Homeworkers’ expenses

Many employees are now required to work at home as their workplace is closed. Some employers have been very supportive of their employees, providing all the equipment required, and reimbursing expenses, others not so much.

As we explained in our newsletter on 9 April 2020, employers can pay their employees a homeworking allowance to compensate for the additional household expenses incurred when working at home. Where the allowance doesn’t exceed £6 per week (£26 per month) the employee is not required to provide evidence of additional costs, and the payment is tax-free and NIC-free (ITEPA 2003, s 316A).

If the employer doesn’t pay the homeworking allowance, HMRC’s view was the employee could only claim a tax deduction for additional homeworking costs under ITEPA 2003, s336, which has much stricter conditions.

However, on 15 May 2020 HMRC changed its policy as set out in the Employment Income Manual (EIM32815). It will now accept claims for homeworking expenses from employees of £6 per week (£26 per month) under ITEPA 2003, s 336 with no proof of the costs required. The cost of business telephone calls can be claimed in addition to this deduction.

HMRC also implies that homeworking expense claims for periods before 6 April 2020 will be accepted using the rate of £4 per week (£18 per month). Such claims can be submitted on the SA tax return or using form P87, but they must be made within four years of the end of the tax year to which they apply.

In our newsletter on 9 April we also warned that where the employee has purchased office equipment to allow them to work from home, any reimbursement of those costs by the employer could create a taxable benefit. However, that problem will now be resolved by a change in regulations.

There will be a temporary tax exemption where employees are reimbursed for the cost of equipment needed solely for them to work at home, where the payment is made to the employee between 16 March 2020 and 5 April 2021.


Getting new leads without networking

Did you enjoy attending networking events before the lockdown?

One thing you learn pretty quickly when you start networking is that it’s really hard to find a new clients at networking events. It’s hit and miss. And most often it’s a miss. Quite simply no one goes to a networking event in the hope of finding a tax adviser or a new accountant.

This can be quite frustrating if that was why you forced yourself to attend an event with a bunch of strangers.

Building a website takes time and money and then you are hoping that people searching online will find your website and get in touch.

This is partly why advertising has its place for tax services. Sadly most such advertising is, of necessity, of the ‘spray and pray’ variety. And it’s typically quite expensive too in terms of the ‘cost of acquisition’ for a new client. The cost of acquisition tends to fall if you can afford a targetted, focused and sustained advertising campaign – but this tends to require a hefty up front investment.

I am seeing an increasing number of accountants and tax advisers attempting to market themselves on Linkedin and on other online platforms. Such approaches are free from a financial cost but take a lot of time and effort before they really pay off and generate business. I have written plenty on this blog about the myths and misconceptions surrounding social media and Linkedin. This is why so many accountants and tax advisers struggle to generate business through these media.

There is another option of course. One with a low cost of acquisition, that requires no ongoing time and effort and which only generates leads from people who need your expertise. I’m thinking of this Tax Advice Network website. Maybe now is the time to register so that you can be found when people in your area are looking for help with their tax issues, challenges and problems. Or you can continue doing what you’ve always done and hope that things will get better. Except that ‘hope’ is never much good as a business strategy.

Mark Lee – May 2020


Benefits in lockdown

The UK-wide stay at home instruction arrived so quickly that many people were not able return a company car that they were no longer permitted to use. In such circumstances the car remains available to the employee to use privately and hence the taxable benefit continues.

HMRC will accept that the company car is “not available” and not taxable (even where it is parked at the employee’s home) in two circumstances:

The contract to lease or provide the car has been terminated, and the car keys have been returned to the employer or to an approved third party (eg the dealer).
The lease contract has not been terminated, but the car keys have been returned to the employer or approved third party, then 30 days after the keys were returned the car will be considered to be “not available”.
Remember all electric company cars have zero taxable benefit in 2020/21 (our newsletter 28 November 2019), so its not necessary to change the lease on the director’s Tesla.

Where the employee is using their company car or their own car for voluntary work during the coronavirus crisis, and the employer is reimbursing the mileage costs, those reimbursements are taxable. This is because the journeys undertaken for voluntary work are not business journeys. The reimbursed amounts must be reported on the P11D or included in a PAYE settlement agreement.

Some employees are living away from home while continuing to work, to avoid infecting members of their household with the coronavirus. Where the employer is paying for that alternative accommodation, that amounts to a taxable benefit, which must be reported on the P11D for the relevant tax year.

