Are you and your staff handling tips correctly? If you operate a café or restaurant, your employees will receive tips from the majority of customers. But as a business owner, what do need to do regarding income tax on these tips? Head of our Payroll Team Joanne Gibson explains. The starting point is to confirm...

Your company is about to support a local charity. This will include donating the use of company equipment and employees’ time, as these resources will partly be used for non-business activity, will the related costs be tax deductible? Usually, if your business incurs costs in connection with making a gift, it won’t be entitled to...

Q. A friend has told you that he and his wife are taking a tax-free luxury weekend away on the company. Apparently, because the business has been running a long time HMRC allows this. Is this something you can take advantage of? A. Tax rules include a surprisingly long list of benefits in kind which...

Q. I’m a director and co-owner of a company. I use my own car for business journeys for which the company pays me a mileage allowance at HMRC’s official rates. Last month my car was off the road for over three weeks for repair and the insurance company provided me with a courtesy car. Apart...

Q. Mr Jones has arranged to add on a couple days to his family holiday so he can visit colleagues to discuss work matters. His accountant has told him that he can’t claim any of the costs relating to the trip. Is this correct? A. As you probably already know about the general rule for...

A business provides their staff with workplace clothing but because of a recent change to the rules, they might face a tax and NI bill. What are HMRC referring to and is there any way to avoid these tax costs? Helen Johnstone finds out. ABC Limited provides all staff who might come into contact with...

There’s more than one rule which determines the type of tax relief you can claim for capital expenditure in a property rental business. Different rules can apply from year to year. But which can you claim and how can you ensure maximum relief? Brona MacDougall takes a closer look. Generally, it doesn’t matter what type...

As a business which hosts seminars and courses, food and drink is provided as part of this during the day. A tax inspector refused to allow a tax deduction for the cost because he says that it is business entertainment. Is he correct? Income tax, corporation tax and VAT legislation each contain a similar rule...

If you have use of a company car for private travel you’ll have to pay tax for the privilege. Plus, there’s a further tax bill if the business pays for your fuel for private journeys. What’s changing with these tax charges in April 2020? Brona MacDougall finds out. Cars and car fuel Company cars are...

Jane has decided to turn her hobby into a business which she’ll run though a company. She bought stock and equipment for her hobby which will now be used for the business instead. Can it claim tax deductions for these costs? Brona MacDougall provides the answers. Pre-trading expenses You may already be aware that tax...