Business Help Archives - Page 10 of 13

Defer Your Self-assessment Payment On Account

Posted on July 20, 2020 | by Jade Donno

Choose how and when you can delay making your second payment on account for the 2019 to 2020 tax year.

You have the option to defer your second payment on account if you are:

registered in the UK for Self-Assessment and
finding it difficult to make your second payment on account by 31 July 2020 due to the impact of coronavirus

You can still make the payment by 31 July 2020 as normal if you are able to do so.

The June 2020 Self-Assessment statements showed 31 January 2021 as the due date for paying the July 2020 Payment on Account. This is because HMRC updated their IT systems to prevent customers incurring late payment interest on any July 2020 Payment on Account paid between 1st August 2020 and 31 January 2021. The deferment has not been applied for all customers by HMRC and it remains optional.

HMRC will not charge interest or penalties on any amount of the deferred payment on account, provided it’s paid on or before 31 January 2021.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/defer-your-self-assessment-payment-on-account-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19?utm_source=5d97ee4d-9a24-4553-9a8e-56287f4de9f3&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

COMPANIES HOUSE TO RESTART THE VOLUNTARY STRIKE OFF PROCESS

Posted on July 20, 2020 | by Jade Donno

In March 2020, CH introduced temporary easement measures to suspend voluntary strike off action in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) and they have reviewed these measures each month.

Following the July review, this temporary measure will be lifted from 10 September 2020. From this date, CH restart the process to dissolve companies that have applied for voluntary dissolution.

If you’ve filed an application to strike off your company (DS01)

On 10 September 2020 CH restart the process of removing your company from the register.

You may have received a letter from Companies House stating that your company will be struck off within 2 months if no objections are received, but your company is still listed on the Companies House register.

CH may have suspended strike off action because they have received an objection to your application for strike off, or this could be due to the temporary measures to suspend voluntary strike off action during the coronavirus outbreak.

When voluntary strike off action restarts from 10 September – if there are no objections to dissolution and the 2-month period from the publication of the Gazette notice has expired, your company will be struck off shortly afterwards.

Objections to a strike off application

Any person with an interest in a company which is nearing strike off should register an objection to dissolution at Companies House. If you’ve already registered an objection, but the time period for that objection is due to expire – you’ll need to register your objection again if it’s still required.

When CH receive an objection to strike off, they will respond to advise whether the objection has been accepted or rejected. Every response will give a deadline and if they receive no further evidence that action is progressing by that date, they will resume the process to remove the company from the register.

It’s important to send any objection to CH as early as possible after publication of the Gazette notice and at least 2 weeks before the notice expiry date.

Applications from 10 July 2020

If you’re going to file an application to strike off your company from today onwards, these changes will not affect your company. The easements for voluntary dissolution apply to applications for strike off registered at Companies House before 10 July 2020.

If your application is acceptable, it will be registered, and a notice published in the Gazette. If there are no objections to the dissolution, your company will be struck off in around 2 months’ time.

Compulsory strike off

The compulsory strike off process is still paused. CH continue to review this measure on a monthly basis and publish any changes on our website.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/companies-house-to-restart-the-voluntary-strike-off-process?utm_source=f1abe436-0adb-4789-aca7-3ff51e3f0fe5&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

Eat Out to Help Out

Posted on July 20, 2020 | by Jade Donno

Restaurants and other establishments serving food for on-premises consumption can now sign up to a new government initiative aimed at protecting jobs in the hospitality industry and encouraging people to safely return to dining out.

The Eat Out to Help Out registration service went live on the 13th of July on GOV.UK, allowing businesses to join the scheme.

Restaurants, bars, cafes and other establishments who use the scheme will offer a 50% reduction, up to a maximum of £10 per person, to all diners who eat and/or drink-in throughout August.

Customers do not need a voucher as participating establishments will just remove the discount from their bill. Businesses simply reclaim the discounted amount through an online service, supported by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Claims can be made on a weekly basis and will be paid into bank accounts within five working days.

