Using SIPP to save for retirement
A SIPP is a self-invested personal pension which is set up by an insurance company or specialist SIPP provider. It is attractive to those who wish to manage their own investments. Contribution to a SIPP may be made by both the individual and, where appropriate, by the...
Inheritance tax – spouses and civil partners
Inheritance - Special rules apply for inheritance tax purposes to married couples and civil partners. To ensure valuable tax reliefs are not lost, it is beneficial to consider the combined position, rather than dealing with each individual separately. Married couples...
Government childcare scheme – tax-free top-up
Working parents can receive a tax-free top-up from the Government to help with their childcare costs. The top-up is worth £500 every three months (£2,000 a year). A higher top-up of £4,000 a year (£1,000 every three months) is available where the child is disabled. To...
Student loan deductions
Employers fulfill many collection roles for HMRC, one of which is the collection of student loan repayments. There are now three types of student loans for which employers may be responsible for deducting loan repayments from an employee’s pay. These are: Plan 1...
Penalties for late self-assessment returns
The normal due date for a self-assessment return where filed online is 31 January after the end of the tax year to which it relates. This means that self-assessment tax returns for 2017/18 should have been filed online by midnight on 31 January 2019, and...
Getting ready for off-payroll working changes
The off-payroll working rules that have applied since 6 April 2017 where the end client is a public sector body, are to be extended from 6 April 2020 to large and medium private sector organisations who engage workers providing their services through an intermediary,...
Tax-free mobile phones
Mobile phones are ubiquitous – they are also subject to a tax exemption which enables employees to enjoy a mobile phone provided by their employer without suffering a benefit in kind tax charge. However, as with all exemptions, there are conditions to be met for the...
Electricity for electric cars – a tax-free benefit
Embrace electric for tax-free benefits The Government is keen to encourage drivers to make environmentally friendly choices when it comes to choosing a car. As far as the company car tax market is concerned, tax policy is used to drive behaviour, rewarding drivers...
How to save on inheritance tax
Inheritance tax - frequent gifts can be free of tax. Within a family scenario, there are many situations in which one family member may make a gift to other family members. However, the way in which gifts are funded and made can make a significant difference to the...