Welcome to our round up of the latest business news for our clients. Please contact us if you want to talk about how these updates affect your business. We are here to support you!
More Tax Rises On Wednesday?
Over the last year we have learnt that corporation tax will increase in 2023 and that there will be a 1.25% rise in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) from April 2022 paid by employers, employees, self-employed and for those with share dividend income.
Personal allowances have been frozen at £12,570, basic rate at £37,700 and the higher rate at £50,270 until 2026.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has stated the need to “fix” the nation’s finances as the economy emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, declaring: “Our recovery comes with a cost.”
On Wednesday we can expect further tax rises to be announced in the Budget to fund the support given for the vaccine rollout, the Furlough and self-employed support schemes.
So what are the tax planning options available for companies and individuals?
For companies it is all about the most tax efficient way of extracting profits such as dividends verses salary, contributions to pensions and receiving tax efficient benefits. Also important is utilising capital allowances and thinking carefully about the timing of expenditure.
For the self-employed, protective claims for tax credits should be considered if profits fluctuate.
If you are married, options are available to fully utilise personal allowances and ownership of income producing assets such as investments and rental properties.
One crafty way for the Chancellor to bring in extra tax revenue without raising headline tax rates would be to limit some of the generous tax breaks that are currently available. He may therefore consider some of the measures suggested by the Treasury Select Committee, or the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) last year. The Treasury Select Committee specifically drew attention to the cost of pension tax relief (£41 billion in 2019) and CGT private residence relief (£25 billion) so we can perhaps expect further restrictions to those reliefs. The OTS have carried out a detailed review of both CGT and IHT, so we anticipate changes to those taxes to bring in extra revenue. Something to listen out for is a possible change to the CGT rules when assets are transferred on death. Currently assets such as the family home or the family business are transferred at market value at the date of death without CGT being payable. It has been suggested that instead of market value the assets are transferred at the deceased’s base cost, which might be just £100 in the case of shares in the family company. Although there would be no CGT payable at the time the effect would be to create a large potential CGT bill for the next generation.
When it comes to pensions there are rumours yet again that higher rate relief for contributions into personal pensions may be removed and replaced with flat rate tax relief of say 25%. That would encourage basic rate taxpayers to save more in their pension at the expense of those paying tax at 40% or 45%. Higher rate taxpayers with spare cash should perhaps consider putting more into their pensions before Budget Day.
Personal pension contributions remain tax efficient for all. Company contributions to an employee’s pension will attract corporation tax relief and will be free of income tax and national insurance for the employee (up to certain limits). Individuals can claim relief from income tax and national insurance for contributions to personal pension schemes (subject to certain limits).
These are just a few of the options for planning ahead and now is the time to sit down and arrange your affairs to ensure you are as tax efficient as you can be. We would be delighted to work out a plan with you so please contact us.
Working Tax Credit Customers Must Report Changes To Working Hours
HMRC is urging Working Tax Credit customers to check if they need to update their working hours if these have reduced as a result of coronavirus.
During the pandemic, Working Tax Credit customers have not needed to tell HMRC about temporary short-term reductions in their working hours as a result of coronavirus – for example if they were working fewer hours or were furloughed.
If a Working Tax Credit customer’s hours temporarily fell because of coronavirus, they have been treated as if they were working their normal hours.
Customers do not need to tell HMRC if they re-establish their normal working hours before 25 November 2021, but from then, they must do within the usual one-month window if they are not back to working their normal hours shown in their Working Tax Credit claim.
See: Working Tax Credit customers must report changes to working hours – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Menopause in the Workplace Toolkit
The UK workforce is ageing. People want and need to work for longer and employers need to draw more effectively on an older workforce. For women this is particularly true – they have been the major drivers of growth in the older workforce over the last decade.
Many women now return to work after childbirth and the reform of the pension system has extended women’s working lives. There are now five million women over 50 in the workplace, and many will be transitioning through the menopause.