Employees who live on the site of their permanent employment, are taxed on the value of that accommodation unless one of these conditions are met:

Its necessary for the employee to live there to properly carry out their duties

  • The accommodation is provided to allow the employee to better perform their duties and it is customary for such employees to use such accommodation; or
  • There is a threat to the employee’s security and special security arrangements are in force that require the employee to live in that accommodation.
    NB: HMRC has not confirmed whether “security arrangements” includes health security, as it normally means a terrorist or stalker type threat.

“How can I get more tax work at a time like this?”

I was asked this question by a tax adviser who had started her own practice a year or so ago.

She had seen other people being criticised online for pitching for work. We’ve probably all seen the messages containing overt sales pitches. And others that include ‘special offers’ but which still come across as crass, unthoughtful and opportunistic.

Especially in these unprecedented times, none of us wants to damage our credibility through the way we promote our services.

Still though I would say that is fine, in principle, for you to try to win new clients at this time.

I would suggest however that your primary focus should first be on helping your existing clients. This is especially the case if your pitch to new clients is to offer the help that their current accountants have not provided. You need to practice what you preach!

As regards trying to win new clients I suggest you think about how you react to others who are trying to sell to you at this time. Or indeed, at any time. Few of us like it. Even less so when we have other important priorities. And we probably all have even more of these at the moment than ever before.

Now, the question I was asked was not: Is it ok to try selling my services at this time?

If that had been the question I would say, NO. Not if your focus is on ‘selling’ as such.

Of course it does depend on how you define selling. I prefer to think about it more as being of service. The process often starts by gaining an understanding of someone’s needs, problems, challenges and difficulties. This process includes clarifying the negative impact (financial, strategic, emotional etc) of these problems etc and then discussing potential solutions and the positive impact that could flow from these. Being of service in this way is way of helping people, not selling to them.

When you approach people with genuine interest and positive intent you are not exploiting or taking advantage. You are helping. If it doesn’t come across that way, you’re doing it wrong! Effective communication is never defined by your intentions but by how well it is received. If others misunderstand you then YOU have to change the way you communicate. You can’t force anyone to listen differently!

And of course, it’s even easier if they are approaching you because they want help with a specific tax issue, challenge or problem. And, of course, that’s what happens when they search online and find you via this Tax Advice Network website.

Mark Lee – May 2020


VAT rate changes

On 30 April the Government announced two VAT rate changes from standard rate to zero rate, for digital publications and personal protective equipment (PPE), both to take effect from 1 May 2020.

The rate change for digital publications was due to apply from 1 December 2020, as announced in the March 2020 Budget, timed so subscriptions taken out as Christmas presents would qualify for the lower rate.

However, during this coronavirus lockdown sales of physical newspapers and magazines have plummeted, while students are having to use digital materials to continue their studies. The Government has therefore decided to lower the VAT rate immediately.

Publishers may have missed this change in the middle of the other chaos, so check that your clients have changed their systems to account for the correct VAT rate from 1 May 2020. Pricing policies may also need to be reviewed.

Clubs and societies which distribute a physical magazine will also benefit as currently they need to apportion part of their membership subscriptions to the zero-rated magazine. Now they will not be penalised by switching to 100% digital publications.

The change in VAT rate for PPE is only temporary; it applies for sales made between 1 May 2020 and 31 July 2020 inclusive. Where businesses have recently started to produce say hospital gowns or face masks, check that VAT has been correctly accounted for.


Advertising your services online

Is it worth paying to advertise on LI, facebook, Google or elsewhere?

Clearly it depends on who you’re targetting and where you can best reach them.

Also whether you’re prepared to invest sufficient in a campaign rather than in ad-hoc adverts.

But there’s another key point that is often overlooked.

Even if you know WHO you are targetting and even if you can focus your adverts to appeal to such people. There is a key factor that probably limits the outcome of your advertising efforts in a way that many marketing people seem to overlook.

This is whether your target audience are the sort of people who will respond to an advert for a service when they could ask for referrals, follow natural search results or ask their connections.

Over the years the Tax Advice Network website has remained consistently close to the top of Google for many tax related search queries. This is partly due to our longevity and the hundreds of back links to our site. This is also why so many tax advisers and tax accountants remain members of the Network. It’s s pretty cost effective route to securing relevant leads and new business.

