Many businesses use Twitter as part of their social media strategy but many fail to utilise it properly as a publication relations (PR) tool. Some businesses view the 140 character limit per post as a negative but that is potentially due to a lack of understanding in terms of how best to use Twitter. The […]
What is Connect?
HMRC’s Connect software system provides data to underpin efforts to tackle tax fraud. It cost a mighty £45m to install in 2009 and by 2011 it had contributed to the assessment of £1.4bn in additional tax revenues. Connect is purported to have more data at its disposal than the British Library. It is not restricted […]
Online sales tax proposal criticised
In recent months the High Street retail industry has been lobbying for a more equitable tax system. In particular they want to see online traders charged a sales tax. High Street retailers argue that online sellers can afford to drop their prices as they have much lower costs; for example they do not have to […]
HMRC targets holiday businesses
HMRC have created yet another taskforce to seek out businesses owners who are believed to be paying less tax than they should. The new team will be concentrating on holiday businesses in certain areas of the UK. Initially, the tax investigation teams will be active in: Blackpool; the Lake District; North Wales; Devon and Cornwall. […]
Low interest rates set to continue in the UK
Mark Carney in his first week as Governor of the Bank of England has made a number of reported decisions that have pleased the markets and other groups. Firstly, it was reported that he used the Underground to journey to work. This endeared him to thousands of other commuters who battle through the maze […]
How to Acquire New Customers
Growing your business in the current economic climate is challenging to say the least. As such, businesses need to think of new, often more radical ways of growing their revenue. Cost cutting is a quick and easy fix – less cost in a more efficient business generates a greater profit. This works, as long as […]
HMRCs accounts – report by Committee of Public Accounts
The following statement was published on the UK Parliaments website 2 July 2013. Please note that the tax gap referred to in Margaret Hodge’s remarks is the difference between tax due and tax collected. A statement from The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts: These accounts give us a […]
David Cameron announces �1m prize for innovation challenge
British cosmologist and astrophysicist Martin Rees has been charged with identifying a modern day Longitude Prize – this was set by the British Government in 1714 and promised £20,000 to the person who mastered the challenge of calculating longitude at sea. At the recent G8 conference Cameron is quoted as saying: “What the world needs […]
Bank of England’s new boss starts this week.
The appointment of Mark Carney as the new governor of the Bank of England has received guarded approval from the financial press this week who hope that he will take a more active role in stimulating the UK economy. The Bank of England interest rate setting committee is meeting Thursday this week and is expected […]