HLAS

In his Spring 2021 Budget the Chancellor announced that there would be 8 “Freeports” in England with generous tax breaks to encourage businesses to set up and invest in those areas. The devolved governments will also be announcing locations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in due course. The proposed locations of the freeports can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/freeports#where-are-they-located Summary of Freeport tax advantages The main tax and customs duty advantages of locating in a designated freeport area are as follows:- SDLT exemption on the purchase of land and buildings in the area 10 year write off of the cost [...]

The government is reintroducing the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS). This will be a temporary scheme to support employers facing heightened levels of sickness absence due to COVID-19. The SSPRS will refund small and medium-sized employers’ COVID-related SSP costs for up to two weeks per employee. To qualify for the scheme employers must have less than 250 employees. Employers will be eligible for the scheme if they are UK-based, employed fewer than 250 employees as of 30 November 2021, they had a PAYE payroll system as of 30 November 2021 and they have already paid their employees’ COVID-related SSP. [...]

HMRC have written to traders with a reminder of the changes coming into force from 1 January 2022 and how they might affect the way goods are imported and exported between Great Britain and the EU. You can read this letter, along with more information about these changes by going to GOV.UK Temporary arrangements for movements from Ireland and Northern Ireland The UK government has announced that current customs arrangements for goods moving from Ireland and Northern Ireland to Great Britain will be extended for as long as discussions between the UK and EU on the operation of the Northern Ireland [...]

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding Self-Assessment tax payers to declare any COVID-19 grant payments on their 2020 to 2021 tax return. These grants are taxable, and you should declare them on your 2020 to 2021 tax return before the deadline on 31 January 2022. The Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) application and payment windows during the 2020 to 2021 tax year were: SEISS 1: 13 May 2020 to 13 July 2020 SEISS 2: 17 August 2020 to 19 October 2020 SEISS 3: 29 November 2020 to 29 January 2021 SEISS is not the only COVID-19 support scheme [...]

How to use the NHS COVID Pass to demonstrate your coronavirus (COVID-19) status when travelling abroad and domestically at venues and settings in England. From Wednesday 15 December the coronavirus (COVID-19) rules for visiting certain venues and events changed. To enter certain venues and events in England you must have proof that you: are vaccinated with 2 doses of an approved vaccine (or one of the single-dose Janssen vaccine) – the government will keep this under review as boosters are rolled out have taken a PCR or rapid lateral flow test within the last 48 hours, or are exempt from [...]

The Review will consider whether the rules around pensionable age are appropriate, based on the latest life expectancy data and other evidence. The Pensions Act 2014 requires the government to regularly review State Pension age, and in accordance with law, this latest Review must be published by 7 May 2023. State Pension age is currently 66 and two further increases are currently set out in legislation: a gradual rise to 67 for those born on or after April 1960; and a gradual rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046 for those born on or after April 1977. The first Review [...]

The advice for pregnant employees on risk assessments in the workplace and occupational health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been updated to reflect recent government announcements. This advice is for you if you are pregnant and working as an employee. This includes pregnant healthcare professionals. It will help you discuss with your line manager and occupational health team how best to ensure health and safety in the workplace. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=cba7a635-8615-497d-9d56-42b75160357c&utm_content=daily

From 15 December 2021, all remaining countries were removed from the UK travel red list. The red list policy and additional testing measures in response to Omicron remain in place. As such, passengers arriving from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe will not have to stay in a managed quarantine hotel on arrival from this date. Pre-departure tests and PCR testing measures on or before day 2 remain in place, with a review of all travel measures in the new year. Airlines must continue to check all passengers for pre-departure tests alongside their [...]

Consumer prices rose by 4.6% in the 12 months to November 2021, according to the lead measure of the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH). This is up from 3.8% in the year to October 2021. Annual inflation rates at this time are influenced by the effects of coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2020. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) also rose from 4.2% to 5.1% in November 2021. A wide range of prices contributed to the rise in inflation, with the largest upward contributions coming from motor fuels as well as clothing and footwear, where prices rose this year [...]

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) latest figures show the UK’s average house price increased by 10.2% over the year to October, down from 12.3% in the year to September 2021. The average UK house price was £268,000 in October 2021, which is £24,000 higher than this time last year. The temporary changes to Stamp Duty, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, and Land Transaction Tax may have allowed sellers to request higher prices as buyers’ overall costs are reduced. As the tax breaks were originally due to conclude at the end of March 2021, it is likely that March’s average [...]