Employers are now understanding the importance of supporting employees during the menopause in order to retain valuable knowledge, skills and experience within a key workplace demographic. The experience of these leading employers has shown that often simple actions, such as education and awareness-raising, can make a real difference.
The Menopause in the Workplace Toolkit has been produced by Business in the Community (BITC) in collaboration with The Open University, University of Bristol and De Montfort University.
The Menopause Toolkit is available to all during October 2021.
It provides insight on how the menopause impacts on women in the workplace and information on:
- reducing business costs
- what employers can do to help
- additional resources
See: Menopause in the Workplace – Business in the Community (bitc.org.uk)
UK Government Secures COVID-19 Antivirals
In view of criticism about the slow roll out of booster jabs and rising numbers of infections and deaths, the UK government has secured COVID-19 antivirals to be rolled out through a clinical study from winter. The deals made by the Antivirals Taskforce are a step in its ambition to secure at least two new effective treatments by the end of the year for those who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with the virus.
Should the treatments be approved by the UK’s medicines regulator, thousands of NHS patients will be able to access the treatments to prevent the infection from spreading and speed up recovery time. The two new antivirals are expected to be given to those most at risk from the virus, helping reduce the severity of symptoms and ease pressure on the NHS over winter.
See: UK government secures groundbreaking COVID-19 antivirals – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Working in Europe?
As travel returns to a more normal environment, the UK government has started a campaign to remind business travellers of the rules for travel to an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
As well as the actions all travellers need to take, there are extra actions if you are travelling for business. Business travel includes activities such as:
- travelling for meetings and conferences
- providing services (even with a charity)
- touring for art or music
- taking goods to sell
If you are travelling to an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for less than 90 days in a 180-day period, you may be able to do some things without getting a visa or work permit, for example going to a business meeting. You may need a visa, work permit or other documentation if you are planning to stay for longer than 90 days in a 180-day period, or if you will be doing any of the following:
- transferring from the UK branch of a company to a branch in a different country (‘intra-corporate transfer’), even for a short period of time
- carrying out contracts to provide a service to a client in another country in which your employer has no presence
- providing services in another country as a self-employed person
Check the entry requirements and rules of the country you are visiting to find out if you need a visa or work permit.
The government also gives advice on professional qualifications, earning money in the EU, insurance and taking goods and cash into the EU.
Coronavirus: Film and TV Production Restart Scheme
The Film and TV Production Restart Scheme makes direct compensation available to eligible pre-existing and new productions that incur costs caused by coronavirus-related losses, such as abandonment or filming delays from illnesses amongst the cast and crew.
Eligible productions will receive compensation for costs caused by coronavirus delays up to a value of 20 per cent of the production budget, with the abandonment of productions due to coronavirus to be covered up to 70 per cent of the production budget. There will be a total cap of £5 million on claims per production.
The funding is available to all productions made by companies where at least half of the production budget is spent in the UK.
You must make an application via the appointed third party administrator, Marsh Commercial.
You can download the claim form from their website. Once complete, email your form along with all supporting documentation to mailto:[email protected]
Future claims made under the scheme can be backdated to 28 July 2020.
The registration deadline for this scheme is 23:59 GMT on 30 April 2022, and claims will be able to be submitted up to 23:59 GMT on 30 September 2022 for losses incurred up until 23:59 GMT on 30 June 2022.
See: Film & TV Production Restart Scheme – Scheme Rules – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Circular Economy For SMEs – Innovating With The NICER Programme
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £1 million in circular economy innovation projects.
This funding forms part of the UKRI National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research programme (NICER), enabling SMEs to engage with and benefit from access to expertise at five research centres via collaborative research and development (CR&D) activities.
The aim of this competition is to support feasibility studies, industrial research and experimental development that address the challenges of transitioning to a circular economy. This competition closes at 11am on 8 December 2021.
Your proposal must demonstrate how you will create a step-change in the adoption of circular economy approaches.
