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taxes

With a new tax year come the new tax rates and allowances. Although there has not been a great significant change in the rates and allowances for 2021/22 compared to 2020/21, the government has announced that a lot of the tax rates will be frozen till 2026. This is due to the pandemic and the current state of the economy because of it.

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The current VAT threshold in the UK stands at £85,000. Any business that has an annual turnover of that value must register for VAT with HMRC, and when they do this they will receive a VAT number. Before you work with another business, you normally want to find out all you can about them and you can easily do this through a Google search. However, something you might not consider looking at is their VAT number, and this is actually something that you should definitely be verifying.

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Responding to the coronavirus lockdown protocols, many businesses have embraced remote working as a safer, sometimes more convenient, alternative to being in the office. This has been widespread and will, in the long-term, likely normalise the practice of remote working. Yet, as a less than desirable short-term side-effect, many organisations are overlooking basic compliance with tax regulations and data protection laws.

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Salary aside, most limited company directors (and shareholders) typically draw down most of their income in the form of dividends. Dividends are distributed by companies of all types in order to return a proportion of company profits back to their shareholders. Here we look at what are company dividends and how to calculate them.
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Starting a part-time small business is ideal if you want the security of employment whilst investing in a side business. Starting a business can come with great risks, and one of the main reasons that potential entrepreneurs are held back is for fear of their business failing. However with a combination of business skills and the right product, you can make your business a success. When running a part-time small business you also don’t have the life changing risk of failing hanging over your head, as you still have a steady income through your day job.

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It is, unfortunately, the case that IR35, Public and Private Sector off-payroll rules are something of a minefield.  It’s a complex area of tax law so it is not surprising that contractors and freelancers get confused and struggle to understand all the implications.

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If you are running a small business or a limited company with employees, you will need to get acquainted with a P60 form. Here, Dannielle Stapleton MAAT from Orange Genie brings you a guide to the P60 form, addressing what it is, when you would need one and where to get one.

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If you are thinking about getting private healthcare insurance for yourself and your family, you can pay for it in two ways. You can either pay for your private healthcare insurance through your limited company or do it from your personal accounts. Depending on various factors, the tax efficiency of both methods will vary. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to get an opinion of an accountant to help you find the best option.

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Most small business owners will have heard of Making Tax Digital (MTD), but what exactly is it and what does it mean for your business? It’s been a hot topic in the world of finance and accounting since the government announced its plans in the spring 2015 budget. There’s no shortage of information and tax advice relating to MTD, and in fact, it can feel like there is an overwhelming amount. For those of us who aren’t financial experts, it can be confusing and hard to understand exactly what the obligations of small business owners will be under the new rules.

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Readers’ question: I’m looking into starting a small business and I’m still not sure what the main differences between a sole trader and limited company are with regards to tax implications. What is the more tax beneficial method of running a business?

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The time of completing and filing a self-assessment tax return is a dreaded time for the self-employed. However, being prepared and having a good working knowledge of taxes and allowable expenses will surely make the task a little easier. Figuring out which expenses you can claim can be quite difficult when it comes completing the self-assessment tax return.
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In the most recent Small Business Index carried out for the third quarter (Q3) of 2018, it was found that small businesses are lacking confidence. The research carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) on a quarterly basis has seen the confidence of small business plummet for the third time since the Brexit vote. The confidence of the self-employed has also taken a big hit due to the government unfulfilling its promises.

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When it comes to hiring for any role, the main priority is getting the right candidate. You may need to look outside the UK if the applicants you are getting are not quite what you are looking for. There may be various reasons for wanting to employ people from overseas, however, whatever your reason you will need to adhere to certain rules and regulations.

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Small business owners often make the mistake of believing HMRC only investigate the tax records of big players. Wrong. Last year HMRC were seen to be cracking down on tax avoidance and increased its investigations into smaller firms.

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Keeping on top of your finances is one of the biggest causes of stress for small business owners, as the financial position of a business can really be the make or break point for the future of it. There are many challenges that small business owners face, from building a customer base to being a supervisor or creating and delivering good quality products. As a business owner, you will need to wear multiple hats in order to keep the business running. However, managing your finances may be of particular importance to the livelihood of your small business.

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If you’re self-employed (a sole trader) in the UK and carry out some of your work from your own home, then there’s good news for you: you’re likely entitled to include part of the running costs of your home in your accounts.
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There are millions of apps, varying in purpose and function, whether they are for entertainment or to keep your business organised. When you’re a small business owner you will need to wear multiple hats, and therefore need to make sure to take advantage of all the resources available to you. The best thing about some apps is that they are free or give the option of a free trial, therefore they can give you the opportunity to try before you buy.

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When running a small business, saving money and cutting costs where you can should always be a priority. By being smart when dealing with taxes it can actually save you a considerable amount of money. If you are effectively dealing with your taxes, it could be the difference between a steady profitable business to one that’s just barely getting by.
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Here are the main small business tax rates and allowances for the tax year  of 2018/19.
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It may be an obvious statement but businesses need to regularly keep tabs on their expenditure. If you feel you are spending too much in certain areas then this article may help you cut business costs.  QCR give you tips on how you can improve by cutting costs and lowering your expenditure.

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