Information You Need to Supply for Professional Help with Your Tax Return

Information You Need to Supply for Professional Help with Your Tax Return

Information You Need to Supply for Professional Help with Your Tax Return

If you’re self-employed in the UK, you need to file a self-assessment tax return each year. It’s not only the self-employed, though. If you are on a higher income* or receive untaxed income from property rental, savings, investments, or dividends, you also have to submit a return. Getting all the fields filled in properly and the figures right can sometimes be difficult, though. That’s where professional help will be worth its weight in gold. But what information will your accountant or tax advisor need from you? That’s what today’s post is all about, and we’ll explain exactly what information you’ll need to supply.

* (Those earning more than £100,000 currently, or over £150,000 from next year). Read more

Saturday Appointments in December - Book Now for Tax Returns Etc.

Saturday Appointments in January – Book Now for Tax Returns Etc.

Saturday Appointments Available in January - Book Now for Tax Returns Etc.

Taxfile is open on Saturday mornings in January, by appointment. Saturdays might be useful if you need to see us for your 2022/23 tax return, or any other accountancy work, but can’t do it on a weekday. Saturday slots are limited; there are only 4 Saturdays available in January and opening times will be from 9am until 1pm. So, please book in today if a weekend appointment suits you — before slots are all taken. Late appointments are also available on Mondays, when we open until 6pm, or choose any other weekday if you can come earlier. Please see the footer of our website for latest opening times.

Book in on 0208 761 8000 or book your appointment online (here). We are happy to do virtual (video/phone) or physical appointments at our Tulse Hill office in Thurlow Park Road — whichever suits you best. Read more

Understanding Basis Period Reform for Self-Assessment Tax in the UK

Understanding Basis Period Reform for Self-Assessment Tax in the UK

 

Understanding Basis Period Reform for Self-Assessment Tax in the UK

Are you a sole trader or in a partnership? 

Do you have different accounting dates from the standard 6th of April to the 5th of Apri?

If you answered YES to both questions, some IMPORTANT changes will apply for the tax year 2023-24.

The concept of the basis period determines the time frame used to calculate taxable profits or losses for self-employed individuals, partnerships, and some trusts.  It marks a departure from the traditional “current year” basis, where business profits were taxed based on the accounting period ending within the tax year. Instead, it introduces a “tax year” basis, aligning taxable profits with the UK’s standard tax year, running from 6 April to 5 April. Read more

HMRC Waives Late Filing & Payment Penalty for 31st January Deadline

HMRC has taken the decision to not issue a late filing penalty for anyone who does not submit their self-assessment tax return before midnight on 31st January 2022.  It is important to point out that the deadline for filing your 2020-21 tax return remains 31/01/22 but the waiving of the penalty allows anyone who is unable to file their self-assessment tax return by the 31/01/22 deadline avoid a £100 late filing penalty as long as they submit their tax return  sometime before midnight 28th February 2022.

Furthermore, anyone that is unable to pay their self-assessment tax liability before 31st January 2022 will not receive a late payment penalty if they pay their tax in full, or call HMRC to arrange a payment plan before 1st April 2022.  It is important to note that interest will be added on taxes owed from 1st February 2022.

For a second year in a row, due to COVID, an extra Read more

Christmas & New Year Opening Times at Taxfile

Christmas & New Year Opening Times at Taxfile

Christmas & New Year Opening Times at Taxfile

Season’s greetings to all our clients and readers and sincere thanks to all of you who have kept us busy with work during 2021 — we really appreciate it.

Here’s a quick reminder of our opening times during the Christmas period and into the New Year. This is for our Tulse Hill office (Thurlow Park Road) and our Dulwich office (Turney Road) except where otherwise indicated.

  • Friday 24 December 2021 (Christmas Eve): we’re open from 9am until 3pm (Tulse Hill office only).
  • Saturday 25 December 2021 (Christmas Day): closed.
  • Sunday 26 December 2021 (Boxing Day): closed.
  • Monday 27 December 2021 (a public holiday): closed.
  • Tuesday 28 December 2021 (a public holiday): closed.
  • Wednesday 29 December 2021: open 9am until 5pm.
  • Thursday 30 December 2021: open 9am until 5pm.
  • Friday 31 December 2021: open 9am until 3pm (Tulse Hill office only).
  • Saturday 1 January 2022 (New Year’s Day): closed.
  • Sunday 2 January 2022: closed.
  • Monday 3 January 2022 (a public holiday): closed.
  • Tuesday 4 January 2022: we re-open from 9am until 6pm.
  • Wednesday 5 January 2022: open as usual, 9am until 5pm.
  • Thursday 6 January 2022: open as usual, 9am until 5pm.
  • Friday 7 January 2022: open as usual, 9am until 3pm (Tulse Hill office only).
  • Saturday 8 January 2022: open 9am until 1pm by appointment (Tulse Hill office only).
  • Sunday 9 January 2022: closed.
  • From week commencing Monday 10 January: open as usual (see footer).

