HLAS

HSE remind employers that they must provide the right facilities for everyone in their workplace, including people with disabilities. You must have: welfare facilities – the right number of toilets and washbasins, drinking water and having somewhere to rest and eat meals a healthy working environment – a clean workplace with a reasonable working temperature, good ventilation, suitable lighting and the right amount of space and seating a safe workplace – well-maintained equipment, with no obstructions in floors and traffic routes, and windows that can be easily opened and cleaned See: Have the right workplace facilities - Overview - HSE [...]

The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs has revealed plans to transform the waste industry in the UK, making it easier to crack down on illegal exports and on waste crime. The government is consulting on a digital waste tracking service. The tracking service would make it mandatory for those handling waste to record information about what happens to it, from the point it is produced to the point it is reused, recycled, or disposed. The consultation closes on 15 April 2022. See:  Introduction of mandatory digital waste tracking - Defra - Citizen Space

HMRC have recently updated their internal VAT manual to clarify the “place of supply” rules for services. This is one of the most complex areas of VAT legislation and of course the rules changed significantly since the UK left the EU. The country where a supply is deemed to be made is called the ‘place of supply’ and is the place where it is liable to VAT, if any. These rules are necessary to ensure that VAT, where payable, is paid only in the correct country and to avoid the possibility of supplies being taxed more than once or not [...]

The costs of keeping the country running through covid were huge and inflation is expected to add to the country’s debt. The Office for Budget Responsibility has indicated that the treasury will need to find £45bn in interest, before even thinking about paying off the debt itself. As taxpayers we will be providing the extra cash! From April, the Chancellor is not directly increasing the rates of income tax we pay, he is freezing the thresholds at which basic and higher rates of income tax are paid from April 2022 to April 2026, effectively increasing the amount we actually pay [...]

Normally self-assessment tax returns need to submitted by 31 January, otherwise there is an automatic £100 late filing penalty. Don’t panic however, as HMRC have recently announced that provided 2020/21 tax returns are received by the end of February, the late filing penalty will not be applied. Filing late will, however, extend the period during which HMRC may open an enquiry into your return. YOU ALSO HAVE LONGER TO PAY YOUR PERSONAL TAX 2020/21 income tax, CGT, class 2 and 4 NIC liabilities normally need to be paid by 31 January 2022. However, HMRC have recently announced that provided the [...]

Now that the economy is starting to recover, this could be a good time to think about selling your business. Remember that under the current capital gains rules, the first £1 million of an individual’s gains potentially qualify for a 10% rate of tax, provided business asset disposal relief applies. We can check whether or not you and other business owners qualify for this generous relief. Note that the £1 million limit applies to all disposals during an individual’s lifetime. If your business is worth more than £1 million, you might want to consider the transfer of shares to other [...]

Whilst most of us were wrapping our Christmas presents on 23 December 2021, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, commissioned the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to produce an economic and fiscal forecast for Wednesday 23 March 2022. The main Budget is scheduled for Autumn each year, but it is anticipated that the Chancellor will take the opportunity to make a number of tax announcements. Many are hoping that the Chancellor will zero rate VAT on domestic power to ease the burden of households struggling to pay their energy bills. Now that the UK has left the EU, we [...]

Let us have hope that in 2022 we return to a more normal way of life free of the restrictions that we have faced over the last two years. The pandemic happened and now is not the time to reflect how it happened or judge how it was managed, indeed further restrictions have recently been introduced and all we can do is take precautions individually to prevent the Omicron virus spreading and continue to take responsibility in the community to socially distance and help prevent the spread. Last year, despite the lockdowns and restrictions, we have been amazed at the [...]

The government announced in late December additional economic support to help businesses who have been most impacted by the Omicron variant. New Business Grants The government is introducing a new grant scheme to support businesses that are experiencing difficulties because of the Omicron variant. Hospitality and leisure premises will benefit from targeted grant support. The Additional Restrictions Grant will also be topped up so local authorities (LAs) can continue to use their discretion to support other businesses in their area, based on local economic need. Hospitality (defined as accommodation, food & beverage services) and leisure premises will benefit from targeted [...]

We encourage all clients to consider taking time to prepare a 2022 Strategic plan. “A sailor without a destination will never get a favourable wind” It is easier to get to your destination with a plan. We all know this simple truth. If you are driving from A to B it helps to know where A is and the directions you need to take. If you have a vision of what you want your business to look like when it is “complete” then you are in a position to drive your business towards the vision and you can monitor how [...]