As you might have seen in the news recently, The Supreme Court has upheld earlier decisions confirming an individual’s claim that he was a ‘worker’ and not self-employed. But what are the tax and NI consequences of this ruling? Joanne Gibson discusses the Pimlico Plumbers case and its decision on employment status. The long-running and...

Inheritance Tax could potentially cost your loved one’s hundreds of thousands of pounds, yet it is possible to dramatically reduce this or even to pay none at all. Brona MacDougall our Senior Tax Manager provides you with some superb advice for effective IHT planning. Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax on the estate of someone...

Childcare Vouchers are an employee benefit for all eligible working parents but with the current system changing in October, anyone thinking about it should act now. Joanne Gibson takes a closer look. Childcare Vouchers are a Government approved, tax-efficient way of paying for childcare and are an employee benefit for all eligible working parents. And...

The better weather has finally arrived, and you are thinking about introducing a Cycle to Work scheme in your workplace. There are several options available to you including ready-made cycle schemes, the DIY alternative or a mixture of both. Bob Johnstone takes a closer look at the pros and cons. Cycle to work exemption You...

Managing Payroll is one of those core business functions that you might believe is better kept in-house, but as our new Payroll Bureau Manager Joanne Gibson informs you, there is a compelling case for outsourcing it. As a business owner you will know that employing a workforce requires a good understanding of your legal obligations...

The new Scottish tax rates left taxpayers pretty confused over how they would work with tax relief for pension contributions. What are HMRC saying about this? Kevin Crowford takes a closer look. When the new Scottish five-tier tax rates were announced there was no mention of how this would fit in with the UK three-tier...

VAT rules for cars used in your business are notoriously strict but for some types of motor running expenses, they are surprisingly generous. John Craig explains what are they and how can you take maximum advantage of them? Except in the rare situation that you can prove to HMRC that a car is used 100%...

You are looking to incorporate your business and you’ve heard that any resulting tax charges can be legitimately mitigated. However, there is tax to pay as Kevin Crowford shows in his latest blog. Undoubtedly one of the main reasons for transferring a sole trader business to a company in which you own shares is tax...

You are buying new IT equipment, mainly for use at home, but occasionally it will be used for work. Can you reclaim the VAT on the cost of the equipment and is there any advantage in doing so? VAT expert John Craig takes a closer look. ‘Putting it through the business’ is the old chestnut...

As an employer, you’ll be aware of the increasing number of obligations when employing and looking after your staff.  But this also has an impact on employing casual workers too, Kevin Ferguson looks at the Tax do’s and don’ts of employing casual workers. You will probably know from experience that these days employers must not...