The scheme is open to eligible establishments across the UK and can be used all day, every Monday to Wednesday, between 3 and 31 August 2020.

For details on how the scheme works see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-your-establishment-for-the-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme?utm_source=4783ef6b-1939-4072-8311-f58a0a39e451&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

The Government has provided marketing resources for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. There are posters, images and other promotional materials for use by establishments who are taking part in the Scheme.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eat-out-to-help-out-scheme-promotional-materials?utm_source=eca9b856-2878-4866-8cd8-8cca1cba1c39&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediat

Another Furlough Update

Posted on July 20, 2020 | by Jade Donno

CORONAVIRUS JOB RETENTION SCHEME (CJRS) UPDATE.

From 1^st July “Flexible Furlough” was introduced and the calculations and time recording of full-time, part-time and fully furloughed employees has become more complicated.

Changes are occurring regularly as the Government and HMRC make clarifications to the scheme. If you have any queries regarding your claim talk to us first.

The latest changes are outlined below:

Steps to take before calculating your claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Wording has been added to make it clear that HMRC will not decline or seek repayment of any grant based solely on the particular choice between fixed or variable approach to calculating usual hours, as long as a reasonable choice is made

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/steps-to-take-before-calculating-your-claim-using-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme?utm_source=e431e0b9-f22e-4543-b2b9-01c631e87961&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

HMRC has issued further guidance on the CJRS Individuals you can claim for who are not employees:

You can claim a grant for individuals who are not employees – as long as they’re paid via PAYE. The groups you can claim for include:

office holders (including company directors)
salaried members of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
agency workers (including those employed by umbrella companies)
limb (b) workers
Contingent workers in the public sector
Contractors with public sector engagements in scope of IR35 off-payroll working rules (IR35)

Individuals who are paid through PAYE but not necessarily employees in employment law, can continue to be furloughed from 1 July as long as you have previously submitted a claim for them for a furlough period of at least 3 weeks between 1 March and 30 June 2020.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/individuals-you-can-claim-for-who-are-not-employees?utm_source=1cc1078c-073c-45c9-a179-daa90bd46bb3&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

Paying employee taxes and pension contributions

There is also an update on ‘Paying employee taxes and pension contributions’ section and added wording to section on employee rights to make it clear that you can continue to claim for a furloughed employee who is serving a statutory notice period.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme?utm_source=0d23eb32-d558-4713-ba3e-58ea7cf51edb&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

The process HMRC is developing to recover overclaimed grant amounts through the tax system

Information has been added about the process HMRC is developing to recover overclaimed grant amounts through the tax system.

If you have made an error in a claim and do not plan to submit further claims, you should contact HMRC to let them know about the error and find out how to pay back any overclaimed amounts. Once you have contacted HMRC you will be given a payment reference number and directed to make a payment.

The Government are introducing legislation to recover overclaimed grant amounts through the tax system. If you repay any overclaimed grant amounts back through the above methods then this will reduce or, if the full amount is repaid, prevent any potential tax liability under that legislation. Further guidance on this will be issued in due course.

If you have made an error that has resulted in an underclaimed amount, you should contact HMRC to amend your claim. As you are increasing the amount of your claim, they need to conduct additional checks.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme?utm_source=5334b049-902e-4fdd-bfc2-9a7c1c222c4c&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

VAT – REDUCED RATE OF 5%

Posted on July 20, 2020 | by Jade Donno

VAT – REDUCED RATE OF 5%

The government made an announcement on 8 July 2020 allowing VAT registered businesses to apply a temporary 5% reduced rate of VAT to certain supplies relating to:

hospitality
hotel and holiday accommodation
admissions to certain attractions

The temporary reduced rate will apply to supplies that are made between 15 July 2020 and 12 January 2021.

Hospitality

If you supply food and non-alcoholic beverages for consumption on your premises, for example, a restaurant, café or pub, you’re currently required to charge VAT at the standard rate of 20%. However, when you make these supplies between 15 July 2020 and 12 January 2021 you will only need to charge 5%.

