2020 Archives | Taxfile

TODAY is the deadline for submission of your tax return. Contact Taxfile for help filing & avoid a minimum £100 fine!

31st January was the Self Assessment Tax Return Deadline!

January 29, 2023/in 2021, 2022, Accountancy, Accountants, Deadline, HMRC, Self-assessment, South London, Tax accountants, Tax advice, Tax advisers, Tax returns, Taxfile, Tulse Hill/by Mark

[As at 1 February 2023]: The 31st January was the Self Assessment tax return and tax payment deadline. Miss the deadline and you’ll be in for a £100 HMRC fine right away. Interest will also be charged from 1 February, as usual, if tax is not paid by midnight on 31 January (rules apply). Time is short, so contact Taxfile for help with your tax return as soon as possible please. Book an appointment* with one of our helpful tax advisors and accountancy experts TODAY — we’ll make it easy!

020 8761 8000 Book Appointment Get Started Here

Tax-Free Personal Allowance Thresholds & Tax Bands (2022/23 to 2016/17)

May 28, 2022/in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, Accountancy, Accountants, Annual threshold, Band rates, Dulwich, HMRC, London, Personal allowance, Personal Tax Account, South London, Tax, Tax accountants, Tax advice, Tax advisers, Tax calculation, Tax-free allowance, thresholds, Tulse Hill/by Mark

Today we look at the tax-free allowance thresholds for what’s officially known as the tax-free Personal Allowance in the tax and accountancy world.

The Tax-Free Personal Allowance

This is the amount a UK individual can earn as income before they have to pay any Income Tax. In the current tax year (6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023) individuals can earn up to £12,570 before they have to start paying Income Tax, as you’ll see in the first table. In other words, if their taxable income is two thousand pounds more than that, they’ll only have to pay income tax on the extra £2000, not the core £12,570. There are exceptions, and different rules applied before 2016/17, but our aim is to keep things simple in this guide rather than focusing on more rare exceptions. So, below, we show the Personal Allowance thresholds for tax-free income over the last 7 tax years. As you will see, the Tax-Free Personal Allowance has gradually increased over the years.

Tax Bands for Basic Rate, Higher Rate and Additional Rate Taxpayers

The tables also show the various tax bands for earnings above the Personal Allowance threshold. These are the Basic Rate, Higher Rate and Additional Rate income tax bands, with tax rates increasing the more people earn. The information might be useful if you owe income tax from previous years but bear in mind that anyone born prior to 6 April 1948 may be entitled to a larger Personal Allowance.

Please note: this guide focuses only on Income Tax. Taxpayers will also need to allow for other deductions like National Insurance, which we’ll cover in a separate guide, and things like pension contributions, any student loan interest repayments, any tax on dividends, and so on.

Tax-Free Allowance Thresholds 2022/23

For the tax year 6 Apr 2022 to 5 Apr 2023:
The first £12,570 (your Personal Allowance) is tax-free*
Earnings between £12,571 and £50,270 are taxed at 20% (‘Basic Rate’ income tax)
Earnings between £50,271 and £150,000 are taxed at 40% (‘Higher Rate’ income tax)
Earnings over £150,000 are taxed at 45% (‘Additional Rate’ income tax)

* For every £2 earned above £100,000, the Personal Allowance is reduced by £1. It therefore reduces to zero for earnings of £125,140 or more.

Tax-Free Allowance Thresholds 2021/22

For the tax year 6 Apr 2021 to 5 Apr 2022:
The first £12,570 (your Personal Allowance) is tax-free*
‘Basic Rate’ earnings between £12,571 and £50,270 are taxed at 20%
‘Higher Rate’ earnings between £50,271 and £150,000 are taxed at 40%
‘Additional Rate’ earnings over £150,000 are taxed at 45%

* For every £2 earned above £100,000, the Personal Allowance is reduced by £1. It therefore reduces to zero for earnings of £125,140 or more.

Tax-Free Allowance Thresholds 2020/21

For the tax year 6 Apr 2020 to 5 Apr 2021:
The first £12,500 (your Personal Allowance) is tax-free*
‘Basic Rate’ earnings between £12,501 and £50,000 are taxed at 20%
‘Higher Rate’ earnings between £50,001 and £150,000 are taxed at 40%
‘Additional Rate’ earnings over £150,000 are taxed at 45%

* For every £2 earned above £100,000, the Personal Allowance is reduced by £1. It therefore reduces to zero for earnings of £125,000 or more.

