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T.A.N.K

The Tax Advice Network Knowledge base is where members share articles and knowledge that they expect will be of interest to users of our website. You are welcome to contact the relevant member via their profile, via our local rate central phone number 0845 003 8780 or our landline number 01635 574 160. Our professional operators will put you straight through.

Articles

Tax Newsletter 02 June 2010

Welcome to this abbreviated version of our full professional members' newsletter

It pays to be on top of the latest HMRC view of the CGT reliefs and exemptions, so this week we include updates on recent changes in the areas of private homesand share for share deals. We also set out the new advisory fuel rates, with a word of caution of when these rates can and cannot be used

Tax Newsletter 27 May 2010

The new Coalition Government's tax policies are still causing concern, so this week we cut through the spin around the 'jobs tax'. We also have cautionary tale about mistakes in PAYE, and a warning about a new standard VAT letter that may hit your desk soon.

Using discretion

In a discretionary nil-rate band will trust the testator wished his widow to be the prime beneficiary during her lifetime. To reduce administration, the trustees wish to lend the capital to the widow free of interest. There could be hidden problems with this approach. Could the trust fund be appointed to the widow absolutely ?

('Taxation' : Readers' Forum : Query T17598 (20th May 2010)

Tax Newsletter 20 May 2010

Rumours are buzzing around about a rise in CGT, so this week we take a hard look at what you may want to discuss with your clients before the next Budget on 22 June. There are also new developments in guidance for reviewing tax returns and how to contact HMRC.

Tax Newsletter 13 May 2010

We have a new Prime Minster and a new Chancellor but the same old problems with the tax system remain. And I'm not hopeful of any immediate positive changes in this regard. This week we focus on tax returns submitted early, and the difficulty this can cause with gift aid carry back claims. We also have news about how HMRC are handling repayment claims, and a warning about computer problems and SA related fraud.

Tax Newsletter 6 May

During the General Election campaign HMRC are barred from making policy changes or undertaking consultations, along with the rest of the Civil Service. As a result there have been no major tax announcements in the last few weeks, but there have been changes to HMRC procedures for dealing with telephone calls and compliance checks. There are also a number of changes affecting payrolls that your clients may need to know about. 

Tax Newsletter 29 Apr

This month saw the introduction of new method for working out whether a partially exempt business can fall under the de-minimis exemption, and thus reclaim all its input VAT. We have a summary of the new de-minimise tests, a salutary warning about business records and a heads-up about the new HMRC education unit.

Tax Newsletter 22 Apr

The recession may be easing up in some areas, but sorting out tax relief for the losses made is going to take some time. We have a quick and practical guide this week to the things you need to consider when faced with trading or property losses. We also draw your attention to new HMRC powers for amending tax returns.

Tax Newsletter 15 Apr

This early part of the tax year is PAYE compliance time for many accountants, so in this week's practical tax newsletter we have some practical advice about the 2009/10 form P35 and the HMRC software designed to manage PAYE notices. We also have some tips about completing those R40 repayment claim forms.

After the practical points below I have put the Spotlight on one of our tax adviser members, offered a new item for the Tax Fun spot and provided another 'Did you know...?' thought about the Tax Advice Network. This week it's a note about a couple of our forthcoming seminars.

Tax Newsletter 08 Apr

Happy New Tax Year! The tax cycle starts again, but like peddling up hill, operating the tax system seems to get harder every year. We have a quick stop press re Furnished Holiday Lettings and then three practical tips to help you avoid falling into the penalty ditch; looking specifically at Trust and Estate Returns, VAT errors, and provisions in accounts.

After the summarised practical points below I have put the Spotlight on one of our tax adviser members, offered a new item for the Tax Fun spot and provided another 'Did you know...?' thought about the Tax Advice Network.

Tax Newsletter 01 Apr

I received plenty of positive feedback for this morning's April Fool message which hopefully also highlighted the importance of NOT responding to scam emails that purport to come from HMRC. I apologise if you were 'caught' or received more than one copy. Need to avoid that happening again. There's a copy on the TaxBuzz blog if you missed it.


