Author Archives: David Moore

With effect from 7th of January 2013, child benefit will be reduced for families where one partner’s annual income exceeds £50,000.

The benefit will be reduced for income between £50,000 and £60,000 and will be lost completely if income exceeds £60,000.

If this applies to you, you will be expected to make a declaration on your self-assessment tax return and if you do not already complete a self-assessment tax return you may now need to complete one.

Pension contributions and charitable donations paid under the gift aid scheme are taken into account when calculating income for this purpose. It is therefore possible to reduce your income and the loss of child benefit by making such payments.

Individuals paying tax under PAYE can also apply to adjust their tax code to claw back over paid child benefit and thereby avoid the need to submit a self-assessment tax return.

If you are unsure of what this means for you or you wish to consider your options, then please contact us.

0

The information in this article was correct at the date it was first published.

However it is of a generic nature and cannot constitute advice. Specific advice should be sought before any action taken.

If you would like to discuss how this applies to you, we would be delighted to talk to you. Please make contact with the author on the details shown below.

Comment on this...

In the past the penalties for the late filing of a personal Tax Return were no real deterrent. The maximum automatic penalty of £200 or the lesser of the tax outstanding or a very late Return does not appear to have been too much of a deterrent.
It has now all changed. Even when there is no liability, if a Tax Return is filed more than 12 months late, there are provisions for penalties of up £1,600. Should a there be liability the penalties and even higher. You have been warned!

0

The information in this article was correct at the date it was first published.

However it is of a generic nature and cannot constitute advice. Specific advice should be sought before any action taken.

If you would like to discuss how this applies to you, we would be delighted to talk to you. Please make contact with the author on the details shown below.

Comment on this...

Times are difficult for the SME. Below are three examples of HMRC making it unnecessarily so.

Expense Checks

There are reports of tax inspectors asking to see personal diaries to verify directors expenses. This is clearly going well beyond a normal business check and such demands should be resisted. Keeping proper records of expenses and making contemporary claims supported by documentation and vouchers should be more than sufficient for HMRC purposes. Anything more can be intrusive and expensive for the taxpayer.

Business Records Checks

It is alleged that HMRC officers, undertaking Business Records Checks have “little practical accounting experience”. Fines should only be levied where there have been clear and obvious failings. Warnings and advice should be given in other cases. If those making such decisions have little practical experience there can be nothing but unnecessary and costly discussions. The profession and the taxpayer need to be vigilant.

Time to pay

We have noticed a reluctance from HMRC to grant time to pay agreements especially if requests have been granted previously. Time to pay agreements allow businesses to agree with HMRC a payment schedule to pay certain taxes without fear of punitive action by HMRC. The number of companies being allowed to defer tax payments has fallen by almost 60% since 2009. We have noted HMRC prefer to talk directly to the client when negotiating time to pay arrangements which can leave the client unrepresented. Recently a colleague set up a telephone call with the client HMRC and ourselves and in what were challenging circumstances secured a time to pay agreement.

0

The information in this article was correct at the date it was first published.

However it is of a generic nature and cannot constitute advice. Specific advice should be sought before any action taken.

If you would like to discuss how this applies to you, we would be delighted to talk to you. Please make contact with the author on the details shown below.

Comment on this...