Smarter accounting

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 […]

Making Tax Digital compulsory for VAT registered businesses - HMRC AI will change everything

Making Tax Digital compulsory for VAT from April 2022

31 August 2020, Advocates, Barristers, Companies, Creative Industries, Sole Traders

Making Tax Digital compulsory for all (eventually) Recent announcements make Making Tax Digital compulsory for all VAT registered business from April 2022.  The self-employed will be included from April 2023 and eventually Corporation Tax too. All VAT registered businesses will have to comply with Making Tax Digital (MTD) from 1 April 2022 and not just […]

Claim to reduce payments on account

Claim to reduce payments on account

4 September 2020, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, General, Musicians, Sole Traders

Reduce your income tax payments on account to HMRC You can reduce payments on account to HMRC if you expect your profits to be lower in the year to 5th April 2021.  Most sole traders will find that their taxable profits will be lower this year due to the effects of the COVID emergency.  If […]

Check your SEISS eligibility

SEISS phase 2

17 August 2020, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Check if you can claim the SEISS phase 2 grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS phase 2) is now open for the self-employed to receive a second and final grant of up to £6,570.  The HMRC website went live on 17th August 2020 to allow you to claim […]

How to set up your VAT Direct Debit

How to set up a VAT Direct Debit

19 June 2020, Advocates, Barristers, Companies, Creative Industries, General, Sole Traders

No more extra time to pay your VAT As part of the government’s support for businesses during COVID-19, HMRC gave businesses the option of deferring their VAT payments and cancelling VAT Direct Debit instructions if they were unable to pay on time.  This allows VAT to be deferred without incurring late payment interest or penalties.  […]

Check your SEISS eligibility

Check your SEISS eligibility

13 May 2020, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is now open for the self-employed to receive a grant of up to £7,500.  The HMRC website to check your SEISS eligibility has been set up.  Find out what you need to do to allow HMRC […]

Claim Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant

Claim Self-employment Income Support Scheme Grant

4 May 2020, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Get up to £7,500 from the government if you are self-employed Find out if you are eligible to Claim Self-employment Income Support Scheme Grant of up to £7,500.  Details of the Self-employment Income Support Scheme have now been published to support the self-employed or members of a partnership with trading income.  You will need to […]

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 […]

How to set up your VAT Direct Debit

Deferred VAT payment and how to cancel your Direct Debit

3 April 2020, Advocates, Barristers, Companies, Creative Industries, General, Sole Traders

Extra time to pay your VAT On 20th March 2020 the UK Chancellor announced support to businesses in the form of a deferred VAT payment scheme.  This helps VAT registered businesses with their cash flow during the COVID-19 pandemic.  All VAT registered businesses can defer VAT payments.  If you currently pay by Direct Debit, you […]

Save more than 16% on Zoom subscription

Save more than 16% on Zoom subscription

2 April 2020, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, General, Musicians, Sole Traders

Pay less for online subscriptions It seems that almost everyone is turning to online communications in the current situation, with Zoom, WhatsApp and Skype seeing a dramatic increase in use.  Even the UK prime minister is an advocate of Zoom.  Save more than 16% on Zoom costs by following the steps below.  You can also […]

Creative Scotland Bursary

Creative Scotland Bursary Funds

30 March 2020, Artists, Creative Industries, Musicians

Creative Scotland COVID-19 Impact Funds Creative Scotland bursary funds are are available on three separate funding programmes.  The grants are designed to provide support to sustain Scotland’s creative community during the COVID-19 outbreak.  The Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland Bridging Bursaries will aim to support those most in need at this time, particularly those who […]

Claim Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund

Claim Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund Grant of £2,000

30 April 2020, Advocates, Artists, Creative Industries, General, Musicians, Sole Traders

Grants for newly self-employed Applications for this grant opened on the afternoon of Thursday 30th April.  Grants are administered by the local authority in which you live.  To claim newly self-employed hardship fund cash, refer to your own local authority website. Claim Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund Cash You need to apply in your Local Authority […]

Self-employment Income Support Scheme

Self-employment Income Support Scheme

27 March 2020, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Government grant to freelancers Details of the Self-employment Income Support Scheme have now been released to support the self-employed or members of a partnership with trading income. Who can apply for the Self-employment Income Support Scheme? You can apply if you’re a self-employed individual or a member of a partnership and you: have submitted your […]

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. […]

no income tax payment due in July 2020

No income tax payments due in July

20 March 2020, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, General, Musicians, Sole Traders

Payments on account cancelled in July The UK Government announced on 20th March that there would be no income tax payments due in July 2020 for the self-employed. Payments on Account Personal tax returns must be filed by 31st January following the end of the tax year. For the tax year ended 5th April 2019 […]

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 […]

Claim Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund

Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund

24 April 2020, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, General, Musicians, Sole Traders

Grants for newly self-employed The Scottish Government has announced a £34 million Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund.  The fund will be managed by Local Authorities to allocate grants of £2,000 to the newly self-employed facing hardship.  The self-employed who started trading after 5th April 2019 are excluded from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.  The Scottish Government […]

Tax free van benefit in kind - did you know that the van Gogh Museum is open on Christmas day?

Company Van Benefit in Kind trap

26 January 2020, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, General, Musicians

Van benefit in kind tax charge Driving a van as your company vehicle has tax advantages over a car.  The tax charge is generally low compared with a car, and can even be zero in circumstances where a car would be taxable.  What conditions must you satisfy to eliminate a van benefit in kind tax […]

VAT on services

VAT Expenses – What proof does HMRC need?

24 January 2020, Advocates, Companies, Creative Industries, Sole Traders

A recent case of missing documents highlights the need for supporting information for VAT expenses to minimise your VAT bill to HMRC. Make sure you have good bookkeeping systems to get the VAT back that you are entitled to.

Tramshed Tech is in Cardiff

Alterledger in Tramshed Tech

13 December 2019, Companies, Creative Industries, Sole Traders

Alterledger is coming to Tramshed Tech in Cardiff to give free tax and accounting advice at 11:00 on 20th December Alterledger has been on tour with sessions for the creative industries in Glasgow on 10th December 2019 and Belfast on 12th December 2019.  It will be Cardiff’s turn on 20th December so Tim Alter will be in […]

Tax and Accounting for Musicians - Get It Right and Save Money

Tax and Accounting for Musicians: Get It Right and Save Money!

5 December 2019, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Free Tax and Accounting for Musicians’ Union members Members of the Musicians Union are invited to a free seminar – Tax and Accounting for Musicians in Glasgow on 10th December 2019 and Belfast on 12th December 2019.  You can learn how to take some of the stress out of filing your tax return.  If you are […]

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.

Empty office due to furloughed workers

Furloughed workers

23 March 2020, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Sole Traders

Furloughed workers and the 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 provided by the UK Government.  An online portal will be made available to claim funding from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, […]

Making Tax Digital for VAT

Making Tax Digital for VAT – why have HMRC sent a letter?

22 November 2018, Advocates, Barristers, Companies, Creative Industries, Sole Traders

HMRC VAT letter – what does it mean? Many business have received an HMRC VAT letter in the last week.  This letter informs VAT registered businesses that HMRC processes are being modernised, known as Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT. What do I need to do? The HMRC VAT letter doesn’t require you to do anything […]

How to reclaim extra VAT

2 December 2017, Advocates, Companies, Creative Industries, Sole Traders

HMRC’s VAT Input Tax Toolkit highlights common errors businesses make when they reclaim VAT on purchases.  As you would expect from an HMRC publication it focuses on situations where you can’t or shouldn’t reclaim VAT.

Website by Haiwyre