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Company cars: ultra-low emissions vehicles

Sunday, January 1, 2017

At Budget 2016, the government said it would consult over the summer on changes to the ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV) bands for taxing company cars to ‘focus incentives on the very cleanest cars‘. As a result of the consultation, HMRC have now published details of eleven new bands, which will be introduced for ULEVs with emissions below 75gCO2/km from 2020/21, including a separate zero emission band.

Some of the lowest CO2 bands are based on the ‘electric range’ of the vehicle, as well as the CO2 emissions. This is…

Abolition of Class 2 NICs

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Originally announced at Budget 2016, the 2016 Autumn Statement confirmed that Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will be abolished from April 2018, hopefully achieving the desired effect of simplifying National Insurance for the self-employed and making the system fairer for employed and self-employed individuals.

At the same time as the abolition of Class 2 NICs, the system for Class 4 NICs will also be reformed to include a new threshold – to be called the ‘small profits limit’ (SPL). The amount of the SPL for 2018/19 is yet…

Changes to the VAT flat rate scheme

Sunday, January 1, 2017

In a surprise announcement in the 2016 Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced that changes are to be made to the existing flat rate scheme for VAT (FRS) in order to tackle perceived ‘aggressive abuse’. The changes, which will take effect from 1 April 2017, are designed to ‘reduce the incentive for firms and agencies to move employees to self-employment to exploit VAT simplification aimed at small businesses’. The subsequent HMRC policy paper published on 5 December sets out the details of the changes, which will affect any users,…

December key tax dates

Thursday, December 1, 2016

19/22 – PAYE/NIC, student loan and CIS deductions due for month to 5/12/2016

30 – Deadline for 2015/16 self assessment online returns to be filed if you are an employee and want tax underpaid to be collected by adjustment to your 2017/18 PAYE code (for underpayments of up to £3,000 only)

December questions and answers

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Q. My wife doesn’t work. Can she transfer her unused personal tax allowance to me?

A. Since April 2015, it has been possible for a spouse or civil partner who is not liable to income tax or not liable above the basic rate for a tax year, to transfer part of their personal allowance to their spouse or civil partner, provided that the recipient of the transfer is not liable to income tax above the basic rate.

The transferor’s personal allowance will be reduced by the same amount. For 2015/16…

A Gentle Change of Weather From The Autumn Statement

Friday, November 25, 2016

As expected, Chancellor Phillip Hammond’s Autumn Statement was a cautious one, offering perhaps a small dip in temperature, but no impending storms for the coming months.

However, he did raise some points which small business owners should take note of:

From April 2017 businesses which use the flat rate scheme to account for VAT, and firms who supply services rather than goods, will need to check the level of costs they incur to make sure they are using the correct flat rate.

If purchases of goods are below certain limits they…

Autumn Statement 2016

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Making the most of your money and achieving your financial goals in a world of complex and ever-changing tax legislation requires careful planning and expert advice.

This guide introduces some of the kay areas to consider when planning to maximise your business and personal wealth, although your exact requirements will depend on your individual circumstances.

If you have any questions or would like one-to-one advice tailored to your needs, please call us on 01792 466 428 or email Read More

Five New Year’s Resolutions Every SME Should Consider Making

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Wales is the home of small businesses and business start-ups, with 99 percent of Welsh firms being SMEs. And across the UK, this year alone, almost 600,000 entrepreneurs put their dreams into action by setting up shop.

The Centre for Entrepreneurs’ Start Up Britain campaign heads for Wales this month, with a host of events going ahead throughout our towns and cities, aimed to help people grow their small business.

Here at Morgan Hemp, we specialise in providing expert business planning advice and tools to SME’s – in…

Self-assessment and disclosure

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Finance Act 2016, which became law on 15 September 2016, contains provisions designed to help clarify the time allowed for making a self-assessment.

The time limit is four years from the end of the tax year to which the self-assessment relates. This is the same time limit as for assessments by HMRC. The provisions will have effect on and after 5 April 2017, although there are transitional arrangements for years previous to this, as follows:

– for tax years prior to 2012/13, taxpayers have until 5 April 2017 to submit…