In preparation for the 2017 Revaluation, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is sending out forms to ratepayers from January asking for information about their property and business. This is to help the VOA update the rateable values of all business properties which are used by councils to calculate the business rates they pay. If you […]
Tax avoiders beware
HMRC have published details of a new consultation they are undertaking to tighten the rules that will be applied to tax payers who use avoidance schemes to artificially reduce their tax liabilities. The press release includes the following ten points that persistent tax avoiders should be aware: HMRC is serious about stopping avoidance: the government […]
Self Assessment late filing penalties
The deadline for submitting your Self Assessment tax return for 2013-14 has passed. The online filing date, after which penalties apply, was midnight, 31 January 2015. Penalties for individuals: If you failed to make the filing deadline a range of penalties becomes payable, or potentially payable, how much will depend on how quickly you bring […]
What is a reasonable excuse for late filing
You may feel aggrieved that you were unable to file your return on time for a perfectly valid reason. If you want to appeal against any penalties charged there is a formal appeals procedure you should follow. In order to convince HMRC to withdraw their penalty notice you will have to convince them that you […]
Home based businesses and business rates
The local property tax you pay, in England and Wales, will be either Council Tax or Non-domestic (business) Rates depending on the type of property. Some properties are part business and part domestic, so you may pay both taxes. Good examples are public houses where the publican lives on the premises or shops where the […]
Snugglebundl wins appeal
In a recent case considered by the courts a company that sold a baby lifting blanket appealed a ruling by HMRC that the supply was standard rated for VAT purposes. For the company this placed them at a competitive disadvantage as retail outlets selling the item were required to charge VAT at 20%. At […]
Tax Diary February/March 2015
1 February 2015 – Due date for Corporation Tax payable for the year ended 30 April 2014. 19 February 2015 – PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 February 2015. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 February 2015.) 19 February 2015 – Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly […]
Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay
What you can reclaim As an employer, you can usually reclaim 92% of employees’ Statutory Maternity (SMP), Paternity and Adoption Pay. You can reclaim 103% if your business qualifies for Small Employers’ Relief. You get this if you paid less than £45,000 in Class 1 National Insurance in the last complete tax year before the […]
Women are more likely than men to send in their tax return on time
Women are more likely than men to send in their tax return on time, an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) analysis has revealed. For every 10,000 tax returns received last year by HMRC from men, 394 were after the relevant deadline – 31 October for paper submissions and 31 January for online returns. This compares […]