As of 6 April 2024 most self employed traders and private landlords will be required to comply with HMRC’s new MTD for ITSA rules. Who is required to comply? All individuals who are subject to income tax on the profits of a trade, profession, vocation or property business who have a total turnover from all...

The UK government has recently run a public consultation on a potential new Online Sales Tax. The consultation period ran from February 2022 to 20 May 2022. The results are currently under review. COVID has had a big impact on how we shop, work and generally interact, but even before COVID the retail sector in...

With climate change and the cost-of-living crisis high on everyone’s agenda, is this a good time to look at an electric company car policy? What benefits would such a scheme bring? Brona MacDougall advises. Company cars have fallen out of favour in recent years as tax charges have risen and the optional remuneration arrangement changes...

Lots of employees don’t understand how their tax code is made up and they are likely to come to you when they have a question or a problem. What do you need to know to help them? Head of Payroll Joanne Gibson advises. When do codes change? There are several fixed occasions annually when tax...

Your accounting period is due to end soon and your fellow directors want to pay a bonus so the company can reduce its corporation tax bill. However, they don’t want to pay tax on it until the following year. Is this possible? Brona MacDougall advises on the timing and rules that you should be aware...

Can a director take a company vehicle out of the business to sell? Q. A company director bought a car through his business on finance, it has been a company vehicle for a few years. The finance is now paid off, and he would like to sell it, but as the business is VAT registered,...

Your father left the whole of his estate, mainly consisting of his share in their home, to your mother in his will. As a result, there will be a big inheritance tax bill waiting when she dies. What steps can you take to reduce it? Nil rate bands While the inheritance tax (IHT) nil rate...

The government is to introduce reforms which will correct one of the great tax injustices. The change in the law will reduce the pressure on separating couples to settle ownership of their asset quickly or face a capital gains tax (CGT) bill. What’s the full story? Married couples and civil partners are in a privileged...

The cost of seasonal gifts for your business can soon add up. However, tax reliefs can reduce this considerably. When is your business entitled to claim a tax deduction for the gifts? Partner Brona MacDougall advises. While Christmas might be the time of year you most often think about business gifts, the tax system makes...

The First-tier Tribunal recently ruled on whether profit made from the sale of land bought as part of a residential property was taxable as trading income or capital gains. What was the outcome and why?  Brona MacDougall looks at this in more detail. The dispute The case of Heather Whyte v HMRC followed a long...