Special capital gains tax rule for transfers of assets between spouses
Although married couples and civil partners are assessed individually for capital gains tax purposes and each has their own annual exempt amount, a special rule allows them to transfer assets between them at a value that gives rise to neither a loss nor a gain. This...
Thinking of starting a business but not sure when you’d be classed as trading?
Trading income is taxed for both income tax and corporation tax purposes. In order for a tax charge to arise under the trading income rules, there must be a trade. It is, therefore, necessary to understand what constitutes trading, and when a trade commenced or...
Tax-efficient childcare
Childcare is expensive; however, the tax system can provide a helping hand. In recent years, there has been a shift from tax relief for employer-supported childcare and vouchers to a Government top-up scheme. Government scheme The Government operate a tax-free...
Collection of tax debts post Covid-19
During the Covid-19 pandemic, HMRC paused much of their tax collection work, both to allow resources to be diverted to other activities, such as administering the various coronavirus support initiatives, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the...
Making mileage payments to employees
As the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, business travel is once again on the agenda. Where employees undertake business travel, they will usually be able to claim the associated expenses from their employer. If the journey is by car, the easiest way to do...
Do I need to register for VAT?
You must register your business for VAT if your VAT taxable turnover exceeds the registration threshold. This is currently £85,000. You must register if: at the end of any month, the value of your VAT taxable supplies in the previous 12 months or less is more than...
Pension annual allowance – Making tax relieved contributions
Tax relief is available to encourage individuals to make contributions to registered private pension plans. However, while there is no limit to the amount that an individual can contribute to their pension plans, there are limits on the contributions that qualify for...
Relief for losses in the early years of a trade
It is not uncommon to realise a loss in the early years of a trade. However, traders who commenced their self-employment in 2019 or 2020 may also have suffered as a result of the pandemic. Although the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) provided help for...
Termination payments and Class 1A National Insurance
As the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme comes to an end, employers with employees who are still on furlough will need to decide whether they are able to bring the employee back to work, either full time or part time, or whether they will have to terminate the...