Tax reforms coming in 2018

Big Changes Coming to the Tax System

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Tax reforms coming in 2018

Starting on 1 April 2018, a brand new tax system, one that will affect most business owners in the UK, will begin to roll out. Whether you’re a landlord, are working for yourself as a sole trader or have a limited company, the changes will affect you.

So what’s happening?

Instead of a once-a-year tax return, HMRC will require quarterly profit and loss information. So, that’s four times a year. For Taxfile clients, that means we’ll need to know all your income and expenses during every quarter so that we can make the necessary financial data available, on your behalf, to HMRC. As well as your bank statements, we’ll need to see receipts for the expenses, whether they’re provided physically or via a suitable electronic medium (there are plenty of apps and software packages for this purpose). Once we have everything for the quarter in question, we will be able to make sure that you’re claiming for all the allowable expenses that you are eligible for and aren’t claiming for things that you shouldn’t, so that your figures are absolutely correct.

If you don’t file in time there could be an HMRC penalty, so letting Taxfile handle your quarterly reporting will help to keep you on track seamlessly when the new changes come into force. We’ll be able to confirm our own pricing nearer the time but it’s likely to be circa just £75 per quarter, excluding VAT.

A ‘cash basis’ system

The new tax system will be known as a ‘Cash Basis’ system and will also allow tax to be paid to HMRC on a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) basis. Essentially, it means that businesses need only calculate their profits based on receipts and payments, which is far more straight forward than the more complex system that currently exists. When integrated into the Government’s new ‘digital tax accounts’, the system will really help to simplify tax, make budgeting and cash-flow easier through near real-time reporting and eventually remove the need for the traditional tax return at the end of the year — that’ll eventually be the case for virtually everyone. As an added bonus it’ll also mean that business owners keep more on top of their bookkeeping and thereby avoid a last minute scramble to update records. Taxpayers will also be able to see a complete financial picture of their tax affairs in the one place — their digital account — and all their liabilities and entitlements will be clear to see and manage more effectively than ever.

Taxfile

Nearer the time the changes come into place, Taxfile will be there to help its customers adapt to the new system and between us we’ll make sure that it’s easy and hassle-free. We’ll be able to Read more

Taxfile multi-lingual staff at a glance

Taxfile’s multi-lingual, multi-talented staff, at a glance

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multi-lingual accountants and tax advisers[Updated]: It’s common knowledge that most of Taxfile’s South London staff are multi-lingual but can you guess which staff member speaks no less than four languages fluently (Russian, Pashto, Dari and English) and which staff member is into both metal music and Irish dancing? And who should you ask for if you need payroll services? And who specialises in bookkeeping … who in limited company accounts and so on? Our staff ‘mind map’ tells you a bit more about each member of the team, what their specialities are, key interests and, of course, their contact details in case you ever need their help. Take a look … Read more

Beat The January Rush and Save!

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Beat The January Rush and Save 5%TaxFile are offering a 5% reduction for clients who can submit their accounts to us before December 21st this year. This helps both of us — you receive a 5% reduction in your bill and it eases the rush in the New Year, our busiest time.

For example you could use this opportunity to reduce our charges for help with your self-assessment tax return submission if you’re self-employed, or for help with your CIS tax refund application if you’re a sub-contractor working in the construction industry, or if you’re one of our many clients who simply require tax advice and accountancy-related assistance from time to time.

Don’t delay – this discount is only available for a few weeks so call us on 020 8761 8000 or call into our Tulse Hill branch in SE21 for a chat and we’ll be delighted to help. You can also email us by clicking here or alternatively you can make an appointment with one of our tax agents here.

