You own and operate a farm, you are many years away from retirement but you would like to know about possible relief from inheritance tax, particularly in relation to your farmhouse. IHT expert Brona MacDougall discusses the key issues. Generally speaking, agricultural property relief (APR) works in a similar way to business property relief (BPR),...

In anticipation of further cashflow difficulties, Rishi Sunak has tinkered with various loan schemes to allow for more time and greater flexibility in repayment. It has been announced today that the application deadline for all four major COVID loan schemes (Bounce Back Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme...

Light at the end of the tunnel? The insurance world has been in a state of limbo since the beginning of lockdown as insurers reviewed policy claims and the application of business interruption clauses to the current situation. Due to the enormity of the impact COVID could potentially have on the insurance industry it has...

To help builders affected by the Coronavirus crisis, the new reverse charge rules for the construction industry has been pushed back to the 1st March 2021. What does the delay mean for your business? Elaine Wight finds out. HMRC has recognised that builders are already under enormous pressure as a result of the Coronavirus crisis....

Because of the pandemic, you have not drawn salary from your company for the last three months because its income was significantly reduced. The situation is now improving and you’re restarting your salary next month but is it worth paying yourself the arrears? Bob Johnstone looks at the implications. If you are one of the...

The Coronavirus crisis has identified that some employees are able to work from home in the long term, but what is the position on reclaiming VAT on remote working allowance for staff? VAT expert John Craig finds out with the following example. You have agreed to pay remote working employees up to £1,000 to pay...

The Scottish Government introduced the Business Support Fund, which offers some businesses a: • Retail, Hospitality, Leisure Support Grant • Small Business Support Grant The grants are available for eligible businesses who: • pay non-domestic rates • are charged for non-domestic rates but do not need to pay because they get certain rates relief –...

The government published guidance late last night on the operation of the Job Retention Scheme. We have had many enquiries in relation to this matter and hopefully the following information will answer the majority of these queries. Recap of the Basics Employers can claim 80% of furloughed worker’s usual wage costs up to £2,500 per...

As part of the Scottish Government Response to the Coronavirus crisis, £20m has been allocated to the new ‘Third Sector Resilience Fund’.  This fund is live today 25th March 2020. The Third Sector Resilience Fund will provide grants of between £5,000 and £100,000 to eligible charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations that are playing a...

The Chancellor announced that the British Business Bank will manage the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) which is available from today, 23rd March 2020 and will initially run for 6 months. More details can be found on the British Business Bank website However here is a short summary of the key features: •   Through...