Blog

Chris Etherington

Could a 'fat' tax solve holiday hunger?

Following Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school meals to continue through the 2020 summer holidays, there is a big focus on the issue of ‘holiday hunger’. As data from the Food Foundation highlights that over 200,000 children have skipped a meal due to lack of access to food during lockdown, we ask the question: should the “coronavirus summer food fund” be made permanent and if so, could a ‘fat tax’ fund it?

3 minutes

Chris Etherington

A targeted stamp duty land tax change could make downsizing less painful

The Chancellor is looking for simple tax measures to boost the economy after coronavirus. We suggest a Stamp Duty Land Tax change which would help older people maintain independent living while reducing intergenerational inequality.

3 minutes

Justin Stevenson

It pays to understand the small print when it comes to HMRC

With the coronavirus restrictions biting hard, many businesses turned to the financial assistance made available by the Government. But there are concerns that not all have fully understood the terms and conditions that apply.

4 minutes

Graham Steele

By relaxing R&D tax relief criteria, Government could help boost capital expenditure

The extent of planned capital expenditure (capex) cuts by large listed companies in the UK was last week predicted to reach somewhere in the region of £23bn. CFOs seem to favour cash preservation over investment. What can Government do to lure business leaders away from their spending funk? Boosting the level of R&D tax relief available and relaxing the qualifying criteria would be a good starting point.

2 minutes

Chris Etherington

The company car coronavirus tax tip

For many employees with a company car sitting idle outside their homes during lockdown, what was once a valued benefit has become an expensive gadget which has hardly been used over last three months. All is not lost for those who also have their fuel paid for by their employer, as a tax refund could be on the cards.

3 minutes

Sarah Halsted

HMRC resumes VAT compliance checks after coronavirus shutdown

After a break of several weeks while its officers were busy introducing emergency coronavirus measures, there are signs that HMRC’s routine VAT compliance activity has restarted.

1 minute

Susan Ball

Could your CJRS claim plunge you into a National Minimum Wage enquiry?

With the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, HRMC will now have sight of payroll data and whistleblowing reports to support enquiries into National Minimum Wage compliance.

3 minutes

Ian Brown

Should the rates of VAT be reduced to stimulate the coronavirus-impacted economy? Or is there another way?

Reducing VAT rates is an option for Government, or could it be ringfenced and invested for longer term benefits for the businesses most affected?

3 minutes

Karen Glover

Protect your VAT recovery on the cost of post-coronavirus mergers and acquisitions

A rush of buyouts and corporate restructuring is expected once the business world gets back on its feet after coronavirus and prepares to face a changed marketplace. Businesses which find themselves involved in mergers and acquisitions should plan carefully to protect their entitlement to VAT recovery.

5 minutes

Paul Smith