Blog
Why do frozen mileage rates affect VAT?
Your business pays a fixed mileage allowance to staff who use their private cars for business travel. The rates published by HMRC have been frozen since 2011 but is this relevant to determine how much input tax you can claim on the payments?
Beating the capital allowances rate reduction
The main rate of relief for capital allowances is reducing from 18% to 14% from April 2026. Is this something that’s likely to affect you and if so, what can you do to make the most of the current rate?
Sharing salary with your partner
You’re a director with a substantial salary and your partner isn’t working right now. If you could split your salary with your partner the tax saving would make a real difference. How can you legitimately share your salary to improve the overall tax position?
Are you including too much income in your calculations?
Your business is partly exempt and you claim input tax on your mixed costs and general overheads by using the standard method based on turnover splits. What income should you exclude from the calculations?
Directors’ fees - can you escape PAYE?
You’ve been asked to join the board of a company in a purely advisory role. For tax and NI efficiency you want your fees to be paid to your own company. Does this arrangement fall foul of HMRC’s off-payroll rules?
Is it really the end of tax relief for homeworking?
In her 2025 Budget the Chancellor announced the end of tax deductions for “non-reimbursed homeworking expenses”. How might the loss of the deduction affect you and is there an alternative tax relief you can take advantage of?
Get ready for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
If you’re one of the (un)lucky individuals who need to join Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) from 6 April 2026, you probably know that this involves submitting regular, digital records to HMRC. But what do you need to do to prepare?
Homeworking: claiming input tax on subsistence expenses?
Some of your staff work remotely, but their homes aren’t suited to it. You have agreed to pay for rented office space, or for refreshments if they work from, say, a café. Can you claim input tax on these expenses?
Beating the landlord tax hikes
Once again, landlords will be hit by tax increases announced in the Budget, even if they are operating through a company. What are the changes, and can anything be done to mitigate them?
Planning ahead for pension salary sacrifice changes
From 6 April 2029, both employers and employees will be required to pay Class 1 NI on pension contributions in excess of £2,000 made through a salary sacrifice arrangement. What can you do about it?
Can you claim input tax on costs linked to electric cars?
Your business intends to go green and buy new electric cars. Can you claim input tax on the purchase of the vehicles and their subsequent fuel costs? Additionally, what recent change has been announced by HMRC?
Dodging the 2027 IHT and pension changes
In a little over a year the inheritance tax (IHT) exemption for unused pension savings comes to an end. If you’re married or in a civil partnership, one simple step might save your estate thousands in IHT. What is it?