Mark Lee – May 2020


VAT deferral and MTD

The VAT due for the quarter to 31 March 2020 is payable by 7 May 2020, and where a direct debit is set up the amount due would normally be collected by 10 May. However, as 8 to 10 May is a long bank holiday weekend, the DD will be collected on 7 May 2020.

Where your client wants to take advantage of the deferral of VAT payments between 20 March and 30 June remind them to cancel their DD for paying VAT. This can be done the online VAT account or by contacting their bank. Agents can’t change banking details on behalf of a client.

HMRC has updated its guidance concerning the VAT deferral, confirming that annual account advance payments due between 20 March and 30 June can also be deferred, but not VAT MOSS payments or import VAT. Any deferred VAT will have to be paid on or before 31 March 2021.

Many businesses may be due a VAT repayment in the current VAT period as they have little or no sales, but still have bills that include VAT. To obtain these repayments quickly the business can change to monthly VAT returns by altering their VAT periods in their online VAT account.

If you have taken on a new client and you want authorisation to act for VAT, the online authorisation form asks for the box 5 figure from the “last VAT return”. However, since the VAT returns submitted under MTD enter HMRC via an API, the authorisation system can’t see them. To answer the question correctly you need to supply the box 5 figure from the last VAT submitted before MTD.


ATED returns

The annual tax on enveloped dwellings (ATED) is payable for UK residential properties worth over £500,000 which are owned by companies or other non-natural persons. The 2020/21 chargeable year runs from 1 April 2020, and the ATED return and payment must be received by HMRC by midnight on 30 April 2020.

You may believe that no ATED charge is due because the property is commercially let, or some other relief applies. In that case an ATED relief declaration must be filed by 30 April, but this form can cover a number of properties.

The quickest way to submit ATED returns and relief declarations is to use the ATED online service. You need to register with this service as an agent to submit your clients’ ATED forms. Each client must also be registered using their UTR number, and appoint you as their agent for ATED.

All overseas companies that let UK residential properties should now have a UTR number for corporation tax, as they need to pay corporation tax on their UK property income from 6 April 2020.

The online ATED service will calculate the ATED charge due, but you need to chose the valuation band for the property. This will be the value as at 1 April 2017 or the acquisition date if later.

If the property value is within 10% of a band boundary you can use the structured email form to ask for an ATED banding check, but it could take 30 days or more to get a reply. To avoid penalties for late ATED forms, it would be better to submit the ATED return using the valuation you have and amend it later.


Dealing with HMRC in the shutdown

HMRC is encouraging tax agents to correspond with it by email where possible and has introduced a number of temporary concessions to avoid processing paper forms.

VAT errors in excess of £10,000 normally have to be reported on form VAT652, but during the coronavirus shutdown the VAT post room is closed so you need to submit this form by email to: inbox.btcnevaterrorcorrection@hmrc.gov.uk

The IHT400 and IHT100 forms normally require a “wet” signature of the trustees or personal representatives, but where there is a professional agent acting for the estate HMRC will accept a printed signature accompanied by a statement from the agent confirming that all PRs or trustees have seen and agreed the account. All payments for IHT due should be made electronically or by phone as HMRC is not accepting payments by cheque.

All work on tax enquiries has been paused so HMRC will not press you for replies to queries or ask for new information or documents until the coronavirus lock down is lifted.

The First Tier Tax Tribunals have not been sitting since 24 March, and are due to resume again on 21 April, but that shutdown period is likely to be extended. If you want to appeal to the tax tribunal against a HMRC decision you should do so within the normal 30 days, but use the online appeals service, or email.


Working from home expenses

The Government has urged everyone to work from home if they can. This allows millions of people to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

Working at home will increase the running costs of the property slightly as more energy and water is used. The employer can help the employee with these costs by paying them an allowance of £6 per week (£26 per month) from 6 April 2020.

This is allowance was increased from £4 per week in the Spring budget, and is tax free when the employee is working at home under homeworking arrangements. HMRC has indicated that home working arrangements will exist where the employee’s workplace has closed or the employee is following advice to self-isolate.

Where the employer pays for the necessary equipment needed to work from home such as; laptop, monitor, keyboard, desk and chair, no taxable benefit arises. However, if the employee buys those items personally and the employer reimburses the cost, that reimbursed amount will be taxable as it is difficult for the employee to prove the items are “necessarily” required for their work. The employer could pick up the extra tax due in a PAYE settlement agreement.