HLAS

The Employment Allowance (EA) is a £5,000 allowance set against employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and has to be claimed each tax year by qualifying employers. The EA was increased from £4,000 to £5,000 this tax year to help to soften the blow of the 1.25% increase in employer contributions, now calculated at 15.05%. If two or more companies or charities are connected with one another, then only one of them may claim the EA. Employers are not eligible to claim the EA where their employers’ Class 1 NationalInsurance liabilities in the previous tax year exceeded £100,000. Another important exclusion [...]

P11D forms for reporting expenses and benefits in kind provided to employees and directors in 2021/22 need to be submitted by 6 July 2022. Remember that reimbursed expenses no longer need to be reported where they are incurred ‘wholly, exclusively and necessarily’ in the performance of the employee's duties. HMRC do however expect internal controls to be in place to ensure that the reimbursed expenses qualify under these terms. Note also that non-cash ‘trivial benefits’ that cost no more than £50 do not usually need to be reported. This typically covers non-cash gifts to employees at Christmas and on their [...]

Millions of people across the country could benefit from cleaner air and cheaper ways to travel and keep active, thanks to £200 million of government funding for new walking and cycling schemes across England announced last week. The government’s new executive agency Active Travel England, led by Chris Boardman, will oversee the delivery of 134 first-rate schemes, backed by £161 million, which include new footways, cycle lanes and pedestrian crossings across 46 local authorities outside London. The projects will create new routes and improve existing ones, making it easier and cheaper for people to choose active and green ways of [...]

The world’s largest fleet of zero emission HGVs will take to UK roads through plans to achieve cleaner air and greener jobs, while helping to keep costs down on consumer goods. £200 million of government funding will be injected into an extensive zero emission road freight demonstrator programme, at Logistics UK’s Future Logistics Conference earlier this month. The 3-year comparative programme will begin later this year to help decarbonise the UK’s freight industry with initial competitions for battery, electric and hydrogen fuel cell technology launching shortly. This could see hundreds more zero-emission HGVs rolled out across the nation and save [...]

The UK Infrastructure Bank was launched in interim form at its headquarters in Leeds in June last year. It was tasked with accelerating investment into ambitious infrastructure projects, cutting emissions and levelling up across the UK. This Bill will complete the Bank’s set up as an operationally independent institution and give it the power to lend directly to local authorities and the Northern Ireland Executive. It will also support the Bank’s operational independence by setting out clear accountability for how it is to be run. Since its launch, the Bank has completed five deals, including financing the UK’s largest solar [...]

Earlier this month the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Ellis, addressed the UK and EU Parliamentarians at the inaugural meeting of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. He commented that “This forum is an important part of the governance that supports the new UK-EU relationship, but it is also a link between democratic representatives and the people that we serve. I hope that the following couple of days will provide an opportunity for Parliamentarians across the English Channel to exchange ideas on how we can get the most out of our new relationship - to the benefit of course of [...]

New emails and letters appearing to be from employees of the Government Legal Department/Bona Vacantia Division are in circulation. Emails are being sent from bogus email addresses purporting to be from members of the Bona Vacantia Division. These emails are not from the @governmentlegal.gov.uk address and may ask for confirmation of personal information or provide false links or download attachments. Do not give out private information (such as bank details or passwords), download attachments or click on any links in emails if you are not sure they are genuine. See: New internet phishing alert - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The UK Government is now offering help to businesses with the upfront costs to install charge points. The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that provides eligible applicants with support towards the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints. The scheme is available for B&Bs, campsites, small hotels, charities and any other accommodation business with less than 250 employees. See: Workplace Charging Scheme: guidance for charities and small accommodation businesses - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk

The Recovery Loan Scheme supports access to finance for UK businesses as they grow and recover from the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scheme is to help businesses of any size access loans and other kinds of finance so they can recover after the pandemic and transition period. The Recovery Loan Scheme will accept applications until 30 June 2022. Up to £10 million is available per business. The actual amount offered, and the terms, are at the discretion of participating lenders. The government guarantees 80% of the finance to the lender. As the borrower, you are always 100% liable [...]

Check a list of recent letters from HMRC to help you decide if a letter you've received is a scam. Contents: Letter OCA300 — repayment of Student Loan deductions Overpaid Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grants Research about employee experience of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Research about the digitisation of Child Benefit Refund of Income Tax from changes to your Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant Other letters you should check If your letter is not listed here check other letters sent by HMRC Report suspicious phone calls, emails or texts to HMRC