You will also be able to charge the reduced rate of VAT on your supplies of hot takeaway food and hot takeaway non-alcoholic drinks.

More information about how these changes apply to your business can be found in Catering, takeaway food (VAT Notice 709/1). See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/catering-takeaway-food-and-vat-notice-7091

Hotel and holiday accommodation

You will also benefit from the temporary reduced rate if you:

supply sleeping accommodation in a hotel or similar establishment
make certain supplies of holiday accommodation
charge fees for caravan pitches and associated facilities
charge fees for tent pitches or camping facilities

More information about how these changes apply to your business can be found in Hotels and holiday accommodation (VAT Notice 709/3). See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hotels-holiday-accommodation-and-vat-notice-7093

VAT on admission charges to attractions

If you charge a fee for admission to certain attractions where the supplies are currently standard rated, you will only need to charge the reduced rate of VAT between 15 July 2020 and 12 January 2021.

However, if the fee you charge for admission is currently exempt that will take precedence and your supplies will not qualify for the reduced rate.

This applies to:

shows
theatres
circuses
fairs
amusement parks
concerts
museums
zoos
cinemas
exhibitions
similar cultural events and facilities

Examples of where the reduced rate may apply could be attractions such as:

a planetarium
botanical gardens
studio tours
factory tours

More information about how these changes apply can be found in VAT: Admission charges to attractions.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-admission-charges-to-attractions?utm_source=b70c8e4c-efcb-4e66-a3aa-6dbc482ad5f6&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

C19 Business News Update

Posted on June 15, 2020 | by Jade Donno | Leave a Comment

What’s Going On Now?

As time goes on it is getting harder and harder to keep track of all the Government changes. We have put together this blog to summarise the latest changes.

STAYING ALERT AND SAFE (SOCIAL DISTANCING)

Everyone’s actions have helped to reduce the transmission of coronavirus in our communities. Fatalities and infection rates continue to fall.

The government has set out its plan to return life to as near normal as we can, for as many people as we can, as quickly and fairly as possible in order to safeguard livelihoods, but in a way that is safe and continues to protect the NHS. The most important thing we can continue to do is to stay alert, control the virus, and, in doing so, save lives.

This guidance applies in England – people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should follow the specific rules in those parts of the UK.

Click here for more information

NEW FUNDING CONFIRMED FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO HELP THOSE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY AS A RESULT OF CORONAVIRUS

An additional £63 million has been confirmed by government to be distributed to local authorities in England to help those who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to coronavirus.

Local authorities are already working to support those who are vulnerable, and this additional funding will contribute to that work.

Many have existing mechanisms to provide this support in a way that suits the needs of their community. This includes provision of cash payments, food vouchers, or alternative means of support.

Click here for more information

MANAGEMENT OF STAFF AND EXPOSED PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SETTINGS

This guidance provides advice on the management of staff and patients or residents in health and social care settings according to exposures, symptoms and test results. It includes:

staff with symptoms of COVID-19
staff return to work criteria
patient exposures in hospital
resident exposures in care settings

Please note that this guidance is of a general nature and that an employer should consider the specific conditions of each individual place of work and comply with all applicable legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

There may be further information specific to each country in the United Kingdom, as this guidance was written by Public Health England primarily for an English health professional audience. To see if country specific information is available, please refer to Health Protection Scotland, Public Health Wales, or Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland.

Click here for more information

WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO FAQs

This guidance has been updated 12 June.

Click here for the guidance

FLEXIBLE FURLOUGHING

Posted on June 1, 2020 | by Jade Donno | Leave a Comment

Flexible Furloughing

From 1 July 2020, Businesses will have the flexibility to bring previously furloughed employees back to work part-time – with the government continuing to pay 80% of wages for any of their normal hours they do not work up until the end of August.

