If we lived in a world where the factors that affected trade and other commercial activity were unchanging, then plans drawn up for extended periods, say a year, would be a reliable benchmark to measure actual results against in the same period. Unfortunately, change is a common occurrence these days. Plans drawn up will become unreliable if, as recent experience with...
New Bill protects consumers access to cash
The new Financial Services and Markets Bill, announced during the recent Queen’s Speech at the state opening of parliament, will support consumers by protecting access to cash. It will ensure the continued availability of withdrawal and deposit facilities across the UK, and that the country’s cash infrastructure is sustainable for the long term. The Bill will also enable the Payment Systems...
Muras Matters: Form P11D Deadline and Future Procedural Changes
Deadline Employers will generally already be aware of the requirement to report to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) the benefits and expenses provided to employees and directors each tax year on forms P11D and P11D(b). The deadline for submitting these forms for the 2021/22 tax year (and providing a copy to employees) is 6 July 2022. Failure to submit the forms...
Saving for a rainy day
The more draconian government interventions introduced to control the COVID outbreak have challenged all of us, businesses and individuals, to consider the notion that we can no longer rely on our jobs or businesses to effortlessly produce the income we need. Many businesses in the hospitality and entertainment sectors had their ability to trade quashed. Lockdown meant closedown, no income. Government...
Elastic or inelastic?
Would demand for the products or services you sell vary with price increases or decreases? This conundrum is considered by the term elasticity in economic circles – how demand changes when prices change. If demand for your products is elastic, any change in price will have a corresponding impact in demand. For example, if you increase prices and consumers/buyers are able...
Muras Matters: Corporation Tax Rate Changes and Impact on Quarterly Instalments
Background With effect from 1 April 2023 the main rate of Corporation Tax is due to increase from the current 19% to 25%. Whilst this will not affect many companies until next year, the increase in the rate will start to impact certain companies with a post 31 March 2023 year end much sooner. Companies who are required to pay their...
Investing to increase profits
The UK tax code has numerous reliefs and allowances that reduce tax when businesses invest in qualifying assets. Some of the reliefs allow up to 100% of the invested cost to be written off against taxable profits and companies can presently write-off 130% of qualifying expenditure. But aside from these tax incentives to invest, it is worth considering the bottom-line effect that...
High energy industries attract increased support
The other side of the recent hikes in consumer energy costs – taking their toll on take-home pay across the UK – are the similar cost increases for industry. Focussing on high-energy users, the government recently announced the following increased support for Energy Intensive Industries (IEE). High energy usage businesses, such as steel and paper manufacturers, are set to receive further support...
Employment Allowance increase
The Employment Allowance has risen from £4,000 to £5,000 – meaning smaller firms will be able to claim up to £5,000 off their employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) bills. Announced by the Chancellor at last month’s Spring Statement to reduce employment costs, the change takes an extra 50,000 firms out of paying NICs and the Health and Social Care Levy. This...
Dividends hit by NIC increase
Dividends are a distribution of company profits to shareholders. Historically, they have been taxed as unearned income – no National Insurance deductions. This is still the case, but the Treasury have decided that the recent increase of 1.25% in National Insurance rates will also apply to dividends. Since April 2016, the rates of Income Tax applicable to dividend income have been 7.5%,...