The New Year has begun in the financial calendar. This is the time of year where the Government implement the new rules and laws. Changes have been made to your allowances, pension and minimum wage. In our blog we will touch up on the most popular and usually most important changes. Keeping you informed and up to date!
 
Your personal allowance has gone up to £11,850 from £11,500. Your personal allowance is the amount of income you can make before you must pay any tax over. The tax you pay over will depend on which income band you are in.

Income BandTaxable IncomeTax Rate
Personal AllowanceUp to £11,8500%
Basic Rate£11.851 - £46,35020%
Higher Rate£46,351 - £150,00040%
Additional RateOver £150,00045%
 
If your income is over £123,700 then you do not get a personal allowance. Dividends allowance has unfortunately gone down from £5,000 to £2,000. If you own shares in a company and receive dividend you will have to pay tax. You only pay tax if your dividends go above your dividend allowance in the tax year. The tax rate is different for dividends.

Tax BandTax Rate on Dividends over your Allowance
Basic Rate7.5%
Higher Rate32.5%
Additional Rate38.1%
 
There has been changes to the ever-changing employment tax laws. If you employ staff, you will have to adhere to these rules. As there can be heavy fines if the rules are broken. You will have to supply a workplace pension for all staff members that qualify. A percentage of the member of staffs pay is put into the pension scheme automatically every payday. The minimum employer contribution is 2% and the minimum employee contribution is 3%.
 
The national minimum wage and living wage have increased. As an employer you are legally obliged to pay the correct rate to staff. Wage is worked out on the age an employee is. Minimum wage bands are Under 18, 18years-20years, 21-24 years and 25 years old and over.
 
Take a read of our employment law blog where we go in to the finer details of pension contributions and the national minimum wage rates. This is the time of year when company accounts are due as the next financial year rolls over, if you are stuck with yours or want more information on what steps you need to take visit our website on www.crossaccountingservice.co.uk or call us on 02920 653 995

Happy New Year to you all, we hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas. It’s the New Year but some things remain the same, and that’s the deadline of 31st January for Self-Assessment returns.

 

Self-Assessment is a system HMRC uses to collect tax. For people who are self-employed, with their own business or others who make additional income. 

The dates for Self-Assessment is 

1st April 2016 to the 31st March 2017. With online returns needed to be submitted by

31st January 2018 and paper returns to have already been submitted by 31st October 2017.

 

The best way to keep the tax bill down is to have your paperwork organised. You will need the actual receipts to claim as expenses. Collate your receipts and keep together as HMRC can ask to see evidence at any time. Another great way is to utilise the ISA savings as any interest received is tax-free. You’ll keep your savings on a tax-free basis for as long as you keep the money in your ISA accounts.

 

Higher rate tax payers benefit from additional tax savings when they contribute in to pension schemes and give to charity.

 

An example of a list of records you will need are;

  •          Business and personal bank statements
  •          Records of income
  •          Records of purchases
  •          P60/P45
  •          Rental Income
  •          Interest Income
  •          Child Benefit and Income Support

 

You need many other records to keep, here at Cross Accounting we give our clients a more in detail list of records which we require from them to complete their tax return. This also includes a reminder of approaching deadlines to ensure not to be penalised. HMRC fine £100 for anyone who misses the 31st January deadline.

 

HMRC have revealed a record number of people are filing for self-assessment this year as the numbers are north of eleven million. If you’re a couple of years behind, then do not worry as you’re not alone, we have taken on a number of clients in this situation, and have supported them and brought them up to date. If you’re not sure if you need to submit a self-assessment or you need to complete a return, you can call us on 02920 653 995 or visit our website on www.crossaccountingservice.co.uk to see how we can assist you. 

Your year end can cost you more than you think

Preparing your year end accounts can be costly your business – and that’s before you’ve event considered the financial aspect.

In finding, organising and making sense of your paperwork and records, there are time costs, emotional costs (usually stress!) and work-life balance costs to consider.

15% off your year end with us

Cross Accounting Services can help on all fronts. We love year end and so as a thank you from us, we’re offering 15% off your first year end fees with us.

So, you get to spend time doing the things you love at a reduced all round cost – and we get to spend time doing the things we love, thanks to you!

Call Nicola on 029 2065 3995 and quote reference CA15 to receive your discount or email her asking for more information also quoting CA15 Closing date 31 March 2014