Tax-Free Allowance Thresholds 2019/20

A Personal Message from Guy Bridger at Taxfile

January 29, 2022/in 2020, 2021, 2022, Accountancy, Accountants, Advice, Deadline, Dulwich, Filing deadlines, Guy Bridger, HMRC, Income tax, Late return, London, Online returns, payment plans, payments on account, penalties, Self-assessment, Self-employed, Sole traders, South London, Tax, Tax accountant, Tax accountants, Tax advice, Tax advisers, Tax agents, Tax calculation, Tax returns, Taxfile, Tulse Hill/by Taxfile

Dear Taxfile Client,

We’re aware that many people are struggling right now. So, I wanted to personally touch base with you to confirm that, although the official deadline for submission of 2020/21 self-assessment tax returns and tax payments is Monday (31 January), there is now some extra time this year. This is great news for you if you are concerned about missing the deadlines or having to pay an HMRC penalty for being late. It should really take the pressure off for those who are struggling or worried.

For self-assessment tax returns, you now have until midnight on 28 February to submit. HMRC will only charge you a late filing fee if you file later than this.
For self-assessment tax payments, you now have until 1 April to make your payment (or arrange an HMRC payment plan) before incurring an HMRC late tax payment surcharge. While you will still incur interest for late tax payments from 1 February, HMRC’s interest rate is only 2.75% per annum, so even a month’s interest is unlikely to equate to much for most people.
For tax payments on account (payment in advance for the next tax year), there is no HMRC surcharge/penalty if you’re late but it does attract interest. However, again, that’s only at HMRC’s low rate, so is unlikely to amount to much for most.

We are here to help you, so don’t worry if you owe tax or are running late on your tax return. The Taxfile team can help you sort things out, particularly as we have a little longer than usual. We can work something out during February if you are worried about HMRC surcharges, interest and deadlines. Please get in touch if so.

020 8761 8000 Book Appointment Get Started Here

Lastly, don’t forget that we are open on Saturdays during January and February (by appointment) and open later (until 6pm) on Mondays and Tuesdays. Read more

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

January 10, 2022/in 2020, 2021, 2022, Accountants, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pandemic, Self-assessment, Self-employed, Sole traders, Tax, Tax accountant, Tax accountants, Tax advice, Tax advisers, Tax affairs, Tax agents, Tax bill, Tax calculation, Tax return, Tax returns, Taxes, Taxfile/by Taxfile

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

Saturday Appointments Available - Book Now for Tax Returns & More.

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

November 22, 2021/in 2020, 2021, Accountancy, Accountants, Accounts, Annual Return, Self-assessment, Self-employed, tax rebates, Tax refunds, Tax return, Tax returns, Taxes, Taxfile, Tulse Hill/by Mark

[Update for January 2022 available here]. Read more

Taxfile’s Autumn Newsletter 2021

September 30, 2021/in 2021, Accountancy, Accountants, Accounts, Dulwich, Newsletter, Tax, Tax accountant, Tax accountants, Tax advice, Tax advisers, Tax agents, tax experts, Taxes, Taxfile, Tulse Hill/by Mark

Welcome to Taxfile’s Autumn Newsletter for 2021. One of our biggest yet, it includes useful tax- and accountancy-related news that you need to be aware of, ways to save time or money – and much more. Take a look!

QR Codes

You’ll find QR codes throughout the newsletter. These are a quick and easy way to access further information about the topic. Assuming you are viewing the newsletter on a desktop device or a printed* version, simply point your mobile camera phone at a QR code and then open the link that pops up. Your mobile’s browser will then take you straight to the information page. Alternatively, we supply simple link URLs to simply tap in.

Download As an Acrobat PDF & Print Out

* If you’re viewing on a small screen, it may be easier to read if you download the newsletter as an Acrobat PDF so you can print it out at full size (A4). Read more

New 30-Day Rules for Capital Gains on Residential Property

July 22, 2021/in 2020, 2021, 2022, Accountancy, Accountants, Annual exempt amount, Buy to let, Capital gains tax, CGT, Dulwich, Furnished Holiday Lettings, HMRC, Holiday lettings, Key dates, Land and property, Landlords, Lettings, property, Property investment, Self-assessment, South London, Tax, Tax advice, Tax advisers, Tax return, Tax returns, Taxes, Taxfile, Tulse Hill/by Mark

New rules have now come into force in relation to capital gains made on disposals of UK residential property*. Several key actions are now required if a taxable capital gain has arisen, including some that now need to be made fast:

Taxpayers need to report the property’s disposal within 30 days of the actual disposal;
They will need to pay the estimated Capital Gains Tax (‘CGT’) to HMRC within 30 days of the disposal.
Those who fill in and submit a Self-Assessment tax return will also need to include details of the disposal on their return.

