Starting a business as a sole trader
When starting a business, there are various decisions to make and tasks to perform. One of the first questions to address is whether to run …
Using salary sacrifice to beat the rise in employer’s NIC
One of the more unpopular Budget announcements was the rise in employer’s National Insurance from 13.8% to 15% from 6 April 2025. The Class 1A …
Is it worth paying voluntary Class 3 NICs?
The payment of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) is linked to entitlement to the state pension. If sufficient National Insurance Contributions of the right type are …
Using the VAT flat rate scheme
The VAT flat rate scheme is a simplified flat rate scheme which can be used by smaller businesses to save work. Under the scheme, businesses …
What to do if you cannot pay your tax bill
As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, you may find that come 31 January 2025 you are struggling to pay your Self Assessment …
Using ISAs to benefit from tax-free savings income
A combination of higher interest rates and stealth taxation may mean that you are now paying tax on savings income for the first time. If …
Self-Employed Expenses: What Can You Deduct?
If you are self-employed, you will pay tax on your taxable profit. In working out your taxable profit, you can deduct self-employed expenses that you …
VAT implications of buying commercial property at auction
VAT implications of purchasing a commercial property at auction are a common occurrence. Although usually the sale or lease of a commercial property is exempt …
When is BIK more tax efficient than salary and dividends? Â
For many years the most tax-efficient method of withdrawing monies from a company by a sole director/owner has been to take salary up to the …
Tax implications of employer-provided vans
Benefits in kind (BIK) are goods and services provided to an employee (or a member of their family or household) for free or at significantly …
When a dwelling is uninhabitable – SDLT
Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) is charged at the residential rates on residential property and at the non-residential rates on non-residential or mixed property. For …
Gift FHL by 5 April 2025 to benefit from hold-over relief
The favourable tax regime for Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) is to come to an end on 5 April 2025. This will mean that landlords of …
