Rent-a-room relief
The rent-a-room scheme is a set of special rules designed to help homeowners who rent-a-room in their home. If you are using this scheme, you should ensure that rents received from lodgers during the current tax year do no exceed £7,500. The tax exemption is automatic if you earn less than £7,500 and there are […]
What is profit?
When accountants or other interested parties refer to business profits, they are likely to mean the difference between sales and costs, and more concisely, that sales exceed costs. However, the word “profits” can prove to be a moveable feast as HMRC, banks and traders will likely have a different interpretation. For example, do costs include: […]
Letting relief
In general, there is no Capital Gains Tax (CGT) due on the disposal of a property which has been used as the main family residence. This relief from CGT is commonly known as 'private residence relief'. However, where all or part of the home has been rented out the entitlement to relief may be affected. […]
Cause for optimism?
As we have moved into the new tax year, since 6 April 2023, the March hares have had their opportunity for madness and there is just a glimmer of warmer weather ahead. And perhaps, we may even witness a growing measure of control over rising prices. There were a few good tidings for business owners […]
Tax when you sell property
The annual exempt amount applicable to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) has been reduced to £6,000 (from £12,300) for the new 2023-24 tax year. CGT is normally charged at a simple flat rate of 20% and this applies to most chargeable gains made by individuals. If taxpayers only pay basic rate tax and make a small […]
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment 2023-24
The Cost of Living support package has been designed to help over 8 million households in receipt of means tested benefits. The details for Cost of Living payments due in the 2023-24 tax year have been published. Eligible recipients will receive up to three Cost of Living Payments of £301, £300 and £299. This includes those receiving […]
More time to top-up NICs
In some circumstances it can be beneficial to make voluntary National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to increase your entitlement to benefits, including the State or New State Pension. Usually, HMRC allow you to pay voluntary contributions for the past 6 tax years. The deadline is 5 April each year. However, there is currently an opportunity for […]
Spring Budget 2023 – Childcare changes
One of the main areas targeted by the Spring Budget was changes to childcare. Billed as a revolution in childcare, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, said that he wanted to reform the childcare system to help more than a million women come back to work. The 30-hours per week of funded childcare for eligible 3 to […]
Spring Budget summary 2023
As expected, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, resisted pressure to reduce taxes in any significant way, and the majority of his announced changes were already in the public domain. According to the Chancellor, the UK economy is on track to grow in the coming year with inflation halving. We have listed any new variations in the […]
New UK Data Protection rules
The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was first introduced last Summer and paused in September 2022 so ministers could engage in a co-design process with business leaders and data experts – ensuring that the new regime built on the UK’s high standards for data protection and privacy, and seeks to ensure data adequacy while […]
