Making Tax Digital postponed until 2024

HMRC had been planning to start digital tax from 6th April 2023, however that has now been postponed until 6th April 2024. There have also been some further details of digital tax record-keeping. You do not have to input your income and expenses straightaway if you do not wish to. There were worries that people […]

National Insurance increase from April 2022

From April 2022 the rate of National Insurance is to increase by 1.25%. This will apply to both employees(Class 1) and the self-employed(Class 4.) The increase won’t initially affect those above state pension age. However from April 2023 the increase is renamed as a separate 1.25% ‘Health and Social Care Levy’ and the original current […]

SEISS Grants and accounting dates

People are now starting to complete their 2021 tax returns, which cover the tax year 6th April 2020 to 5th April 2021. If your accounting year ends on 5th April 2021 then there are no issues – any SEISS grants that you have received in the tax year will align with your accounting year. However, […]

SA316 – HMRC Notice to File a 2021 Tax Return

HMRC has started issuing the 2021 notices to complete a tax return. These can either be received through your online personal tax account, as above, or through the post. The postal form is called a SA316 form. The notices relate to the 2020/21 tax return year, which covers the period 6th April 2020 to 5th […]

HMRC 2021 Paper Tax Return Form

The new paper tax return form has been released for 2020/21 by HMRC The 2021 tax year covers the period 6th April 2020 to 5th April 2021. If you are submitting a paper tax form, this has to be submitted to HMRC before 31st October 2021 in order to avoid an automatic £100 fine being […]

HMRC 31st January 2021 Return Deadline Extended

The normal deadline for submitting an online tax return is the 31st January after the year end. For 2020 tax returns the deadline would usually have been 31st January 2021. It has been announced that late return penalties will not be issued on 31st January this year… as long as any outstanding returns are filed […]

Self-serve HMRC time to pay for 2021

HMRC 2021 Online Payment Plans

HMRC had already allowed people to defer payment of their 31st July 2020 second payment on account until 31st January 2021. Now, that is being extended through a new time to pay arrangement that will enable people to set up their own online payment plan to cover any or all of the below liabilities: 1) […]

The Winter Economy Plan update

The winter economy plan

The chancellor has announced the winter economy plan, which provides some additional support to individuals and the self-employed: SEISS Grant Extension There are to be two further payments under the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. These payments are to cover the period from November 2020 to April 2021. Payments are to be made in two lump-sum […]

Countdown to HMRC Digital Income Tax in 2023

NOW POSTPONED to 2024: Making Tax Digital postponed until 2024 (taxhelp.uk.com) HMRC has recently announced the proposed timescale to introduce the next stage of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax. Who does HMRC Digital Income Tax affect? Previously MTD applied to those that were VAT registered – from 2023 it will expand to include […]

When is the best time to start a small business?

You could actually find that it may be during a downturn… as many perceived obstacles are actually opportunities if you are aware of them and take advantage. Having started my own business in 2006, I have both grown my own business during the last downturn from 2008-2013 as well as help hundreds of small business […]

Confirmation of payee for bank payments

In order to reduce fraud, confirmation of payee has been introduced for bank payments. This service aims to tie up payments to the correct account name, whereas in the past only the sort code and account number was used. At present, the new systems work for faster payments or standing orders, as well as for […]

Remember that SEISS grants are taxable income

This week should see the first payments from the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) being made to claimant’s bank accounts. However, it is important to remember that this grant is classed as taxable income and will need to be accounted for. How much to set aside for SEISS tax? Assuming that you are a […]