Category Archives: Uncategorized

Nothing to declare

Downsizing business operations is a perfectly acceptable response to economic pressures, and this may lead to an absence of activity for a period of time. This would have been the likely experience of businesses subject to recent lockdown restrictions.   Unfortunately, our obligation to file returns to HMRC does not end if there are no […]

Seeing is believing?

It is no longer certain that if you receive a letter, email, text or phone call – purporting to be the tax office or some similar, regulatory authority – that it is a genuine communication.   Red flags should be waved, and warning buzzers sounded if anyone ever requests personal information or your bank details. […]

Till fraud

The scope of tax fraud seems to be taking on new forms according to a recent press release issued by HMRC. The latest attempt involves the use of software to suppress sales recorded at point of sale. The systems even warrant a new acronym, ESS. Electronic Sales Suppression (ESS) Businesses involved in making, supplying or […]

Stamp Duty refund fraud

HMRC have noticed an increase in claims for Stamp Duty refunds that are incorrect In fact, new homeowners are being warned about cold calls from rogue tax repayment agents advising them to make speculative Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) refund claims, which could leave them with large tax bills. Claims are failing HMRC checks The […]

Holiday lets – occupancy and benefits

There are a number of tax incentives if you own and let a furnished holiday lets property (FHL). They include:   Claiming Capital Gains Tax reliefs for traders (Business Asset Rollover Relief, Business Asset Disposal Relief, relief for gifts of business assets and relief for loans to traders), Entitlement to claim capital allowance deductions for […]

Stock holding and inflation

If your business processes materials or assembles goods for sale it will need to keep a stock of items to ensure that future sales can be met. Ideally, stock levels should be kept to a minimum such that hard won cash reserves are not tied up unnecessarily. You will need to manage stocks to cover […]