Smarter accounting

December 2021 PAYE weekend payment date

December 2021 PAYE weekend payment date

9 December 2021, Charities, Companies, Employer, General, Sole Traders

Electronic payment deadline falls on a weekend The December 2021 PAYE electronic payment deadline falls on Saturday 22nd January 2022.  To make sure your payment for December reaches HMRC on time, you need to have cleared funds in HMRC’s account by 21 January 2022 unless you are able to arrange a Faster Payment. Remember that […]

December payroll

December payroll – do you pay it early?

1 December 2021, Charities, Companies, Employer, General, Sole Traders

Many businesses pay their December payroll early. However, for employees who also claim Universal Credit, this can cause a problem. What if the normal payment date falls on a weekend? If you pay your employees on the same date each month e.g. 28th, this date will sometimes fall on a weekend.  In November 2021 the […]

Gifts for customers and suppliers

Gifts for customers and suppliers

27 November 2021, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, General, Musicians, Sole Traders

What is a gift? This might seem to be an obvious question, but it helps to get the definition clear to work out the tax implication of gifts for customers and suppliers. A gift is something you give without receiving anything in exchange.  For example, you may choose to give a customer a bottle of […]

Can my company pay my personal phone bill

Can my company pay my personal phone bill?

21 November 2021, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, General

It is tempting to have your company pay personal phone bills, but this article will alert you to some of the pitfalls.  On the face of it you might think you save money on a cheaper personal contract.  However after considering the VAT, income tax and National Insurance you might be better off on a […]

Receipt Bank is now Dext

Receipt Bank is now Dext

23 February 2021, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

A bolt from the blue – Receipt Bank is now Dext In a surprise announcement from Receipt Bank Dext, the branding and log in details for the online service changed today. How do I log in to Dext? If you previously used the following web address to log in to Receipt Bank, it should still […]

The Scottish Wedding Industry Fund could give you up to £25,000

Scottish Wedding Industry Fund

27 January 2021, Artists, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Get up to £25,000 for Scottish Wedding Industry The new Scottish Wedding Industry Fund opens for applications on 28 January 2021.  If your business gets most of its income from weddings you could qualify for a grant of up to £25,000. The fund is available to jewellers, pipers and wedding bands as well as caterers […]

The Job Support Scheme provides support from three sources

Job Support Scheme Update

22 October 2020, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, General, Sole Traders

What changed with the Job Support Scheme update? The Job Support Scheme update (JSS) announced by Rishi Sunak today (22nd October) reduces the costs for employers and also reduces the minimum hours for workers to 20% compared to 33% previously. The UK Government will issue further guidance shortly, but for the moment, here is what […]

The Job Support Scheme provides support from three sources

Job Support Scheme Key Facts

24 September 2020, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, General, Sole Traders

How does the Job Support Scheme work? The Job Support Scheme is designed to protect viable jobs in businesses facing lower demand over the winter months due to Covid-19.  Employers will receive support from the UK Government to help keep their employees on payroll after the furlough scheme is withdrawn. The company will continue to […]

Overclaimed Furlough Funding needs to be repaid to HMRC

Overclaimed Furlough Funding

11 September 2020, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, General

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme According to Jim Harra, the First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of HMRC, there is more than £3.5bn of overclaimed furlough funding.  He estimates that claims in error or fraudulent claims may total up to 10% of cases.  HMRC is clamping down hard and looking at 27,000 active cases. In July […]

Bounce Back Loan - a Bright Idea

Bounce Back Loan

29 April 2020, Advocates, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer

Where CBILS fails, smaller companies can get a Bounce Back Loan The Bounce Back Loan scheme will help small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000.  The government will guarantee 100% of the loan and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months. Loan terms will be […]

COVID-19 small business grants in Scotland

Free webinar for COVID-19 Business Support

28 April 2020, Advocates, Artists, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

COVID-19 Business Support webinar from Collabor8te Collabor8te is a coworking space in the heart of Glasgow.  Although the building is closed at the moment, they are still supporting the business community in Glasgow and across Scotland.  Collabor8te are putting on a free webinar to provide some answers on the COVID-19 business support measures that have […]

furlough funding

How to claim furlough funding from HMRC

8 April 2020, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer

HMRC is working on furlough website Many business owners are waiting for details of how to claim furlough funding from HMRC.  Details of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) are gradually being released by HMRC. How do I claim my furlough funding? HMRC will pay funding claims within 6 working days of an online application.  […]

CBILS Forecast

CBILS Forecast

4 April 2020, Advocates, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer

Why you need a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme / CBILS Forecast. The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) provides financial support to smaller businesses (SMEs) across the UK.  The businesses under consideration are those that are losing revenue and seeing their cash flow disrupted as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.  The scheme is […]

