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Practice News
DPC Chartered Accountants joins Sumer, as eleventh Hub
The new HMRC tool can help you to estimate what VAT might be owed or reclaimed by your business if you were to register for VAT. You are free to use the tool to explore multiple ‘what-if’ scenarios so that you can compare various situations and how you might be affected.
Empower half hour
Over the last two years, the tax-free allowance for capital gains tax has been cut by over three-quarters. For the tax year that recently began on 6 April 2024, the Annual Exempt Amount has been reduced to £3,000 (£1,500 for trustees). These reductions mean that more and more of us are likely to be affected by capital gains tax.
VALUES AWARDS Nominations and celebration!
At the All-Hands Meeting/ Hog Roast on 02 May, we would like to shine a light on and celebrate some of the incredible work of many of the individuals and teams within our practice.
Blogs and Articles
HMRC late payment interest rates to be cut
Following the reduction in the Bank of England base rate, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have confirmed that their interest rates will be reduced accordingly.
Late payment interest will reduce to 7% from 7.25%. Repayment interest – paid on tax repayments – will be reduced to 3.5%.
Crackdown on illegal working in the UK: Key highlights & takeaways
The UK government has intensified its crackdown on illegal working, with January 2025 seeing record enforcement activity. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced these efforts as the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill returned to Parliament last week.
Director fined for using unlicensed security operatives
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has reported that a director for a Manchester-based security company has been fined for failing to comply with an investigation into the use of unlicensed security operatives. The law requires security operatives working under contract to hold and display a valid SIA licence. Merseyside Police reported to the SIA that unlicensed security operatives had been used at a venue in Liverpool.
Proposals on new energy saving requirements for landlords
The UK government is consulting on changes that will require private landlords in England and Wales to meet higher energy performance ratings by 2030. Currently, 48% of all private rented homes have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of C or above. However, under new plans the government is proposing that by 2030 all privately let properties will need to meet a minimum EPC C.
Four new road schemes to be funded
Road schemes affecting Wiltshire, Leeds, Essex and Buckinghamshire were given approval last week following the grant of £90 million of government funding. The improvement in infrastructure these schemes will bring is expected to help businesses be able to transfer goods more easily and generate growth in the economy.
Are you thinking about starting a new business?
Starting a business in the UK is an exciting venture, but it comes with financial, tax, and accounting responsibilities that you must navigate effectively. Understanding what you will need to do from the outset will help make sure that you don’t miss anything, avoid unnecessary costs, and position your new business for success.
Base rate cut to 4.5%
The Bank of England reduced their base rate to 4.5% last week, as had been widely expected in the days leading up to the decision. The decision was made by a 7-2 majority. The minority of two members were looking for the rate to be reduced to 4.25%. In announcing their decision, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) outlined their thoughts on the economy.
Would you benefit from a top up contribution to your State Pension?
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have revealed that 37,000 people have plugged gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record since last April, boosting the amount of State Pension they will receive when they reach retirement age. The amount of State Pension you will receive is based on how many completed years you have in your NI record.
How do you ensure data cannot be recovered from storage media?
When it comes to disposing of computer equipment, how do you make sure that any storage media – hard drives, SSDs, flash drives and so forth – can’t be read by unauthorised users or have the data recovered? The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reports that there have even been examples where several gigabytes of sensitive documents were retrieved from decommissioned photocopiers and printers.
Charity Commission warns charities about fraud prevention
The Charity Commission has issued a warning reminder to large, incorporated charities about changes to the law on preventing fraud. A new failure to prevent fraud offence will come into force on 1 September 2025 for all large organisations, including charities.
Boost in funding for flood defences
Following the recent run of storms and wet weather, the government has announced that £2.65 billion will be spent over the next two years to build, maintain and repair flood defences. Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency, so flood defences are becoming increasingly important in protecting both homes and businesses. The funding will also help protect farmland, which has also suffered in the recent storms.
Rises to national minimum wage confirmed
Legislation was laid before Parliament last week confirming that the new National Living Wage and new Minimum Wage rates will take effect from 1 April 2025. While many businesses are feeling and have expressed concern about the increases, the sight of the legislation suggests that no reprieve is in sight.
Duty changes for the alcohol industry
February saw changes for the alcohol industry come into force that particularly affected winemakers. A temporary easement has been in place for wine that has treated wines with an alcohol by volume (abv) between 11.5% and 14.5% as if their abv was 12.5%. It was announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget that the easement would end on 1 February 2025. There have been calls to make the easement permanent, however the government has confirmed that the easement would end as planned.
Company fined over health and safety negligence
Pemberton Timber Frame Ltd from Kent has been fined and ordered to pay costs following an avoidable injury to one of its workers. The company manufactures timber frame structures for the construction industry. One of its workers was operating a panel saw and was asked to perform a rip cut on a length of timber, i.e. cut down its thickness.
Chancellor’s speech: An update on economic growth measures
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, delivered a speech last week that served as an update on the government’s plans for delivering economic growth. The plan largely focused on developments proposed around Oxford and Cambridge as well as a third runway at Heathrow. Here are some of the highlights from the speech.
Rising above the storms: Finding strength in recovery
Severe weather can be an enormous challenge for businesses, and we have seen plenty of it recently. Power outages, property damage, and forced downtime are not just disruptions—they can feel like setbacks that threaten months or years of hard work. If your business has been affected by recent storms, you are not alone, and it’s important to remember that resilience is built in moments like these.
Avoiding the last-minute rush: A guide for business owners on preparing next year’s tax return
The annual self-assessment tax return deadline has just passed, and for many business owners, the experience may have been a mad scramble to gather documents, double-check figures, and submit their returns and pay the tax on time. If that was your situation, you were in good company! HM Revenue and Customs said that 3.4 million taxpayers, almost a third, hadn’t submitted their tax return yet going into the final week before the deadline.
Lack of competition in the UK cloud services market
A recent investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) independent inquiry group has revealed that competition in the UK cloud services market is not functioning as effectively as it could. Cloud services form the backbone of modern business operations, supporting industries ranging from financial services and retail to digital start-ups and public services.
