Smarter accounting

Tax on bank rewards and cashback

28 July 2016, Advocates, Artists, Sole Traders

Some high street banks have been offering rewards to their customers.  A common question is whether or not you have to pay tax on bank rewards.  Rewards are typically paid subject to criteria such as paying in a minimum amount each month and setting up direct debit instructions.

HMRC new bank account

20 June 2016, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

Most people will pay their tax electronically either through their payroll, direct debit or by bank transfer.  Tax payments made from overseas now go to the HMRC new bank details.

Marriage Allowance update April 2016

17 April 2016, Advocates, Artists, Creative Industries, Sole Traders

The Marriage Allowance is a tax break for couples where one partner doesn’t use all their tax free allowance.  For the 2016-17 tax year, which runs from 6th April 2016 to 5th April 2017 the tax free allowance is £11,000.

Get your discount 2016 tax return

7 February 2016, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

Everyone should have filed their 2015 tax return by 31st January 2016.  For most people this means a sigh of relief and not thinking about it until again until next January.  There is nothing to stop you filing your tax return in April or May if you have all the information you need.

SRIT – the Scottish Rate of Income Tax

29 November 2015, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

From 5th April 2016 a new Scottish Rate of Income Tax (SRIT) will come into force in Scotland.  Although is it currently anticipated that taxpayers in Scotland and the rest of the UK will pay the same rate of tax next year, it is likely that the regions will diverge in coming years as more power is devolved to Scotland.

Money collected by Digital Tax Accounts

Digital Tax Accounts – the end of tax returns?

26 November 2015, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Companies, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

The Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 from Chancellor George Osborne confirms that the government is committed to Digital Tax Accounts.  The following extract is from the transcript of the speech delivered on 25th November 2015: “We’re going to build one of the most digitally advanced tax administrations in the world.  So that every individual and every small business will have their own digital tax account by the end of the decade, in order to manage their tax online.”

Not the new childcare voucher sheme

5 November 2015, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

A new government-backed tax-free childcare scheme was set to go live in the autumn of 2015 but so far it has not materialised.  What has happened and is this new scheme still going ahead or not?

Alterledger goes international

11 October 2015, Artists, Charities, Companies, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

We’re in Wales for the next few days We will be visiting clients in Cardiff over the next couple of days.  No time for the rugby, but spotted this crashing through Cardiff Castle. Creative Industries in Cardiff Cardiff is the home of BBC Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Welsh National Opera and of course […]

Legal House

8 October 2015, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

Legal House – a new home for Alterledger Alterledger has grown significantly in the last few months.  We specialise in accounting and business advice for the creative industries and legal professionals.  Legal House is the ideal location as it is just across the river from Glasgow’s dynamic Merchant City, mooted as Europe’s leading cultural quarter.  Legal House […]

Badges of Trade

22 May 2015, Artists, Musicians, Sole Traders

Do I have to pay tax on my hobby? If you run a business from home the likelihood is that you will have to pay tax on profits.  Not all activities related to buying and selling are recognised as trading by HMRC.  To establish whether a person is carrying on a trade you need to […]

Pre-registration input VAT

12 May 2015, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Companies, Musicians, Sole Traders

Input VAT is the VAT you pay on purchases of good and services.  Once a business is registered for VAT, this input VAT can be reclaimed as long as it relates to taxable supplies.  Under specific circumstances pre-registration input VAT can be reclaimed. View image | gettyimages.com Reclaim pre-registration input VAT Goods In most cases […]

Start up VAT registration

12 May 2015, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Companies, Musicians, Sole Traders

Cut your start up costs The timing of start up VAT registration can help you to cut costs at the most vulnerable time for your business.  Most start ups find that it can take a while before they are receiving income.  Rather than wait for sales before registering for VAT, you can register from the date […]

Childcare vouchers

5 May 2015, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

As one door opens another closes A new tax-free childcare voucher scheme will start in Autumn 2015.  When this happens the current scheme for employees will close to new entrants, but still remain in place for existing employees.  If you are an employee, you will need to think about signing up now if the existing […]

Accounts for Artists

3 May 2015, Artists

Tax breaks for artists Douglas Connell, a tax lawyer at Turcan Connell and chairman of Museums and Galleries Scotland has proposed preferential treatment in preparing tax accounts for artists.  His view is that tax breaks for artists would enrich Scotland’s cultural life.  He would like to see Irish-style tax breaks for “players in orchestras, craft […]

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