COVID-19 small business grants in Scotland

COVID-19 small business grants in Scotland

26 March 2020, Artists, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

Grants for business Each local authority will be processing COVID-19 small business grants in Scotland.  Applications must be made to the local authority where you are liable for non-domestic rates. How to claim COVID-19 small business grants in Scotland There are two types of grant available to ratepayers: £10,000 grant to ratepayers of businesses in […]

extend your accounts filing deadline

Extend your accounts filing deadline

26 March 2020, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries

Company Accounts If your company accounts can’t be prepared in time due to the COVID-19 emergency you can apply to extend your accounts filing deadline by 3 months. How to extend your accounts filing deadline Company accounts for a private limited company are normally due for filing 9 months after the year end date.  If […]

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme update

27 March 2020, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Sole Traders

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme All UK employers will be able to access support for furloughed workers who would otherwise be laid off during the COVID-19 emergency.  Details have now been released.  An online portal will be made available to claim funding from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which will backdate funding to 1st March 2020. […]

Windmills are a classic example of the circular economy

Alterledger and the Circular Economy

16 March 2020, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries

Defining the Circular Economy The circular economy is a viable alternative to former unsustainable ways of operating.  Accountants are joining other businesses and the City of Glasgow in recognising the positive impact of changing working practices to create a more sustainable future. The circular economy is a direct challenge to the ‘take-make-waste’ mentality of the […]

Give gifts on 5th December to celebrate Sinterklaas

Give gifts on 5th December

3 December 2019, Advocates, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, General, Sole Traders

You can give gifts to your staff and customers at any time of the year. Learn how to avoid the pitfalls of paying tax and VAT on your generosity.

Pension re-declaration of compliance

Pension re-declaration of compliance

13 May 2019, Auto Enrolment, Charities, Companies, Employer, Sole Traders

How to complete your auto-enrolment pension re-declaration of compliance Any employers who started employing workers before 1st October 2017 will have been issued with a staging date.  This is the date when they had to have a qualifying auto enrolment pension in place.  For anyone who starting employing people after 30th September 2017 pension duties […]

Pension Re-Enrolment

Pension re-enrolment

8 May 2019, Auto Enrolment, Charities, Companies, Employer, Sole Traders

Pension Re-Enrolment due every three years All employers should now be aware of the their pension obligations.  Any employers who started employing workers before 1st October 2017 will have been issued with a staging date.  This is the date when they had to have a qualifying auto enrolment pension in place.  For new businesses / […]

Charities and Corporation Tax

Charities and Corporation Tax

16 November 2017, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries

Charities and Corporation Tax returns are often misunderstood.  Charities may think that they are automatically exempt from tax on all their income.  As the article explains below, charities may be subject to Corporation Tax on profits / surpluses.

Employer Liability Insurance covers an employer for risks to employees at work

Employers Liability Insurance – make sure you have it!

13 October 2017, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Sole Traders

Following an anonymous complaint to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a small Manchester-based company received a fine of £2,500 for failing to have adequate Employers Liability Insurance (ELI).  What are the rules?

Furlough FAQ

Furlough FAQ and resources

29 March 2020, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Sole Traders

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – Furlough FAQ All UK employers will be able to access support for furloughed workers.  This includes charities, non profit and public bodies.  The government expects that the scheme will not be used by many public sector organisations.  The majority of public sector employees are continuing to provide essential public services […]

Money collected by Digital Tax Accounts

Flat Rate Scheme Reverse Charge VAT

30 September 2016, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

If a trader on the flat rate scheme for VAT purchases services from outside the UK, the business needs to account for Flat Rate Scheme Reverse Charge VAT according to Directive 2006/112/EC. Small businesses on the Flat Rate Scheme for VAT do not usually account for VAT on purchases.

PAYE refund – how to get one

25 September 2016, Charities, Companies, Employer

The normal process for reclaiming overpaid PAYE to HMRC is to deduct the amount HMRC owes you from your next regular payment.  For this reason HMRC does not normally process an automatic PAYE refund.

HMRC telephone scam

7 September 2016, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

There are two new scams that you need to be aware of.  Callers are leaving a phone message or posing as an HMRC investigator.  If you are on the receiving end of an HMRC telephone scam you can report it on 0300 1232040 or on the Action Fraud Website.

Firstport Start Up and Fine Tune Your Social Enterprise

Start Up and Fine Tune Your Social Enterprise

6 November 2016, Auto Enrolment, Charities, Companies, Employer

If you are thinking of starting up a social enterprise or need advice on running an existing business, come along to the Firstport event in Glasgow on Friday 11th November. A series of free workshops have been organised to help you Start Up and Fine Tune your Social Enterprise.

HMRC interest rate change can save you money

24 August 2016, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

Following the Bank of England’s cut in its base rate from 0.5% to 0.25% on 4th August the HMRC interest rate has changed too.

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.

RTI Late Reporting Codes

19 June 2016, Auto Enrolment, Charities, Companies, Employer

All UK employers are required to report wage payments on or before wages are paid, under the system known as Real Time Information (RTI).  Under limited circumstances HMRC will accept late payroll information.  To avoid a late reporting penalty you will need to use one of the 7 remaining RTI late reporting codes.

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