Understanding Simple Assessments and the impact of the Triple Lock

In recent months, the issue of tax liabilities from the Government’s Triple Lock policy has gathered significant attention from pensioners receiving the state pension. With annual increases, some pensioners are now surpassing their tax-free personal allowances, leaving many who have not faced tax liabilities for years suddenly receiving a Simple Assessment from HMRC. While this […]

Christmas bonuses: a guide for employers

As the festive season approaches, employers often seek ways to acknowledge their employees’ hard work throughout the year, with Christmas bonuses being a common method. This article explores key considerations for giving these bonuses to help you make informed decisions about rewarding your team. Understanding Christmas bonuses and their role A Christmas bonus can be […]

HMRC redesign IHT100 forms to simplify reporting

HMRC recently introduced a redesigned IHT100 suite of forms, aimed at simplifying the reporting of chargeable lifetime transfers by individuals and transfers made by trusts. Previously, individuals needed to complete both an IHT100 form and a separate ‘event’ form, depending on the type of transfer. This system was complex, involving different forms for various charges, […]

The FHL regime is coming to an end: what this means for property owners

The recent confirmation of the abolishment of the Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) regime has brought significant changes for property owners to consider. It was announced by then-chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in the 2024 Spring Budget, that the FHL regime will officially end from 6 April 2025 for Income Tax and Capital Gains tax and from 1 […]

Exploring the upcoming changes to Vehicle Excise Duty for electric vehicles

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a crucial part of the UK’s tax system, contributing to the maintenance of our road infrastructure. As part of the government’s commitment to a fair and sustainable tax regime, significant changes are on the horizon for electric vehicles (EVs). From 1 April 2025, EVs will no longer benefit from VED […]

Navigating change: the impact of abolishing the non-dom tax regime

What is the non-domiciled status? The non-dom regime has enabled UK residents who are domiciled outside the UK to benefit from the remittance basis of taxation, where they are only taxed in the UK on their UK source income/gains and any foreign income/gains that have been ‘remitted’ to the UK. This system has provided many […]

Navigating tax rules for gifts to employees and directors

Giving gifts to your employees can be a great way to increase engagement and raise the overall morale of your team, but how much can you give before tax is incurred? And how do the rules differ if you are giving gifts to your directors? In the UK, giving gifts can potentially attract tax liabilities […]

Class 2 NIC payments incorrectly refunded by HMRC

Several reports to the Association of Taxation Technicians have highlighted unexpected refunds of voluntary Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (NICs) that were paid for the 2022/23 tax year, potentially having a detrimental effect on those self-employed individuals, who made voluntary payments, and had profits under £6,725. For voluntary Class 2 NICs to apply and provide […]

Booming Gaming Industry in Leamington Spa

Leamington Spa is often referred to as ‘Silicon Spa’ due to its thriving technology and digital sector, particularly in video game development. The nickname draws a parallel between Leamington Spa and Silicon Valley in California, which is renowned as a global hub for technology innovation. What are the new tax reliefs for Video Games? Tax […]

Could you be eligible for Marriage Allowance?

Marriage Allowance enables you to transfer £1,260 of your personal allowance (usually £12,570) to your husband, wife, or civil partner provided neither of you are a higher rate or additional rate taxpayer. By doing so, this reduces their tax by up to £252 in the tax year. Who is eligible?  To qualify for Marriage Allowance, […]

Prepare for change: navigating upcoming payroll adjustments

National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increase In the latest Spring Budget update, it was announced that starting from 1 April 2024, both the National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW) will undergo a rate increase per hour. The NMW stands as the minimum hourly rate that nearly all employees are […]