HLAS

The Government have announced a one-year exemption from paying employers national insurance contributions (NICs) where military veterans are recruited by civilian employers. Employers can claim relief if they employ a veteran during the qualifying period. The qualifying period starts on the first day of the veteran’s first civilian job since leaving the regular armed forces and ends 12 months later. For 2021/22 employers will be required to pay the NICs and then claim back the amounts paid at the end of the tax year. From 6 April 2022 a new zero NIC rate will apply.

A 25% rate of corporation tax will apply to all of a company’s profits if they exceed £250,000 from 1 April 2023. The 19% rate will continue to apply where profits are below £50,000. The marginal rate that applies between those limits will be 26.5%. Those upper and lower limits are divided by the number of “associated companies” in the accounting period. This is not merely companies in the same 51% group but also includes companies under common control, for example where the same individual controls two standalone companies. So, if Fred controls Bloggs Trading Ltd and also Bloggs Lettings [...]

Currently only VAT registered businesses making taxable supplies in excess of the £85,000 VAT registration threshold are mandated to comply with Making Tax Digital (MTD) rules. Those rules require the business to keep digital business records and send VAT returns using MTD-compatible software. MTD for VAT is now being rolled out to all VAT registered businesses from April 2022 which may cause some traders who are VAT registered but below the threshold to consider deregistering to avoid having to comply with MTD for VAT. If you decide to do so you will need to complete Form VAT7 and account for [...]

These 14 guides cover a range of different types of work. Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. You may need to use more than one of these guides as you think through what you need to do to keep people safe. Priority actions are outlined at the top of each guide. New guidance has been provided for: Heritage locations – Updated to reflect Step 2 of the roadmap Performing arts – Updated to reflect Step 2 of the roadmap. See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance to help local authorities and partners to deliver activities supported through the Welcome Back Fund. This funding builds on the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund announced in May 2020. The Welcome Back Fund is providing councils across England a share of £56 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to support the safe return to high streets and help build back better, from the pandemic. This funding builds on the £50 million Reopening High Street Safely Fund (RHSSF) allocated to councils in 2020 and forms part of the wider support government is providing to communities and businesses. This [...]

The guidance for employers carrying out right to work checks during the coronavirus pandemic has been updated as the temporary adjustments introduced because of coronavirus end on 16 May 2021. The following temporary changes were made on 30 March 2020 and remain in place until 16 May 2021. checks can currently be carried out over video calls job applicants and existing workers can send scanned documents or a photo of documents for checks using email or a mobile app, rather than sending originals employers should use the Employer Checking Service if a prospective or existing employee cannot provide any of the accepted [...]

The lists of, and information about, approved suppliers of private testing kits for coronavirus (COVID-19) has been updated. See: Private providers of coronavirus testing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Providers of day 2 and day 8 coronavirus testing for international arrivals Information on the 2 tests you must book, pay for and take, during your mandatory 10-day quarantine period after arriving in England, including how to book. See: Providers of day 2 and day 8 coronavirus testing for international arrivals - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The government has provided businesses with a notice to display to show you have made your workplace COVID-secure. See: Staying COVID-19 Secure notice (publishing.service.gov.uk)