fpdteam, Author at Bennetts Accountancy

Class 4 NICs who is liable?

18th April 2024 by fpdteam

Most self-employed people are required to pay Class 4 National Insurance contributions (NICs) if their profits are £12,570 or more a year.

Class 4 NIC rates for the tax year 2024-25 are 6% (2023-24: 9%) for chargeable profits between £12,570 and £50,270 plus 2% on any profits over £50,270.

A number of categories of people are exempt from paying Class 4 NICs, these include:

People under the age of 16 at the beginning of the year of assessment.
People over State pension age at the beginning of the year of assessment. A person who attains State pension age during the course of the year of assessment remains liable for Class 4 NICs for the whole of that year.
Trustees, guardians etc of an incapacitated person are exempted from Class 4 NICs on that income.

The Class 4 NIC rate is lower than the corresponding rate for employees who pay National Insurance at 8% on the same income levels. Both the employed and self-employed pay 2% National Insurance contributions on income above the higher rate threshold.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 15-04-2024

Post Transaction Valuation Checks

18th April 2024 by fpdteam

A Post Transaction Valuation Check (PTVC) can be requested from HMRC for an individual to work out a capital gains tax liability or for companies to calculate corporation tax liability on chargeable gains. The request for a PTVC should be made using the CG34 form. HMRC’s guidance says the form must be completed and sent to the address on the form at least three months before the relevant tax return filing date.

The PTVC is a service offered by HMRC to check valuations after a disposal has been made, including a deemed disposal following a claim that an asset has become of negligible value but before the completion of a self-assessment return. This service is available to all taxpayers, individuals, trustees and companies.

If HMRC agrees with the valuations set out they will not question the use of those valuations in the return, unless there are any important facts affecting the valuations that have not been disclosed. Agreement to the valuations does not always mean that HMRC agree the gain or loss. When the return is filed, HMRC will consider the other figures used. If an agreement cannot be reached, HMRC will suggest alternatives such as using specialist valuers.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 15-04-2024

View and prove your immigration status

18th April 2024 by fpdteam

A UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account can be used by eligible users to view and prove their immigration status online. This may be required to provide proof of your status to employers or higher education providers.

The service can also be used to update personal details or to check what rights you have in the UK, for example the right to work, rent or claim benefits.

You will have a UKVI if you have ever:

applied to the EU Settlement Scheme;
used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to prove your identity when applying for a visa;
created one when applying for a visa (you will have received a UKVI account confirmation email); and
created one to get access to an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status) – you will have received an email about this.

If you are unable to access your account, then you will need to recover your UK Visas and Immigration Account by calling the UK Visas and Immigration phone line on 0300 790 6268.

Source:Home Office| 15-04-2024

Taxable employment benefits from April 2026

18th April 2024 by fpdteam

From April 2026, the government will mandate the reporting and paying of Income Tax and Class 1A National Insurance Contributions on benefits in kind via payroll software. This represents a significant change to the current system and should reduce the administrative requirements and simplify the tax system for both employers and employees.

This means that the 2025-26 tax year will be the last year that employers will be able to file P11Ds and P11D(b)s with HMRC in most cases. From April 2026, tax on employment benefits will be collected in real time and not through tax codes in arrears. Class 1A National Insurance contributions will also be collected in real time for each pay period rather than at the end of the year. HMRC has said that this change will remove the need for 4 million end of year returns to be submitted.

HMRC has said that they will engage with stakeholders to discuss their proposals to inform design and delivery decisions and draft legislation will be published later in the year as part of the usual tax legislation process. HMRC will also work with industry experts to produce guidance, which will be made available in advance of 2026.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 15-04-2024

Changes to Scottish Income Tax rates 2024-25

18th April 2024 by fpdteam

A reminder of the changes to Scottish Income Tax rates for the 2024-25 tax year. It was announced as part of the Scottish Budget measures that a new tax band called the advanced rate band will apply a 45% tax rate on annual income between £75,000 and £125,140 and would come into effect from 6 April 2024.

In addition, 1p was added to the top rate of tax and the starter and basic rate bands were increased in line with inflation (6.7%, based on Consumer Price Index from September 2023). There were no changes to the Starter, Basic, Intermediate and Higher tax rates and the Higher rate threshold was maintained at £43,662. The measures are expected to raise an additional £1.5 billion in Income Tax revenue.

The Scottish rates and bands for 2024-25 are as follows:

Starter rate – 19%	£12,571 – £14,876
Basic rate – 20%	£14,877 – £26,561
Intermediate rate – 21%	£26,562 – £43,662
Higher rate – 42%	£43,663 – £75,000
Advanced rate – 45%	£75,001 – £125,140
Top rate – 48%	Above £125,140

The standard personal allowance for 2024-25 remains frozen at £12,570.

Source:The Scottish Government| 15-04-2024

Payrolling employee expenses and benefits

18th April 2024 by fpdteam

Employers can register on a voluntary basis (before the start of the tax year) to report and account for tax on certain benefits and expenses via the RTI system. This is known as payrolling and removes the requirement to complete a P11D for the selected benefits at the tax year end.

Registration is now open to payroll your benefits from 6 April 2024. Effective 6 April 2023, HMRC ceased accepting new informal arrangements. If you have had one of these informal arrangements in place, you must register to payroll your expenses and benefits for 2024-25.

