Smarter accounting

Declare your dividends

Declare your dividends

24 March 2022, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Musicians, Sole Traders

The Spring Statement 2022 confirmed increases to National Insurance from the tax year starting 6th April 2022.  The threshold for paying National Insurance increases to £12,570 from July, but this doesn’t affect the additional tax on dividends.  The difference in the payment date of your dividends by just one day could mean that you pay […]

Pay your tax by end of Jan

Pay your personal tax return by the end of January

10 January 2022, Advocates, Barristers, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Don’t forget to pay your personal tax turn by the end of January. Who has to file a personal tax return? If you are self-employed or you are director of a limited company, you need to register with HMRC for self assessment tax returns in most cases.  You need to pay your personal tax by […]

Tax on dividend income

Tax on dividend income – more increases on the way?

26 November 2021, Companies, Creative Industries, General

After an increase of 1.25% in the Finance (No. 2) Bill can we expect a further increase in the tax on dividend income? MPs call for possible increased tax on dividends The following MPs have proposed an amendment to the Finance (No. 2) Bill Keir Starmer Rachel Reeves Bridget Phillipson James Murray Abena Oppong-Asare Sir […]

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 […]

Death and taxes are the ultimate known knowns - you can add tax scams to this list.

Death, Taxes and Tax scams – known knowns

9 May 2021, Advocates, Artists, Creative Industries, General, Musicians, Sole Traders

It is said that there are two certainties in life, death and taxes.  The old cliche has a ring of truth, and you can add tax scams to the list of known knowns. Donald Rumsfeld was roundly mocked for his comment at a news briefing on 12th February 2002 about known knowns, but on reflection, […]

pre-trading expenses

Pre-trading expenses

20 April 2021, Advocates, Barristers, Creative Industries, General, Musicians, Sole Traders

A sole trader may incur costs before setting up their trade.  Some of these pre-trading expenses are allowable for tax purposes subject to being ‘wholly and exclusively’ for the trade or profession. Capital items purchased prior to trading may also qualify for capital allowances. Pre-trading expenses Expenses incurred up to 7 years before commencement of […]

Computer equipment intending trader

VAT intending trader

25 April 2021, Advocates, Barristers, Creative Industries, General, Musicians, Sole Traders

Before you start to trade you can register for VAT as an intending trader to recover input VAT on computer equipment and other costs.  You can also recover pre-registration VAT in some circumstances. Pre-trading VAT The current threshold for obligatory VAT registration is an annual turnover of £85,000. Voluntary registration is beneficial where: VAT on […]

Self Assessment Tax Filing Deadline Extended to 28 Feb 2021

Self Assessment Tax Filing Deadline Extended to 28 Feb – please pass this on!

25 January 2021, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, Sole Traders

At (almost) the eleventh hour, HMRC announces tax filing deadline extended to 28 February HMRC announced today that you will not receive a penalty for filing your 2019-20 tax return late, as long as you file online by 28‌ February.  We are still encouraging taxpayers who have not yet filed to do so by 31‌ […]

Need extra time to pay your tax bill?

Need extra time to pay your tax bill due in January 2021?

22 January 2021, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, Sole Traders

Strapped for cash and worried about your tax? If you are one of the many self-employed who need extra time to pay your income tax bill at the end of the month, HMRC have an online process to help you spread your payment.  With just over a week to go until the filing deadline for […]

Check your SEISS eligibility

SEISS third grant

30 November 2020, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

SEISS third grant open for claims. The rules on who is eligible to claim are different to those for the previous SEISS grants.  The third grant will be based on 80% of three months’ average trading profits, paid out in a single taxable instalment capped at £7,500, and will cover the period from 1 November […]

Check your SEISS eligibility

SEISS extended to April 2021

6 November 2020, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Payment no 3 in December for SEISS extended to April. The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) has been extended to April 2021.  If you are self-employed and were eligible for the first and second SEISS grants you will be able to claim grants for the 6 month period from November 2020 to April 2021. What […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.

PAYE payments can be made monthly or quarterly

Monthly PAYE payments or quarterly payments?

15 May 2019, Employer

How to pay your PAYE to HMRC The easiest way to pay your PAYE to HMRC is by bank transfer.  The bank details for HMRC are shown below. You’ll need to use your 13-character accounts office reference number as the payment reference. You can find this on either: the letter HMRC sent you when you first registered […]

Accounting for Musicians Workshop Belfast @OhYeahCentre 2017

26 November 2017, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Members of the Musicians Union are invited to a free seminar in Belfast on 7th December 2017.  See below for booking form on Eventbrite.

Accounting for Musicians Glasgow 2017 @scottishmusic

26 November 2017, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Members of the Musicians Union are invited to a free seminar in Glasgow on 5th December 2017.  See below for booking form on Eventbrite.

How to register with HMRC as Self-Employed

3 January 2017, Advocates, Artists, Barristers, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

The first task in working out if you need to register with HMRC is to assess whether you are self-employed. 

Accounting for Musicians Workshop Belfast @OhYeahCentre

5 December 2016, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Members of the Musicians Union are invited to a free seminar in Belfast on 8th December 2016.  See below for booking form on Eventbrite.

Scottish Music Centre

Accounting for Musicians Glasgow 2016 @scottishmusic

5 December 2016, Creative Industries, Musicians, Sole Traders

Members of the Musicians Union are invited to a free seminar in Glasgow on 6th December 2016.  See below for booking form on Eventbrite.

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.

National Insurance for Company Directors

National Insurance for Company Directors

5 February 2017, Charities, Companies, Creative Industries, Employer, Musicians

Most employees will pay Class 1 National Insurance each pay day.  The weekly threshold is £157 a week with the monthly threshold being £680.  If an employee earns above these amounts, they will start paying National Insurance above the threshold at 12%.  National Insurance for Company Directors can be worked out differently.

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.

Website by Haiwyre