HLAS

Remember that there are key steps that need to be followed as far as employment law is concerned. It is also important to treat any payments on termination of employment correctly for tax and national insurance purposes. In genuine redundancy situations the first £30,000 paid on termination of employment is tax free but many employers get this wrong. The £30,000 includes statutory redundancy pay and any enhancement from the employer as well as continuing benefits such as private health insurance. The excess is subject to income tax and employers national insurance. We can of course assist you with the process [...]

The Government are pulling the plug on support to employers for furloughed staff at the end of September as they anticipate that the economy will be back to normal by October. The grant claims for employees furloughed in the month of September are 60% of the employee’s usual pay up to a maximum cap of £1,875. Make sure that you make your final claims for the month of September by 14 October and make any adjustments by 28 October 2021. The end of furlough may be the trigger for many businesses to assess their staffing levels going forward and many [...]

How can a small business use cloud accounting? There is no denying that cloud accounting is now the preferred method for many accountants and small business owners alike. And as seasoned accountants ourselves, we can see why. Cloud-based accounting is quicker, easier, and more accessible than traditional methods, and it allows the automation of almost every accounting task. What’s more, VAT registered businesses are now required to store and submit financial information digitally under the Making Tax Digital (MTD) guidelines  QuickBooks: Our cloud accounting software of choice Our accountants are fully trained in 6 cloud-based platforms including QuickBooks Intuit and [...]

Why should I outsource my bookkeeping? As a small business owner, the thought of outsourcing your bookkeeping might not have crossed your mind. Bookkeeping is just a fancy word for noting down your outgoings, isn’t it? Well, not quite… it’s just the beginning! Understanding the true load of bookkeeping will not only ensure your business is compliant but it can be used to propel you forward, too. Let’s find out more. 5 key reasons to outsource bookkeeping as a small business Your accounts will remain accurate and up-to-date Accountants tasked with your bookkeeping will make it their sole focus, meaning [...]

This has been updated and outlines what to do if you or someone you employ is required to self-isolate. This includes being contacted by NHS Test and Trace, self-isolation rules and financial support. In the small number of situations where the self-isolation of close contacts would result in serious disruption to critical services, a limited number of named workers may be able to leave self-isolation under specific controls for the purpose of undertaking critical work only. This process is only intended to run until 16 August 2021, when fully vaccinated close contacts will be exempt from self-isolation. The government will [...]

The non-statutory guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities in the private and social rented sectors in the context of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been updated for the move to COVID-19 rules step 4 on 19 July. See:  Guidance for landlords and tenants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Understanding the possession action process: guidance for landlords and tenants There is updated guidance for landlords and tenants in the private and social rented sectors to explain the possession action process in the county courts in England and Wales. See:  Understanding the possession action process: guidance for landlords and tenants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Venues in certain sectors should continue to ask customers, visitors and staff to 'check in', to help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Establishments in the following sectors should encourage attendees to check in and maintain records of staff, customers and visitors who choose to provide their contact details: hospitality, including pubs, bars, nightclubs, restaurants and cafes tourism and leisure, including theatres, museums and cinemas close contact services places of worship facilities provided by local authorities such as libraries and community centres Venues should: ask every customer or visitor (over the age of 16) to ‘check in’ by: scanning the [...]

This guidance contains advice for pregnant employees on risk assessments in the workplace and occupational health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. If you are pregnant and have let your employer know in writing of your pregnancy, your employer should carry out a risk assessment to follow the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSW) or the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. This may involve obtaining advice from the occupational health department. See the workplace risk assessment guidance for healthcare workers and for vulnerable people working in other industries. Information contained in the RCOG/RCM guidance on [...]

The government has published this guidance for private providers of ‘Test to Release for international travel’. By law, all tests used for the purpose of shortening the self-isolation period for international arrivals must meet certain minimum standards. Providers must also complete a declaration that their tests meet these standards. The minimum standards can be seen here: Minimum standards for private-sector providers of COVID-19 testing for ‘Test to Release for international travel’ - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)