Businesses can decide the hours and shift patterns that their employees will work on their return and you will be responsible for paying their wages in full while working. This means that employees can work as much or as little as your business needs, with no minimum time that you can furlough staff for.

Any working hours arrangement that you agree with your employee must cover at least one week and be confirmed to the employee in writing.

When claiming the CJRS grant for furloughed hours, you will report and claim for a minimum period of a week. Businesses can choose to make claims for longer periods such as on monthly or two weekly cycles if this is more appropriate.

You will be required to submit data on the usual hours an employee would be expected to work in a claim period and actual hours worked. We can assist and make the claims for you.

If your employees are unable to return to work, or you do not have work for them to do, they can remain on furlough and you can continue to claim the grant for their full hours under the existing rules.

Employer contributions

From August, the government grant will be tapered as follows:

For June and July, the government will pay 80% of wages up to a cap of £2,500 as well as employer National Insurance (ER’s NICs) and pension contributions for the hours the employee does not work – employers will have to pay employees for the hours they work.
In August, the government will continue to pay 80% of wages up to a cap of £2,500 but employers will pay ER’s NIC’s and pension contributions.
From 1 September, the government will pay 70% of wages up to a cap of £2,187.50 for the hours the employee does not work – employers will pay ER NICs, pension contributions and 10% of wages to make up 80% of the total up to a cap of £2,500
For the final month of the scheme in October, the government will pay 60% of wages up to a cap of £1,875 for the hours the employee does not work – employers will pay ER NICs, pension contributions and 20% of wages to make up 80% of the total up to a cap of £2,500
the cap on the furlough grant will be proportional to the hours not worked.

Important dates

It is important to note that the scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June. From this point onwards, you will only be able to furlough employees that you have furloughed for a full three-week period prior to 30 June.

This means that the final date that you can furlough an employee for the first time will be 10 June for the current three-week furlough period to be completed by 30 June. Employers will have until 31 July to make any claims in respect of the period to 30 June.

Guidance and support

Further support on how to calculate claims with the extra flexibility will be available by 12 June and we will keep you informed about the detail and your written requirements in due course. If you have any questions please contact us.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme?utm_source=1a8e753d-c67e-41e9-8664-32969211b852&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

SELF-EMPLOYED GET SECOND GRANT FROM GOVERNMENT

Posted on June 1, 2020 | by Jade Donno | Leave a Comment

Sole Traders to get second grant from the Government.

The government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended, giving more security to individuals whose livelihoods are adversely affected by coronavirus in the coming months, the Chancellor announced on Friday 29 May 2020. Rishi Sunak announced the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended – with those eligible able to claim a second and final grant capped at £6,570.

Individuals can continue to apply for the first SEISS grant until 13 July. Under the first grant, eligible individuals can claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total. Those eligible have the money paid into their bank account within six working days of completing a claim.
Applications for the second grant will open in August. Individuals will be able to claim a second taxable grant worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total.
The eligibility criteria are the same for both grants, and individuals will need to confirm that their business has been adversely affected by coronavirus. An individual does not need to have claimed the first grant to receive the second grant: for example, they may only have been adversely affected by COVID-19 in this later phase.

Further guidance on the second grant will be published on Friday 12 June and we will keep you up to date with the details when we know them.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme?utm_source=95036a42-e8c3-49f3-8f73-6300a69ea34a&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

Time to claim your grant if you are self-employed.

Posted on May 26, 2020 | by Jade Donno | Leave a Comment

The portal opens this week to claim your grant is you are self-employed. This is capped as a taxable lump sum of £7500. Once your claim is approved the money will be in your bank account within 6 working days.

To check whether you are eligible for this grant click here. Directors of limited companies are NOT eligible for the scheme.

This is essentially ‘free’ money for sole traders whose business has been adversely impacted by Coronavirus. You will need to confirm to HMRC that your business has been adversely affected by Coronavirus. This could be because you have been unable to work, or Coronavirus has reduced the demand for your services/products.

