Archive:April 2019

Please find below all the articles from April 2019.

Treasury under pressure to debate probate “tax”

Monday, April 1, 2019

In its commentary on the economic and fiscal outlook published alongside details of the Spring Statement, the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) has pointed out that the government has altered its proposed schedule of fees payable for an application for a grant of probate. The new rates take effect from April 2019, and range between £250 and £6,000, depending on the value of the estate.

Prior to the change, bereaved relatives paid a flat £215 fee for probate, the charge for securing legal…

Making Tax Digital update

Monday, April 1, 2019

VAT-registered businesses with a taxable turnover above the VAT threshold are required to use the Making Tax Digital (MTD) service to keep records digitally and use software to submit their VAT returns from 1 April 2019.

The exception to this is a small minority of VAT-registered businesses with more complex requirements. As part of planning for the VAT pilot, HMRC consulted with various stakeholders and took the decision to delay mandation for these customers until 1 October 2019 to ensure there is sufficient…

Employee mileage allowances

Monday, April 1, 2019

Confusion often arises over differing tax treatment of mileage allowances paid to employees using their own cars for business, and those provided with a company car.

An employee using their own car for work can claim a mileage allowance from their employer, which is designed to cover the costs of fuel and wear and tear for business trips. The mileage allowance will be tax-free if it does not exceed HMRC’s Approved Mileage Allowance Payment(AMAP) rates, which are currently as follows:
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NMW and NLW increases take effect

Monday, April 1, 2019

New rates for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) (aged 25 and over) apply from 1 April 2019, and employers must ensure that they implement them accordingly. The rates are as follows:

– 25 and over – £8.21 per hour;
– 21- to 24-year-olds – £7.70 an hour;
– 18- to 20-year-olds – £6.15 an hour;
– under 18s – £4.35 an hour; and
– Apprentice…