. This … Read more
The super-deduction, which allowed companies to claim an immediate deduction of 130% of their qualifying expenditure, came to an end on 31 March 2023. It was replaced with full expensing. As with the super-deduction, unincorporated businesses cannot benefit from full expensing (although the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) will secure a 100% deduction for qualifying expenditure … Read more
In his March Budget, the Chancellor announced a number of changes to the pension tax rules, including an increase in the annual allowance and the abolition of the lifetime allowance. Annual allowance The annual allowance places a cap on tax-relieved pension savings. Individuals can obtain tax relief on contributions to a registered pension scheme of … Read more
