HMRC have revealed that 1,566 UK tax payers filed their 2013 self-assessment tax returns on Christmas day. Are we to take this as evidence that the “bah humbug” mentality is alive and well in the UK? In order to file their returns these reluctant revellers will have needed to switch on their computer, as the […]
Points to Consider When Setting a Marketing Strategy
Your marketing strategy consists of the things that you do in your business to make the phone ring. Each technique requires different combinations of financial and human resources. Here are a few pointers on which marketing decisions to improve the return on marketing investment. Market research Forward-thinking businesses conduct market research to identify market trends […]
Setting Effective KPIs
Setting goals and a strategy for your business is important. However you then need to measure how the business is performing in order to understand if the firm is moving forward and is on track to achieve its goals. As such it is necessary to set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). However many business owners and […]
HMRC criticised for soft peddling
In a recent report prepared by the Public Accounts Committee HMRC was accused of pursuing smaller businesses with more vigour than larger concerns. HMRC was also criticised for under estimating the amount of uncollected tax, over estimating amounts due from the holders of Swiss bank accounts, and collecting tax credit debt. A summary of the […]
Communication & Performance Management
Good communication is key in any business and no more so than when it comes to performance management in a firm. Issues relating to staff members and the performance of their duties arise often when running a business (or a department for that matter). Whether it is timekeeping and attendance issues or failing to complete […]
Tax free celebration for Christmas
Most business people are aware that if they keep the “per head” expenditure below £150 for the annual bash, and if they follow the other HMRC guidelines, then there should be no risk that HMRC will seek to treat the payments as a taxable benefit. However, if the cost creeps over £150, to say £200 […]
Equitable Life additional payout
On the 10 December 2013 HM Treasury announced that the long awaited additional payment, to pre-1992 Equitable Life annuitants, will be made this week. The details below are the formal confirmation from H M Treasury’s website: The government has confirmed that it will make ex-gratia payments by next week to those Equitable Life With-Profits policy […]
Approaching the end of another tax cycle.
Although the UK tax year runs from 6 April to the following 5 April, there is another which ends 31 January each year – it’s the online filing deadline for self assessment purposes. The 31 January 2014 is also the date on which any outstanding self assessment tax unpaid for the tax year 2012-13 falls […]
The Bank of England directs funding to small businesses
From January 2014 the Bank of England and H M Treasury will redirect the Funding for Lending Scheme away from mortgage lending, and instead provide funding for hard pressed small businesses. There has been significant press commentary about the likely “over-heating” of the UK property market. Basic economics would seem to dictate that if you […]