HLAS

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 introduced significant reforms to Companies House procedures and powers, with the first phase taking effect from 4 March 2024. These reforms aim to enhance the reliability and usability of the company register, protect individuals and businesses from fraud, and prevent the misuse of UK companies by international money laundering networks. The Department for Business and Trade has released a progress report on the Act's implementation and operation, committing to annual updates until 2030. According to the report, from 4 March to 1 April 2024, Companies House has: - Removed 4,000 inappropriate registered [...]

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act has officially become law, impacting both owners of freeholds for leasehold properties and house builders. Key reforms include: Immediate Lease Purchase: Leaseholders no longer need to wait two years before they can buy or extend their lease. Extended Lease Terms: The standard lease extension term is now 990 years for both houses and flats, up from the previous 50 years for houses and 90 years for flats. This change is aimed at providing leaseholders with greater security in their homes. Ban on New Leasehold Sales: The sale of new leasehold homes is now prohibited, [...]

A spreadsheet released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in response to a freedom of information request inadvertently contained personal information about all 9,483 serving PSNI officers and staff. This data, which was included in a “hidden” tab in the spreadsheet, was subsequently published online. The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) determined that PSNI’s internal procedures and sign-off protocols for securely disclosing information were inadequate. The release of this information has had a significant impact on the lives of many affected individuals. Due to fears for their safety, some have had to relocate, distance themselves from family members, or [...]

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act has officially received Royal Assent and is now law in the UK. This new legislation aims to safeguard consumers and promote fair competition, particularly focusing on large technology firms. Key Points of the Act: Consumer Protection: Transparent Subscriptions: Businesses must provide clear information about subscription costs, notify consumers when trials are ending, and simplify the cancellation process. Upfront Costs: All costs, including hidden fees, must be disclosed upfront, eliminating unexpected charges during online checkouts. Ban on Fake Reviews: The Act prohibits fake reviews, ensuring consumers can trust online feedback. Empowering Regulators: Enhanced CMA [...]

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has released guidance to assist developers, engineers, decision-makers, and risk owners in designing and using machine learning systems. Machine learning is a form of artificial intelligence where computers identify patterns in data or solve problems automatically. To illustrate, consider how you might teach a child to recognize different animals. Instead of explaining all the rules to identify a cat or a dog, you show them numerous pictures of cats and dogs and tell them which is which. Over time, the child becomes better at distinguishing between cats and dogs just by looking at them. [...]

The Office for National Statistics conducts a bi-weekly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS). The latest voluntary responses provided the following insights. Worker Shortages Decreasing 21% of businesses with 10 or more employees are currently experiencing worker shortages. This is a decrease from May 2023, when 28% of businesses reported shortages. Increase in Sales 21% of businesses reported a decrease in turnover in April 2024 compared to March 2024, a similar proportion to the previous month. Conversely, 19% of businesses reported an increase in turnover, up from 16% last month. This suggests that there is more sales activity, in line [...]

Imagine this: your business is thriving, and it’s time to invest in new equipment or a company vehicle. But with so many financing options available, how do you choose the right one for your needs? Let’s explore three popular choices – leasing, contract hire, and hire purchase – so you can make an informed decision without getting bogged down by financial jargon. Lease Leasing involves renting an asset (like machinery, a vehicle, or a computer) from a finance company for a predetermined period. Once the lease term ends, you typically return the asset, though there may be an option to [...]

The table below sets out the HMRC advisory furl rates from 1 June 2024. These are the suggested reimbursement rates for employees' private mileage using their company car. Where the employer does not pay for any fuel for the company car these are the amounts that can be reimbursed in respect of business journeys without the amount being taxable on the employee. Where there has been a change the previous rate is shown in brackets. You can also continue to use the previous rates for up to 1 month from the date the new rates apply. Note that for hybrid [...]

As mentioned earlier, the HMRC rate of interest on beneficial loans is highly attractive compared to the Bank of England Base Rate of 5.25% and the higher rates charged by banks for unsecured loans. When loans are made to participators (generally shareholders) of a close company, there is a potential special tax charge on the company for any loan still outstanding nine months after the end of the accounting period. The current charge is 33.75%, matching the higher rate of tax on dividend income. This tax charge is only refunded to the company once the loan to the participator is [...]

HMRC has announced that the official rate of interest will remain at 2.25% for the 2024/25 tax year, despite the Bank of England Base Rate currently being 5.25%. This official rate is used to calculate the income tax charge on the benefit of employment-related loans and the taxable benefit of some employment-related living accommodations. In the past, these rates fluctuated with the base rate and changed several times a year, but HMRC has recently fixed the rate for the entire tax year, simplifying the calculation of the taxable benefit. Employers reporting beneficial loans on form P11d for the 2023/24 tax [...]