Inheritance Tax (IHT) is due when a person’s estate (their property and possessions) is worth more than £325,000 when they die. This is called the ‘IHT threshold’. The current rate of IHT is 40% on anything above the threshold. The rate may be reduced to 36% if more than 10% of the estate is left […]
Trade marks
Ever wondered how you can register a trade mark that makes your brand recognisable, for example a logo or a sound? Registering a trade mark lets you stop other people from using it without your permission. A trade mark registration lasts 10 years and is only valid in the country of registration. You can renew […]
National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates and penalties
Last week we published details of who is, and who is not, entitled to payment at National Minimum Wage rates. This week we have listed the current rates of NMW that apply. There are currently three aged based national minimum wage rates and an apprentice rate, which are usually updated in October each year. The […]
Exporters data to be released by Government
UK businesses should be aware that the Government are consulting on the possible release of data held by public departments, particularly, HMRC. We have reproduced extracts from a recent press release that sets out the scope of the present consultation. “The data held by the public sector is among the most useful and valuable […]
A new look to benefits in kind regime?
HMRC are currently consulting with interested parties (the accounting profession and associated professional organisations) to re-vamp the UK’s system for taxing employee benefit in kind and expenses. Changes are planned to simplify this process in accordance with recommendations made by the Office of Tax Simplification. Consultations commenced 18 June 2014 and due to be completed […]
Apple IOS8 & Yosemite
Apple has recently revealed new operating systems for both its mobile and desktop / laptop devices. iPhone, iPad, etc. will get the new iOS8 software and desktops and laptops will get the OS X Yosemite software. Apple didn’t announce any new hardware at the firm’s recent Worldwide Developer Conference. The big news is that the […]
Tax free capital gains – private residence relief
If you dispose of a dwelling house (which can include a house, flat, houseboat or fixed caravan) which is your home, or part of a dwelling house which is your home, or• part of the garden attached to your home , you would normally have to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on any gain you […]
Effective business development meetings
No matter what type of business you run, you need to network in order to build your business. Effective networking involves a lot more than simply handing out business cards. Here are a few tips to help your business development meetings produce the business relationships that you want: Sort your contacts Try to get a […]
A new range of apprenticeships under the Trailblazer scheme.
Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock announced a new range of apprenticeships that will be developed by employers under the Trailblazer scheme on 27 June 2014. He also called for expressions of interest from groups of employers to become part of the third phase of Trailblazers. The Apprenticeship Trailblazers, launched in October 2013, have gone […]