What is a lifetime ISA? A lifetime ISA is a tax-free savings account that can be used to buy your first home costing up to £450,000 (please note that other conditions apply) or as retirement money once you are more than 60 years old. You must be aged 18 or over but under 40 when…Read More
Capital gains tax is the tax on any wealth (money/property) that is then used to make additional wealth or increase the value of that current wealth. For example, this could be through making capital improvements to your property to increase the value of this property. Everyone has an allowance of £6,000 annually that would enable…Read More
If you have acquired some valuable antiques or artefacts or have inherited some bespoke Jewellery and wish to sell it on, you may be subject to capital gains tax. The rates for capital gains tax are at 10% for basic rate taxpayer and 20% for higher rate taxpayers. These items are known as non-wasting Chattels…Read More
Salary sacrifice is a scheme that allows employees to exchange part of their salary in favour of savings for the future. The savings can take many non-cash benefit forms such as pension contributions. As employees are giving up a portion of their salary in favour of pension contributions their gross pay will decrease. Therefore, the…Read More
What does ‘allowable expense’ mean? An allowable expense is a cost solely for business purposes. Allowable expenses reduce a company’s taxable profits, which reduces its corporation tax liability (the amount the company owes the government in taxes). What would classify as an allowable expense? All expenses must have been incurred “wholly and exclusively” for…Read More
You may wish to know about increasing your tax relief for rental income. Whether you are an individual, in a partnership or part of a company, if you let properties, you can benefit from a tax deduction from rental income for replacing DOMESTIC ITEMS such as moveable furniture, household appliances, kitchen utensils and TV’s, etc.…Read More
The child benefit system in the UK offers valuable financial support to families with children. However, many families are unaware of potential tax-saving opportunities that can enhance their child benefit income. In this blog, we explore how strategic financial planning through gift aid donations and pension contributions can optimise tax savings and maximise benefits for…Read More
Inheritance Tax is the levy placed by the government on the possessions left over by a deceased individual. This is a controversial topic of discussion politically, due to the rate and nature of the tax, and it can become rather complex due to the number of rules in place. However, there are several ways to…Read More
According to HMRC, millions of pounds of higher and additional rate tax relief goes unclaimed every year because individuals either don’t realise they are entitled to it, or they fail to identify their gift aid payments made. If you make a gift aid donation or a donation to a community amateur sports club (CASC), this…Read More
Gifting property is where the ownership of the property is transferred without compensation. However, when gifting a property, there are many rules when it comes to taxes making the matter more complex. In particular, the concept of “gifts with reservation” has significant implications for both the donor and the recipient. Understanding these implications is crucial…Read More
A residential property occupied by three or more occupants with shared facilities is what defines an HMO. You must be licensed if you are an HMO with five or more occupants. Licensing can come under three categories. Legally required licensing is called mandatory licensing. This is specifically required by the Housing Act 2004. The only…Read More
The VAT rules can become a bit more complex when it comes to land and buildings. To clarify and simplify matters, the UK government has issued VAT Notice 742A, which outlines the rules and procedures for opting to tax land and buildings. In this blog, we’ll provide a summary of the key points covered in…Read More
The standard VAT scheme is when VAT on purchases is subtracted from VAT on sales to calculate the VAT amount owed to/from HMRC. However, under the Flat Rate Scheme (FRS) businesses will instead pay a fixed percentage of your VAT inclusive sales made in the period to HMRC. It’s important to note that under this…Read More
In recent months, we’ve seen the base rate steadily increase by the Bank of England. Despite this making it more difficult for those on the housing market, this rate increase should only have a minimal effect on the benefits of investing in property. As interest rates increase, property prices should fall alongside them. This will…Read More
Gifting a property can be an attractive option for transferring ownership in the UK. However, it’s crucial to understand the tax implications and regulations surrounding property gifting. In this blog, we will address two common questions: whether capital gains tax (CGT) applies to gifted properties and whether it is possible to gift a property under…Read More
In the corporate world, sometimes things aren’t exactly black and white when it comes to accounting procedures.
George W. Bush