We cannot make the claim on your behalf. (And that’s HMRC’s decision, not our decision) But we can help you decide whether you are eligible.

To make the claim you will need some important numbers:

Your self-assessment unique taxpayer reference number (UTR).
Your National Insurance Number

Click on this link to go to the portal

HMRC will then tell you if you are eligible, and the date you’ll be able to make your claim from.

If you can claim straight away, then you’ll also need your:

Government Gateway user ID and password (if you don’t have one of these you will be asked to create a gateway account when you check your eligibility)
UK bank details including:
- Bank account number
- Sort code
- Name on the account
- Your address linked to your bank account

At the moment we don’t know whether this scheme will be extended.

If you need any help please email jade@1accounts.co.uk

UPDATE ON CORONA JOB RETENTION SCHEME

Posted on May 26, 2020 | by Jade Donno | Leave a Comment

The government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will remain open until the end of October,

The key points announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak are:

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will continue until end of October
furloughed workers across UK will continue to receive 80% of their current salary, up to £2,500
new flexibility will be introduced from August to get employees back to work and boost economy

The Government stated as we reopen the economy, we need to support people to get back to work. From the start of August, furloughed workers will be able to return to work part-time with employers being asked to pay a percentage towards the salaries of their furloughed staff.

The employer payments will substitute the contribution the government is currently making, ensuring that staff continue to receive 80% of their salary, up to £2,500 a month.

New statistics published today revealed the job retention scheme has protected 7.5 million workers and almost 1 million businesses.

The scheme will continue in its current form until the end of July and the changes to allow more flexibility will come in from the start of August.

The government will explore ways through which furloughed workers who wish to do additional training or learn new skills are supported during this period. It will also continue to work closely with the Devolved Administrations to ensure the scheme supports people across the Union.

The Chancellor’s decision to extend the scheme, which will continue to apply across all regions and sectors in the UK economy, comes after the government outlined its plan for the next phase of its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Full text see here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-furlough-scheme-until-october?utm_source=469e4bd6-b6c1-4149-a76b-97f84a86bb07&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

HMRC UPDATE ON CJRS APPLICATION PROCESS

HMRC have emailed an update for employers on CJRS. See: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKHMRCED/bulletins/28aefce

You can subscribe to HMRC updates on the above link to receive these if you are not already doing so.

NEW FEATURES ON CJRS ONLINE CLAIM SERVICE.

Save and return option now added

In response to feedback from claimants using the service, HMRC have added a ‘save and return’ option. This means that you can now return to a partially completed claim, rather than having to do it all in one go.

HMRC guidance on making a claim

When you make a claim through CJRS, you should receive the funds within six working days after you apply, provided your claim matches records that HMRC hold for your PAYE scheme.

Making sure that you submit your claim correctly will reduce the chance of any delayed or wrong payments.

These steps should help keep the process as straight forward as possible:

read the guidance before you apply, to find this go to GOV‌.UK and search for ‘Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’, there is a step-by-step guide to applying and a calculator

check your employees are eligible, by looking at the guidance on GOV‌.UK
check your calculations each time you submit a claim, in case any details have changed
only submit one claim per pay period – you cannot submit another claim for overlapping periods; this means that in each claim you should include all furloughed employees paid during that period
if you have missing National Insurance numbers for employees, do try and find them so it doesn’t delay your claim; if an employee doesn’t have a National Insurance number yet, you should contact HMRC in order to complete your claim; go to GOV‌.UK and search for ‘get help with the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’ to find out how to contact us
double check all the information in the claim before you submit it, including your bank details.

We understand that sometimes you might make an error in your claim, and HMRC are working on a process to enable you to amend a claim. In the meantime, please do not amend your next claim to reflect any errors that you may have made in a previous one, as this could delay payment. If HMRC spot an error then, where possible, they will contact you or your agent to correct the claim.

Category: Business Help

Defer Your Self-assessment Payment On Account

COMPANIES HOUSE TO RESTART THE VOLUNTARY STRIKE OFF PROCESS