Who Do the New CGT Rules Apply To?

The new rules apply whether you’re an individual, joint property owner, trustee, partner in a partnership or LLP, or a personal representative.

What Counts as a Residential Property Disposal?

The new rules apply to all UK residential property that was disposed of (taken as the date of the exchange of contracts) since 6 April 2020 inclusive, where a capital gain was made that will require payment of CGT.

To fall within the rules, a UK residential property must be one that:

is suitable for use as a dwelling, or;
is being built or adapted for use as a dwelling.

It can be one in which the the owner has never lived or has lived for only part of the period they owned it. It can also be a rental property or a holiday home.

Where a property has been used for mixed purposes, only the capital gain that’s equivalent to Read more

SEISS: The 5th & Final Round

July 13, 2021/in 2020, 2021, coronavirus, Coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19, Pandemic, Pandemic, Partnership, SEISS, Self-assessment, Self-employed, Sole traders/by Taxfile

HMRC has already started contacting possible eligible sole traders and partnerships for the 5^th 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 1^st May 2021 through to 30^th September 2021. You can claim the 5^th 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.

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.
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 5^th SEISS grant.
The third stage requires you to calculate a previous year’s turnover to use as a reference figure. This is the 2^nd 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 5^th 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.
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 5^th 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.

Taxes & Cryptocurrency

May 20, 2021/in 2020, 2021, Alt Coins, Bitcoin, Capital gains tax, CGT, Crypto Assets, HMRC, Income tax, Stocks & Shares, Tax, Taxfile, Trading Crypto Coins/by Taxfile

According to HMRC, ‘cryptoassets’ are cryptographically secured digital representations of value or contractual rights that can be:

transferred
stored
traded electronically

There are various types of cryptoassets including exchange tokens, utility tokens, and security tokens. HMRC does not consider cryptocurrency to be currency or money & their complete Cryptoassets Manual can be found HERE.

As far taxes are concerned, investing in cryptocurrency is akin to investing in other assets such as stocks, bonds, and the sale of rental properties. This means that capital gains and losses rules apply when you ‘dispose’ your assets, and in this case your cryptocurrency.

HMRC explains that disposals include:

selling cryptocurrency for money
exchanging cryptocurrency for a different type of cryptocurrency
using cryptocurrency to pay for goods or services
giving away cryptocurrency to another person

Any of the above situations subject any profits to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and the simple formula for calculating capital gains (or losses) is:

Fair Market Value – Cost = Profit or Loss

The fair market value is the market price of the asset at the time that you sold, traded, or disposed of it. The cost is the price you paid at the time of the purchase.

Although this is a simple and logical calculation, calculating CGT on your profits becomes a bit more complex when you have multiple transactions to account for. The UK requires a specific type of method for calculating the cost basis of your coins known as Shared Pool Accounting also known as a 104 Pool.

With the shared pooled accounting method, you are essentially Read more

4th SEISS Grant Available THIS Week

April 22, 2021/in 2020, 2021, coronavirus, Coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19, Pandemic, Partnership, SEISS, Self-assessment, Self-employed, Sole traders, Tax returns/by Taxfile

If you are self-employed or a member of a partnership and have been impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19), the 4^th Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant will be available to those eligible from this week (w/c 19 April 2021), and the online service for the fourth SEISS grant is now online HERE

The grant covers the period from 01/02/2021 – 30/04/2021 and eligibility for the fourth grant is dependent on you having traded for both tax years:

2019 to 2020 and submitted your tax return on or before 2 March 2021
2020 to 2021

You must either:

be currently trading but are impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus
have been trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus
intend to continue to trade
reasonably believe there will be a significant reduction in your trading profits

The same criteria that were applied for the first 3 SEISS grants still apply & this grant will be 80% of your average trading profits for up to 4 tax years (2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, & 2019/20) for 3-months.

The closing date for the 4th SEISS Grant is 01 June 2021.

By now you should have received an email form HMRC stating when you can claim your 4^th SEISS grant from. If you need any assistance with your claim, please do not hesitate to contact us on 020 8761 8000 or email/message us here.

Posts