The deadline for submitting the 2023-24 forms P11D, P11D(b) and P9D is 6 July 2024. These forms can be submitted using commercial software or via HMRC’s PAYE online service. HMRC no longer accepts paper P11D and P11D(b) forms. Employees must also be provided with a copy of the information relating to them on these forms by the same date. P11D forms are used to provide information to HMRC on all Benefits in Kind (BiKs), including those under the Optional Remuneration Arrangements (OpRAs) unless the employer has registered to payroll benefits.

It should be noted that a P11D(b) is still required for Class 1A National Insurance payments regardless of whether the benefits are being reported via P11D or payrolled. The deadline for paying Class 1A NICs is 22 July 2024 (or 19 July if paying by cheque).

Where no benefits were provided from 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024 and a form P11D(b) or P11D(b) reminder is received, employers can either submit a 'nil' return or notify HMRC online that no return is required. Employers should ensure that they complete their P11D's accurately, including all the details of cars and loans provided. There are penalties of £100 per 50 employees for each month or part month a P11D(b) is late. There are also penalties and interest if late payments are made.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 15-04-2024

Tax Diary May/June 2024

18th April 2024 by fpdteam

1 May 2024 – Due date for corporation tax due for the year ended 30 July 2023.

19 May 2024 – PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 May 2024. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 May 2024).

19 May 2024 – Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 May 2024.

19 May 2024 – CIS tax deducted for the month ended 5 May 2023 is payable by today.

31 May 2024 – Ensure all employees have been given their P60s for the 2023/24 tax year.

1 June 2024 – Due date for corporation tax due for the year ended 31 August 2023.

19 June 2024 – PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 June 2024. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 June 2024).

19 June 2024 – Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 June 2024.

19 June 2024 – CIS tax deducted for the month ended 5 June 2024 is payable by today.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 14-04-2024

Settling energy disputes

16th April 2024 by fpdteam

Business owners that are in dispute with their energy suppliers will be interested in the free support on offer from the Energy Ombudsman.

In a recent press release the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero confirmed the following:

“Businesses will get free support to resolve issues with their energy contracts, as part of government and Ofgem changes to tackle cowboy practices like hidden fees, inaccurate energy bills and pressurising sales tactics for energy contracts.

“Small organisations with fewer than 50 employees will be entitled to free support from the Energy Ombudsman on disputes with their energy supplier. It will extend the service to cover 99% of all businesses in Great Britain, giving them the confidence to grow – as part of the government’s long-term plan to boost the economy and improve economic security for all.

“The Ombudsman has the power to order suppliers to provide compensation of up to £10,000 or take action to resolve issues – such as raising standards for their customers, or to credit or amend customer accounts.

“The move will also enable businesses and other organisations to settle disputes with their energy broker via the Ombudsman, without the need for costly legal proceedings – as part of changes set out by the government and Ofgem today. It is a first step in a crackdown on rogue energy brokers targeting small organisations with thousands of pounds in hidden fees.

“Energy Affordability Minister Amanda Solloway has warned energy brokers to end these unacceptable practices, with the government planning to consult later this year on regulating brokers and other third-party intermediaries.”

Source:Other| 15-04-2024

COVID Bounce Back abuse

16th April 2024 by fpdteam

The Insolvency Service has recently published information confirming that a total of 831 company directors were banned in 2023-24 for Covid support scheme abuse, up more than 80% on the previous year, and that the average length of director disqualification for Covid misconduct in 2023-24 was almost 10 years.

The Covid Bounce Back Loan Scheme was introduced at the start of the pandemic in 2020. It helped small and medium-sized businesses borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 at a low interest rate, guaranteed by the government.

Businesses were entitled to a single loan of up to 25% of their turnover under the scheme.

Individuals could only use the loans for the economic benefit of the business and not for personal purposes.

Enforcement action taken against those that have abused the support schemes has ranged from companies being wound-up in court to criminal convictions, compensation orders and director disqualifications.

The Insolvency Service has successfully applied to have 1,430 directors banned for abusing Covid support schemes since it started investigating potential financial wrongdoing in this area in 2021.

Source:Other| 15-04-2024

Paying VAT on goods from EU to Northern Ireland

11th April 2024 by fpdteam

There are special procedures for moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, all Northern Ireland businesses continue to have access to the whole UK market.

There is specific guidance published by HMRC that should be followed for goods that are received into Northern Ireland from a supplier in the EU.

If you are registered for VAT in the UK and receive goods in Northern Ireland from countries in the EU, you will normally account for the VAT through your VAT Return. You will need to account for the VAT at the same rate that you would have paid if you had bought them from a UK supplier. This VAT is known as acquisition VAT, and you can normally reclaim some or all of this if the acquisitions relate to VAT taxable supplies that you make.
If you are not VAT registered and receive goods in Northern Ireland from countries in the EU, your supplier will charge VAT at the local rate in the EU country from which the goods are supplied. If you are not already registered for VAT in the UK and buy goods worth £90,000 (£85,000 prior to 1 April 2024) you may be required to register for VAT.

You may also be required to complete an Intrastat Supplementary Declaration if your acquisitions of goods from the EU exceed an annual amount. The delivery terms threshold for both arrivals and dispatches is currently £24 million.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 08-04-2024