George Osborne

Highlights from the Chancellor’s Budget, 18 March 2015

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Along with some encouraging news about the UK economy, some interesting new measures were announced in the Chancellor’s Budget yesterday and below we highlight those which we feel will directly impact the majority of UK taxpayers:

  • As widely forecast, the tax-free allowance will increase. The amount people can earn before paying tax will rise to £10,800 from 2016-17 and then to £11,000 from 2017-18. At the same points in time, higher earners will also receive a two stage increase to the threshold at which they start to pay a 40% rate of tax, with the threshold increasing to £43,300 by 2017-18.
  • The Chancellor also announced a brand new Personal Savings Allowance whereby the first £1,000 of interest (£500 for higher rate taxpayers) will be tax tree. This new allowance will kick in from April 2016 and will take 95% of taxpayers out of savings tax completely. (Fact Sheet available here).
  • Another new scheme announced was the introduction of a new ‘Help to Buy ISA’ aimed at prospective first time buyers. This fairly generous scheme means that the Government will chip in up to £50 extra per month (up to a ceiling of £3,000) when an eligible saver saves up to £200 per month towards their first home. (Fact Sheet available here).
  • In another ISA reform, savers will now be able to withdraw money from a new Flexible ISA and deposit it back later in the same financial year without losing any of their usual ISA tax benefits. £15,240 will be able to be put into this re-styled savings vehicle. Read more

Employed or Self Employed?

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If you work for someone else, it is important to know whether you are working for that person as employed or self-employed as an independent contractor.
If you are the one having to employ somebody, it is your responsibility to correctly determine the employment status of that person.
A worker’s employment status will determine the charge to tax on income and the class of National Insurance contributions due.
It is necessary to determine whether the person works under a contract of service (as an employee) or under a contract for services (as self-employed or independent contractor).
There are some test and factors that can determine the worker’s right status. For instance if the workers are paid by the hour, week or month and if they can get overtime pay or bonus it means that they are employed. Also, if they work a certain amount of hours and they can be moved from task to task than again they are considered to be employees.
Important to establish is whether the workers can be replaced by somebody else and whether they are being told where, when and how to carry out their work. Again if the answer is affirmative than that worker classifies as an employee within the company.
If the workers are self-employed,the answer to all the following questions should be positive:
•Do they regularly work for a number of different people?
•Can they hire someone to do the work or engage helpers at their own expense (the so called right of substitution and engagement of helpers)?
•Do they carry a financial risk?
•Can they decide what work to do, how and when to do the work and where to provide the services?
•Are they providing the main items of equipment they need to do heir job?
•Do they agree to do a job for a fixed price regardless of the time it takes?

Very important to highlight the HMRC’s view of a worker : “Just because a worker is self-employed in one job, doesn’t necessarily mean he or she will be self-employed in another job. Equally, if a worker is employed in one job, he or she could be self-employed in another. ”
It is a general requirement that those wishing to take on workers consider the terms and conditions of a particular engagement to determine whether the worker is an employee or self-employed. If you any doubts, you can always ask your local Status Inspector for an opinion as to the employment status of your workers. Also there is an Employment Status Indicator (ESI) tool that enables you to check the employment status of an individual or group of workers.
Unfortunately, the status of self-employed workers is a favourite target of the Taxman, particularly during a PAYE compliance visit.
So take Taxfile‘s tax agents advice and protect yourself with a contract and and keep all the correspondence between you and the contractor covering the main points about employment status to avoid problems in the future.

Tax Enquiries: Guilty Until Proven Innocent!

