Last week we published details of who is, and who is not, entitled to payment at National Minimum Wage rates. This week we have listed the current rates of NMW that apply. There are currently three aged based national minimum wage rates and an apprentice rate, which are usually updated in October each year. The rates that apply from 1 October...
Exporters data to be released by Government
UK businesses should be aware that the Government are consulting on the possible release of data held by public departments, particularly, HMRC. We have reproduced extracts from a recent press release that sets out the scope of the present consultation. “The data held by the public sector is among the most useful and valuable anywhere. This is why the UK Government...
National Minimum Wage (NMW)
The National Minimum Wage is the minimum pay per hour almost all workers are entitled to by law. It doesn’t matter how small an employer is, they still have to pay the minimum wage. Who is entitled to the minimum wage? Workers must be school leaving age (last Friday in June of the school year they turn 16) or over to get...
A new look to benefits in kind regime?
HMRC are currently consulting with interested parties (the accounting profession and associated professional organisations) to re-vamp the UK’s system for taxing employee benefit in kind and expenses. Changes are planned to simplify this process in accordance with recommendations made by the Office of Tax Simplification. Consultations commenced 18 June 2014 and due to be completed 9 September 2014. The four areas of...
Tax free capital gains – private residence relief
If you dispose of a dwelling house (which can include a house, flat, houseboat or fixed caravan) which is your home, or part of a dwelling house which is your home, or• part of the garden attached to your home , you would normally have to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on any gain you make. However, you will be entitled...
A new range of apprenticeships under the Trailblazer scheme.
Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock announced a new range of apprenticeships that will be developed by employers under the Trailblazer scheme on 27 June 2014. He also called for expressions of interest from groups of employers to become part of the third phase of Trailblazers. The Apprenticeship Trailblazers, launched in October 2013, have gone from strength to strength. The first...
Is my State Pension taxable or not?
The State Pension is part of a pensioner’s taxable income. The problem is, it is paid gross, without deduction of tax. If your sole source of income is the State Pension then this should cause no problem as the State Pension is usually below the annual tax-free personal allowance. What can, and does, cause a problem is if you have other...
TV productions vie for share of UK\’s new TV tax credits
The UK’s new TV tax credit for approved productions in the UK are going down a storm with production companies on both sides of the Atlantic. One of the key draws to working on productions in the UK, aside from the financial incentives, is the large pool of experienced crew and actors based in the UK. TV production incentives were first introduced...
Business use of employees\’ cars
Many employers pay their employees a monthly car allowance to compensate them for the business use of their private vehicles. In most cases this car allowance is treated as remuneration and is subject to PAYE and National Insurance deductions. Additionally, employers may also pay a nominal amount per mile as a contribution to fuel costs. Employers are entitled to pay their employees...
Discontinuance of trade and the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA)
In a recently decided tax case a self-employed air conditioning engineer, David Keyl, was denied a claim for AIA. He had purchased a van in July 2008 and on 31 March 2009 (the end of his trading year) he transferred his sole trader business to a limited company. Unfortunately, the legislation setting up the AIA includes a provision that relief will...