Straight from the horse’s mouth

New corporation tax rate regime begins

20th March 2023
From 1 April 2023, companies with profits in excess of £50,000 will see their corporation tax liabilities increase. This also means that relievable expenses will be more valuable, so what can you do to save as much as possible? Kenny Logan from our Edinburgh office explains. New rates From 1 April 2023 a new set...

Gifts and IHT

10th March 2023
A couple have received conflicting advice about reducing their potential inheritance tax (IHT) liability by making gifts. One view is that they need to survive at least three years from when a gift is made to save IHT. The other advice says they must survive seven. Which view is correct?  Kenny Logan from our Edinburgh...

National Minimum Wage rates for April 2023

9th March 2023
The rates of the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) will come into force from April 2023. The rates which will apply from 1 April 2023 are as follows: Rate from April 2023 Annual increase (£) Annual increase (per cent) National Living Wage £10.42 0.92 9.7 21-22 Year Old Rate £10.18 1.00...

Are serial property sales a business?

7th March 2023
The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) recently considered whether money from property sales was trading income or capital gains, and if private residence relief was due. The FTT ruling provides useful guidance on both issues. What’s the full story? CASE Mr Campbell bought and sold four properties in little over five years. He made a substantial profit...

Payrolling benefits for 2023/24

6th March 2023
An organisation is considering whether to start payrolling benefits for the upcoming tax year. What are the key advantages and disadvantages of doing so and how do you go about it?  Head of Payroll, Joanne Gibson explains further. What is payrolling a benefit? When an employee’s taxable benefit (such as private medical insurance or a...

CGT on the sale of a former holiday let

2nd March 2023
You have decided to sell a property that until two years ago was let as holiday accommodation. Since then, you and your family and friends have used it for the occasional weekend. Does the special lower rate of capital gains tax still apply to the gain you make? As you’re probably aware, higher rates of...
company cars

Time to get rid of your old company car?

1st March 2023
If you’re driving an old petrol company car, you and your company could be paying a lot in tax and NI charges. You could purchase a new electric or low emissions car, but is there a cheaper way to cut your tax bill? Tax breaks for electric cars Whilst sales of electrically powered cars hit...
Leasing a car

Clarifying tax-free mileage

2nd February 2023
With increasing fuel costs, employees have been asking whether the amount they are reimbursed for business travel in their own car can be increased. The government has recently clarified its guidance on this. What are the rules?  Naomi Swan discusses below. Tax-free mileage rates The HMRC approved tax-free mileage rates for 2022/23 (which are the...
VAT on homeworking allowances

Do you have overseas staff?

30th January 2023
Brexit and the pandemic resulted in many workers leaving the UK to return to their home country. If you have employees dotted around the globe, what are your payroll obligations?  Head of Payroll Joanne Gibson discusses below. If an employee is not tax resident in the UK, generally you don’t need to deduct PAYE unless...

Are business membership’s deductible?

23rd January 2023
You are planning to join a local business association to help with networking and promotion. This includes access to a monthly dinner with a guest speaker. Does the business entertainment aspect affect the tax deductibility?  Kenny Logan from our Edinburgh office discusses. Quite often, business organisation meetings are also social occasions where food and drinks...