Although only a certain number of the Budget announcements will make it on to the statute book before the General Election (see Tax Buzz blog 29 March), two of these measures could affect your clients almost immediately; loans to participators and company cars. We also have some news about errors on the HMRC Employer's CD-rom.

After the practical points below I have put the Spotlight on one of our tax adviser members and provided another 'Did you know...?' thought. It's this one actually:

Tax Newsletter 25 Mar

As promised in yesterday's note I will stick to my guns and avoid turning this into yet another Budget summary. I trust you've had your fill of them even though the Budget was less than 24 hours ago.

We'll only return to Budget related announcements if and when they become law or otherwise impact on your day to day life. Instead we would rather concentrate on those practical tax issues that need your attention now. This week we address changes to the VAT rules, reporting for non-resident landlords, and the deadline for Gift Aid claims.


After the practical points below I have put the Spotlight on another of our tax adviser members, provided another 'Did you know...?' thought and included a new piece for the tax fun spot.

Tax Newsletter 11 Mar

This week we are looking at some of the tax reliefs that are due to vanish on 31 March or 5 April, and what your clients need to do to secure those reliefs. 31 March 2010 is also the deadline for registering for the disclosure opportunity for Doctors and Dentists, which could affect many more medical practitioners than you many think.

After the practical points below I have put the Spotlight on another of our newer tax adviser members, provided another 'Did you know...?' thought and included a new item for the tax fun spot.

Tax Newsletter 04 Mar

This weeks' practical, commercial and timely points starts with a list of useful phone numbers that has just been published. We also report on the practical issues arising from two recent tribunal cases. They both contain timely reminders about the expensive consequences of not paying employer's NIC. Finally we have news about a number of defective communications from HMRC.

After the practical points below I have put the Spotlight on one of our tax adviser members, provided another 'Did you know...?' thought and included a new item for the tax fun spot.

Tax Newsletter 25 Feb

HMRC are trying to improve communications and to resolve disputes more easily with taxpayers and agents. You may laugh, but it's true. The HMRC internal review is part of that dispute resolution process, so this week we take a look at how it is working in practice.

We also supply some explanations for some of those PAYE code errors, and highlight the innovations and faults in the latest agent update bulletin from HMRC.

Tax Newsletter 18 Feb

HMRC have begun to notify businesses that they must file their VAT returns online. However there are a few problems at the agent's end of the system, as we explain below in this week's practical and topical tax newsletter.

Additionally although the FA 2008 rules for taxing non-domiciled UK residents are still fresh, HMRC's guidance has been quietly changed this month. You need to understand the new guidance to provide accurate year-end planning advice. And we also remind you about the company accounts filing deadline that slipped in this year.

Tax Newsletter 11 Feb

In this week's practical and topical tax newsletter we summarise the unique and important tax deadlines that are bunching at the end of this tax year, to give you and your clients enough time to take action if necessary. We also have some further news about the 2010/11 PAYE code fiasco, a tip to avoid HMRC stretching your patience and advice re delays to the process for registering as an agent with HMRC.

Tax Newsletter 4th Feb

Today's newsletter contains a cautionary and timely tale about the VAT flat rate scheme as it affacted an accountant in practice, and some further timely advice for your clients who let furnished holiday accommodation. We also have good news about HMRC's new approach to applications for P11D dispensations.

Tax Newsletter 28 Jan

Those accountants with personal tax, sole trader and partnership clients are almost at the finishing line. Good luck!

This week we have details of where you can send partnership SA tax returns with missing UTR numbers, which prevents them from being filed online. We also explain why your clients might receive multiple 2010/11 PAYE codes, and a new feature on the form P46 designed to help ex-students.

Tax Newsletter 21 Jan

For many accountants the idea of a new client asking for help over the next few days is a nightmare. This isn't true across the board and even where it's an unwelcome intrusion you may want to do what you can. Our practical points this week consider what you can do when Mr Nu-Client walks into your practice wanting to get his tax affairs straight. We have advice on how to deal with such last minute clients, and an update on who is eligible to use the tax disclosure opportunity for medics.


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