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An enquiry is defined as seeking information, asking, questioning. Self Assessment is a process now/check later regime. According to HMRC,enquiries encompass all work carried out to check returns after processing – from a single enquiry about one entry in a return to a detailed examination of all the taxpayer’s affairs.
Under Self Assessment, taxpayers have clearly defined obligations while HMRC has defined powers in order to make sure that all taxpayers meet such obligations.
There are two types of tax enquiries:
•full enquiries (covering every single aspect of the return) and
•aspect enquiries(dealing with only one or more aspects of the return).
According to HMRC, a full enquiry is one which seeks to address all the significant risks of error in the return, including the risk of the return being fundamentally incorrect whereas aspect enquiries are those which fall short of a full, in-depth examination of the whole return but instead concentrate on one or more aspects of it.
Aspect enquiries, although more limited in scope than full enquiries, should not be seen as any less thorough or investigative.
If no enquiry is made within the allowed period (one year from the day the tax return is received by HMRC, for specific examples follow this link), the return becomes final unless the tax office makes a discovery assessment as a result of the return being incorrect or there was fraudulent or negligent conduct in making the return.
A very small proportion of returns will be taken up for enquiry on an entirely random basis. Most of the enquiries may start because either the return was sent in late, or some figures in the tax return did not match their records or just HMRC received a tip off.
All taxpayers should be aware that there is a chance of their returns being subject to enquiry.
Where a tax return has been selected for full enquiry, the enquiry officer aims to identify and examine all the significant risks of error in the return, including the risk that it is fundamentally incorrect. Also, where the business records do not prove to be as accurate as they should be, the officer in charge will need to look at the private side.
In order to make sure that there is no undisclosed source of income or additional cash coming from somewhere which was not taxed, the enquiry officer uses three main techniques:
•Cash Flow Tests involved with an analysis of drawings;
•means tests which determines the amount of money that is available to a taxpayer for living expenses.
•capital statements dealing with a detailed accumulation of information about capital worth, income of all sorts and expenditure.
Individuals with complex tax affairs investigated by HMRC should seek early help from a professional advisor to guide them through every step of the enquiry from responding to the officer, arranging a meeting to negotiating a settlement.
Taxfile‘s tax agents in South London and Exeter will guide you through this process and try to save you tax, interest and penalties.
Taxfile is happy to announce that we have recently renewed our free-of-charge enquiry protection cover. The insurance will cover the whole costs involved in dealing with your tax investigation so you can give you piece of mind and save you hundreds of pounds at the same time.
So pop in to see us and make the best of it!

Childminders and tax

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Registered childminders are people that work in their own homes to provide care and learning opportunities for other people’s children.
Childminders need to declare their income from their self-employment by filling in a self-assessment tax return every year.
Many childminders are members of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).The NCMA had an agreement with with HMRC in terms of allowable expenses that a childminder can have. They agreed that receipts for items of expenditure will not be required for items costing less than £10.
Also they agreed with the HMRC that full-time childminders (40 or more hours a week)can deduct as expenses a third of their heating and lighting costs and 10% of water rates and Council tax. Food and drink provided for children are acceptable and receipts are not required provided that the figures are reasonable.
Probably not everyone is aware of 10% Wear and Tear relief available to childminders. 10% Wear and Tear of total childminding income may be deducted as an expense to cover the wear and tear of furniture and household items. Once a childminder claims this relief, he/she cannot claim for replacing such household items.
Other expenses allowable in calculating the taxable profit are the cost of toys, books, safety equipment, travel fares, NCMA subscription, Public Liability Insurance, stationary, the cost of phone calls for childminding purposes, cleaning, accountancy fee, children gifts,training costs, resources (like paint, arts/craft)and Ofsted Registration fee(Office for Standards in Education).

For more details regarding childminders and their relationship with tax, you can seek guidance from Taxfile’s tax agents in South London (Tulse Hill) and Exeter.

Taxfile: 31st October 2008 deadline

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The deadline for submitting the details of your income and gains on your Self Assessment Tax Return is still the 31st January. However HMRC has now brought in place a new “paper form” deadline this year to go with the new-style green forms, the final day for submission of these is 31st October.

Almost all tax returns can be submitted online,but there are a few cases where paper returns would need to be made. In these cases the deadline by which the paper return must reach HMRC is 31st January. These are:
•SA700 – Non-resident Company Tax Return
•SA970 – Trustees of Registered Pension Schemes
Paper returns that have failed to reach HMRC by 31st October will automatically be penalized with a £100 fine.
This is the same for partnership returns, although both partners will have to pay £100 each, and Late Trust and Estate returns result in a £100 charge to either the trust or estate.
If you still haven’t paid the balancing payment due by 31 January by the end of February, you’ll be charged an automatic 5% surcharge on top of the amount still owing. This is in addition to any interest payments.
At Taxfile we only submit your current tax return online as it has proved to be safer, faster and giving you more time.
At Taxfile we have been completing online returns for some time now, this benefiting our clients as they are able to gain extra time to gather all the necessary information to complete their tax returns.
If you have not submitted your tax return yet, come to Taxfile‘s offices in either South London or Exeter to ensure that you do not receive an automatic penalty of £100.

