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Commentary, briefings and case studies from the Mercian team — what’s hitting our inbox, what HMRC is asking, and what owners are doing about it.
Best Accounting Software 2023
As a leading accounting firm, we understand the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest technology in the industry. With the increasing popularity of cloud-based accounting software, choosing the right provider has become a crucial decision for businesses of all sizes. In this article, we will be discussing some of the top accounting software providers…
Read MoreTax year-end planning by 5th April 2023
Spring is coming, and the end of the 2022/23 tax year (Wednesday 5th April) is fast approaching. Now is the time to consider any tax year-end planning opportunities and ensure you don’t waste any of tax allowances or exemptions. We have broken this guide into helpful sections: Personal circumstances differ, so if you have any questions…
Read MoreShould I set up as a sole trader or limited company?
There are three main legal structures for starting a business: sole trader, partnership, and limited company. Deciding which structure to choose can have a significant impact on your business, so it’s important to consider the pros and cons of each option before making a decision. Sole trader Partnership Limited company The structure you choose will…
Read MoreShould I register for VAT?
Business owners ask us Accountants a lot of questions about VAT; here are some of the common ones and some general guidance. Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax imposed by the UK government on the sale of goods and services. If your business has a turnover of more than £85,000 in a 12-month period,…
Read MoreCan’t Repay Your Company’s Bounce Back Loan? See The Options
The government introduced the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) – with emergency finance of up to £50,000 without a personal guarantee* – to support eligible businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic. However, since the 12-month payment holiday ended, many companies have experienced cash flow issues, and have been unable make the monthly repayments. If this sounds…
Read MoreSchool Fees Tax Planning Guide
A private school education is an investment into your children’s (or grandchildren’s) future, but comes at a significant cost. According to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), the average fee per term was £5,064 in 2021, which equates to over £15,000 per year – and this is only set to increase as time goes on. With…
Read MoreTax Guide for Content Creators and Social Media Influencers
Introduction Are you a digital entrepreneur who’s unsure about their tax responsibilities? Whether your hobby is vlogging, blogging, reviewing, or streaming, if you earn money (e.g., royalties and advertising fees) or receive gifts (e.g., products, holidays, or accommodation) from it, then HMRC could class you as having taxable income, and require you to submit a…
Read MoreSelf-Assessment: Information Required
Checklist Please complete and return one of our self-assessment checklists, available here as an Excel version or PDF version. Employment If you were employed, including through your own company, please provide your P60 or P45 (if employment ended), which shows gross salary, tax deducted and any student loan deductions. If you received P11D benefits in…
Read MoreCharitable giving and Tax
Many people give money to charity, however, only half of them are taking advantage of the Gift Aid scheme. Let’s consider how a taxpayer can donate to charity tax-efficiently. Giving through Gift Aid is a very popular and tax-efficient way of making gifts or donations to UK registered charities and also to local, community amateur…
Read MoreEmployee Gifts and Trivial Benefits
Employers can provide benefits to staff without incurring tax, provided the benefits meet the conditions. HMRC deem some small benefits trivial and, therefore, exempt from tax and reporting obligations. Conditions You don’t have to pay tax on a benefit for your employee if all of the following apply: This is known as a trivial benefit.…
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