Have You Contacted Taxfile About Your Tax Return Yet?

If you need a self-assessment tax return or any other kind of return and haven’t yet arranged it with us, please arrange an appointment urgently. January becomes frantically busy in the accounting world, so please make the most of the remaining December appointments while they’re still available — thank you. Appointments are by telephone, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, in person (under safety protocols) … Read more

Saturday Appointments in December - Book Now for Tax Returns Etc.

Saturday Appointments in December – Book Now for Tax Returns Etc.

Saturday Appointments Available in December - Book Now for Tax Returns Etc.

[Update for January 2022 available here]. Read more

SEISS: The 5th & Final Round

5th SEISS Grant - how to claim

HMRC has already started contacting possible eligible sole traders and partnerships for the 5th and final Self Employed Income Support Scheme grant announced by the Government last year.

HMRC’s online access for applications is due to open later this month (July) and the grant will cover the period 1st May 2021 through to 30th September 2021.  You can claim the 5th grant if you believe that your business profit will be impacted by coronavirus between these dates.

This round of grants requires turnover calculations to be done by the applicant, following four stages to determine the two turnover figures required in the application and hence, how much they will be eligible for.

  1. You will first need to work out your turnover (money received) for a 12-month period starting from any date between 01/04/20 to 06/04/20. Your figure must include the turnover from all your businesses.  You can ask us at Taxfile for your figure if we have submitted your 20/21 tax return.  If you haven’t yet done your 2020/21 tax return, it might be an opportunity to contact your tax agent at Taxfile and bring in your financial data for the period, so we can give you an accurate figure, as HMRC will be able to check the figures once you do submit your tax return.
  2. The second stage is to adjust the 12-month turnover figure by removing the monies received from any SEISS grants or COVID relief grants from the council/government.  Although these grants are viewed as subject to income tax and national insurance, they will not be considered as part of your 12-month turnover figure for the 5th SEISS grant.
  3. The third stage requires you to calculate a previous year’s turnover to use as a reference figure. This is the 2nd figure you will need for the application.  HMRC states that in most cases you must use the 2019/20 tax return as your reference year.  If for any reason 2019/20 was not a normal year, you can use the turnover reported in your 2018/19 tax return.  For ‘not a normal year’, HMRC has stipulated the following examples; being on carers or sick leave for a prolonged period, losing a large contract, reservist duties, or being eligible for the 5th SEISS grant but not having submitted a 21019/20 tax return.  The turnover for your reference figure can be found on the tax return summary we would have issued you.  If you need this figure, please do not hesitate to contact your tax agent on 020 8761 8000.
  4. The fourth stage is to compare the two turnover figures. Only when the figure from stage 3 (the reference year) is greater than that obtained for the 20/21 figure will you be eligible for the 5th SEISS grant.  Furthermore, if the 2020/21 turnover figure has reduced by 30% or more when compared to the reference turnover figure, the grant will be 80% of the 3-month average profits, with the maximum grant payment capped at £7,500.  If the 2020/21 turnover is less than 30%, the grant will be 30% of the 3-month average profits, capped at £2,850.
How we harness technology at Taxfile in Tulse Hill, Dulwich, Devon & Cornwall

Harnessing Technology at Taxfile

How we harness technology at Taxfile in Tulse Hill, Dulwich, Devon & Cornwall

The rapid pace of technological change has caused some of the biggest shifts in how we view and process our tax returns. At Taxfile, we’re constantly striving to use technology as effectively as possible to aid us in collecting, analysing, and collaborating when working on your personal data.

Over the pandemic, we’ve had to place our reliance even further on technology to maintain our standards, with regular meetings online. We’re constantly improving the efficiency of our work pipeline and, with the ability to pull figures directly from online bank statements, we can ensure precision in the numbers we present you with. For the last two years, we’ve implemented cloud technology as both a collaborative tool between our senior and junior staff and as storage for various databases used to track everything from employee working hours to the status of your tax return. We’re expanding further on this concept in collaboration with Pure Technology by merging our existing cloud systems with our current remote work solution to form one, all-encompassing workspace environment. Hosting it in the Microsoft Cloud ensures that, with the help of our office staff, your paperwork and bookings can be sent to and viewed by your tax agent as soon as possible. This and a variety of other endeavours are examples of our ambitions to be at the forefront of innovations, and constant review of our policies ensures we remain ahead, or on track, to meet the standards set by Making Tax Digital (MTD) for its 2023 launch.

Contact South London’s Favourite Accountant

Taxfile can help you with all your tax or accountancy requirements. We offer Read more