Balancing access to justice and abuse of process
An extended civil restraint order (ECRO) was issued against a prolific Employment Tribunal (ET) litigant for presenting repeated and baseless claims. A Mr. Khan has been described as a prolific litigant, having issued no fewer than 42 largely unsuccessful tribunal claims since 2017. These various failed claims have typically involved allegations of disability discrimination and […]
Keeping your best people with flexible working
For many small business owners, finding and keeping good staff is one of the biggest headaches. Recruitment is costly, time-consuming and uncertain. That is why focusing on staff retention is one of the smartest moves you can make. People stay where they feel valued. Pay matters, of course, but many small businesses cannot simply compete […]
Cash flow resilience and access to funding
Running a small business often feels like walking a financial tightrope. Cash can be flowing in nicely one month, only to dry up the next. With interest rates higher than they were for years and lenders tightening their checks, access to money has become a bigger challenge. That is why focusing on cash flow resilience […]
Fixing problems with running payroll
Employers must report pay and deductions correctly to HMRC, but errors can usually be fixed in your next FPS. Employers need to use payroll software or other payroll services to record employees pay, deductions and national insurance contributions on or before each payday. They also need to consider other deductions such as pension contributions and […]
Unused pension funds and IHT from April 2027
From 6 April 2027, new measures first announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 will come into force. These changes will bring most unused pension funds and death benefits into the scope of Inheritance Tax (IHT) from April 2027. This represents a major change to the tax treatment of pensions on death and will significantly broaden […]
What if your pension contributions are excessive?
You can claim tax relief on pension contributions up to 100% of earnings, but exceeding the annual allowance may trigger charges. Tax relief is paid on pension contributions at the highest rate of income tax paid. The first 20% of tax relief is usually automatically applied by your employer with no further action required if […]
MTD for IT taxpayer exemption
From April 2026, the self-employed and landlords must use MTD for IT, but exemptions may apply in limited cases. If you are self-employed or a landlord with income over £50,000, you will need to prepare for digital record keeping, quarterly updates and a new penalty system. While most affected taxpayers will be required to comply, there are […]
Corporation tax roadmap
With a £50bn shortfall looming, the Chancellor may need to revisit last year’s Corporation Tax roadmap commitments. As this year’s Autumn Budget approaches, it is an interesting time to revisit the Corporation Tax Roadmap published alongside last year’s Budget on 30 October 2024. The roadmap sets out the government’s plans for Corporation Tax and a […]
What are the current Income Tax bands and allowances?
Income Tax applies to earnings, pensions, savings, dividends and more, with different bands across the UK nations. Individuals can be liable to Income Tax at any age. There are special rules to stop parents avoiding tax by putting assets into their children’s names. The tables below shows the tax rates you pay in each band […]