There is no doubt that accounting software can come with great benefits for your small business. From helping you keep up with the tax deadlines to making it easier to keep records of your business finances, accounting software can be a great help. But how do you choose the right one?
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As only 57% of businesses have recently reported that they are ready for the Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT deadline, we want to ensure that small business owners are prepared for the future of accountancy. Essentially, the industry is in a period of transition where businesses with an annual turnover over the current VAT threshold of £85,000 (as of 2019/20) are required to digitalise their VAT accounts.
January 31st has now passed. Most people spent the arrival of February with their tax return submitted well in advance, while others were exhausted after rushing to file it. And a few will have missed the deadline altogether.
Most small business owners will have heard of Making Tax Digital (MTD), but what exactly is it and what does it mean for your business? It’s been a hot topic in the world of finance and accounting since the government announced its plans in the spring 2015 budget. There’s no shortage of information and tax advice relating to MTD, and in fact, it can feel like there is an overwhelming amount. For those of us who aren’t financial experts, it can be confusing and hard to understand exactly what the obligations of small business owners will be under the new rules.
Readers Question: I have a trading company with a high level of retained earnings. Rather than liquidate, I am thinking of taking £500k in dividends (grossed up to £555k) and then making a donation to the charity of say £500k (adjustable for tax efficiency), which would extend my basic rate band by £625k. Am I correct in thinking that this combination of dividend and charitable donation is a tax efficient way of charitable giving, in the sense that I would avoid the higher rate dividend taxes?
Readers Question: Just completed my first “job” as an LTD company, providing professional services. The work was done over a 4 month period in New Zealand and my invoice was submitted to a 3rd party UK agency, net of 15% New Zealand tax. How do I go about proving to HMRC that tax has been deducted and also how to pay the balance of 4% tax owing?
Readers’ question: I am a shareholder in a limited company and receive dividends as payment each month. I am being taxed by the company at 20% as corporation tax before they pay the dividend and then paying up to 32.5% tax as I am a higher bracket taxpayer. So, on the majority of the dividend, I am paying 52.5% tax – is this correct?
Are you aware there isn’t long left until Making Tax Digital for VAT comes into force? From April 2019 VAT registered businesses with a turnover over £85,000 will need to ensure that all VAT returns are submitted digitally using the HMRC new platform known as Making Tax Digital (MTD). Around 40% of businesses that will be affected by MTD when it comes into effect are still unaware. Therefore, HMRC has recently started an awareness campaign to get businesses prepared before the date.
When you are self-employed you will pay your tax based on the income and expenses you show on your Self Assessment tax return. Here Simple Tax will give you an insight of the Self Assessment process and your legal obligations as a self-employed individual.
Small business owners often make the mistake of believing HMRC only investigate the tax records of big players. Wrong. Last year HMRC were seen to be cracking down on tax avoidance and increased its investigations into smaller firms.
The government are wanting to renovate the way we process and submit our taxes through Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT. Overall the scheme will allocate every taxpayer with a digital ID, this means that businesses and individuals will be able to manage all their tax activities online, reducing errors and late submissions for a more efficient system.
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In a study conducted by the FSB (Federation of Small Business), it was found that businesses spend £5,000 annually on tax compliance. As well as money, small businesses also lost out on three working weeks in making sure that they had their tax affairs in order. Small businesses are consistently losing time and money over tax payments which is why they are urging the government for a tax reform. The money being drained by tax compliance can be better spent on growing businesses.
The digital age is upon us. HMRC is planning a total digital switchover which is set to be rolled out from April 2019. For some, this isn’t anything new – Making Tax Digital (MTD) has been in the public domain for a good while now.
HMRC are tackling tax avoidance among businesses, and they have set their sights on small businesses in particular because they are seen as the easier target. Small businesses do avoid tax, this could be unknowingly or knowingly, but there are steps you can take to avoid falling foul of HMRC’s tax crackdown.
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If you are not a traditional ’employee’ – i.e. you are a company director, self employed, or have additional earnings which have not been taxed though you employment, you will need to complete a self assessment tax return.
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HMRC has decided to withhold information relating to the status of IR35 enquiries opened during the last tax year, following a request made by a leading contractor site.
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Just 18 days before the most significant changes ever made to the PAYE system go live, HMRC has given in to pressure and given smaller employers (those with 50 employees or less) a further six months before they have to fully comply with the forthcoming Real Time Information (RTI) changes.
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Having been granted an increase in specialist funding, HMRC is offering the participants of certain tax avoidance schemes the chance to settle their tax liabilities via agreement, rather than facing litigation.
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Following the introduction of new IR35 enforcement measures in May 2012, and ongoing efforts to clamp down on personal service companies in the public sector, it may come as some surprise that only a few lines in the supporting Autumn Statement documentation even mention ‘IR35’.
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The Government has announced a range of new measures aimed at clamping down on ‘tax dodgers’ including ‘aggressive tax avoidance’ schemes which are often marketed to contractors and consultants.
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