Clothing: Wholly and Exclusively for trade purposes

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When dealing with self-employment expenses, great care needs to be taken.
An expense needs to have incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of the trade in order to be considered allowable. Some expenses by their very nature have a non-trade use and so are disallowed by the Tax Man.
So it is the case with ordinary clothing worn by a trader during the course of their trade,the so-called civilian clothing.
This rule applies even when particular standards of dress are required by the rules of professional bodies.
The cost of clothing that is not part of an everyday wardrobe like for instance protective clothing for a builder or a nurse’s uniform are allowed as trading expenses. The cost of clothing acquired for a film, stage or TV performance incurred by an actor or other entertainers is also allowable. The clothing in this case is called a costume as it is used in a performance.
A well known case with regards to clothing expenditure is the case of Mallalieu v Drummond. The case was concerned with the issue of whether a barrister was entitled to a deduction for expenditure on purchase and laundry of professional clothing.
The barrister acquired and wore particular items of clothing, both in court and to and from the court to her chambers. She did not wear such clothes when she was not at work. Also, her personal wardrobe was made up of very colourful clothes.
The Inspector disallowed the barrister’s expenditure.The test whether her expenditure was ‘ wholly and exclusively’ incurred for the purpose of her profession was subjective.
Also,the General Commissioners considered that when a barrister purchased court clothes their purpose was to enable them both to earn profits in their profession and to be properly clothed, so it had a dual purpose (professional and non professional one at the same time).
Apportionment for business use can only be made when there is a objective benchmark by which any trade element can be distinguished from the non-trade element.
A common example of this approach is the running costs of a car used partly for the purposes of the trade and partly for other purposes.
If you are still confused with regards to what items you are entitled to claim back in your tax return come to Taxfile in one of their offices, either South London or Exeter branch to get help with this matter.

Workers in Construction Industry Scheme

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We recently came across a client who got very confused about becoming a limited company and his tax position.

If people are both self employed and/or employed and they only work part of a tax year on that basis, it is likely that they would not have time and understanding of the implications of becoming an employee of their own limited company to organise their own salary in the first few months of trading.
The situation will then exist that they have a tax return to do for April 5th which has only a part years earnings, which gives rise to a personal tax rebate.
The limited company then has a payroll scheme of its own for future tax efficient drawings.
So year one of setting up a limited company can appear very beneficial (contact Taxfile to set up an ltd as a one stop shop for all your tax needs).
Year two may then give rise to a profit which can be taxed as employee’s drawings (director) and if the director is prudent by leaving a tax reserve in the firm at the year end, then a potential tax efficient dividend may be possible (remember you can choose your year end to be a point when adequate reserves are in hand, you can only change it once in every five years. (Come to Taxfile to make sure you get the best year end solution).
The scheme for the taxing of the directors drawings and the subcontracted workers can be easily administered by the director, if there is a good margin between the gross works done and the labour costs then it is usual to see a favourable set off position at the end of each month.
To sum up, the business may have had 20% stopped on more of the income than the tax it has stopped from the subcontracted worker, this being the case then no tax needs to be handed to HMRC that month, the contractor/director must complete a CIS 300 list every month to state the tax stopped from every verified subcontractor ( HMRC do a great DIY course which is free to attend).
Any surplus tax suffered can be reclaimed back to the company at payroll year end 5th April on the companies p35 (it can take a few months for HMRC to agree the repayment as sometimes they ask for proof of the tax suffered, so good records of the work done and tax suffered are essential), once the tax is rebated then it comes back to the company to bolster the reserves.
The company accountant (come to Taxfile for the best in service from a Taxfile accountant) will then advise you of your corporation tax assuming you have supplied your banking records (preferably quarterly by online bank downloads which can be easily uploaded for analysis) . The corporation tax is due 9 months after the year end, so a good CIS rebate can often cover the corporation tax if the company is a labour only supplier which makes a reasonable margin after retentions.

If you are still confused about the way the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) works you can always rely on Taxfile’s tax specialists in South London and Exeter to guide you through any potential tax issues.