The project must:
- have total eligible costs between £50,000 and £100,000
- start no earlier than 1 April 2022
- end by 31 March 2023
- last between 9 and 12 months
- carry out all of its project work in the UK
- intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
See: Competition overview – Circular economy for SMEs – innovating with the NICER programme – Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)
Private Providers Of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing
The lists of and information about private providers who have self-declared that they meet the government’s minimum standards for the type of commercial COVID-19 testing service they offer has been updated.
See: Private providers of coronavirus (COVID-19) testing – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
DVLA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
DVLA online services are working as normal and without delay. This is the quickest, easiest, and often cheapest way to deal with them. They recommend that you use the online services where possible. If you apply online, you should receive your driving licence or vehicle registration certificate (V5C) within 5 days.
If you have posted your paper application to them, here are the dates of applications they are currently processing.
Find out the date of applications DVLA are processing and how to access their online services below.
See: DVLA Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Coronavirus: Executive’s Autumn/Winter COVID-19 Contingency Plan
The Executive has outlined an Autumn/Winter COVID-19 Contingency Plan that aims to keep business sectors open to the fullest possible extent while protecting the health of the public and minimising the strain on the health service.
Brexit and Trade Priorities Survey
NI Chamber of Commerce and Invest Northern Ireland are seeking views from local businesses on the impact of Brexit and trade.
Working with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), this five-minute survey is seeking your views on several areas:
- current business conditions
- your investment plans
- barriers to trade
- the impact of Brexit
- how trade interacts with the net zero agenda
Your input will be shared directly to senior policy makers in government to create better trading conditions for your business.
See: NICC Trade and Brexit Survey 2021 (researchfeedback.net)
Coronavirus: Business Closures and Restrictions in Northern Ireland
The current coronavirus restrictions are law through regulation, while others are guidance. Everyone is legally required to comply with the regulations.
If you fail to comply with the regulations without reasonable excuse, you are committing an offence. For some offences, you may be given a fixed penalty or a fine on summary prosecution.
The link below is an overview of what you can and cannot do. It is not a definitive statement of the law and should not be relied upon as such.
See: Coronavirus: Business closures and restrictions in Northern Ireland (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)
Coronavirus: Relaxations for Hospitality and Indoor Venues
The Northern Ireland Executive has agreed a number of gradual and proportionate relaxations to the current coronavirus restrictions for the hospitality sector and indoor venues.
On 14 October 2021, the requirement for audience members to be seated when watching performances in indoor venues was removed.
From Sunday 31 October the following relaxations will be permitted, with mitigations in place:
- People can move around hospitality premises and indoor venues, including being able to stand to have a drink and eat food.
- The restriction on indoor dancing will be lifted.
- The need to maintain social distancing in hospitality settings, such as pubs and restaurants will move to guidance. Whilst the legal requirement for social distancing will now be removed, people are asked to keep close face-to-face contact to a minimum at all times.
- Nightclubs will be permitted to reopen.
Over the next few weeks, further work will be carried out with the sectors to prepare for appropriate mitigations to be put in place in advance of these regulations being lifted.
These relaxations rely on the adoption and implementation of measures that will help reduce the transmission of the virus and allow people to gather more safely in settings that would otherwise be considered higher risk.
It is strongly recommended that venues and event organisers require individuals to demonstrate one of the following:
- proof of having been fully vaccinated for more than two weeks
- proof of a negative PCR test or rapid lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of entry to a venue (a lateral flow test taken at home will need to be logged into the public reporting system)
- evidence of a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 within the previous 180 days and following completion of the self-isolation period
Some venues are already implementing these measures to help keep people safe and provide assurances to those attending their venues that all appropriate measures are being taken to protect them.
See: Coronavirus: Relaxations for hospitality and indoor venues (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)
Coronavirus: Online Isolation Notes – Providing Proof of Absence from Work
People unable to work for more than seven days because of coronavirus (COVID-19) can obtain an isolation note through an online service.
For the first seven days off work, employees can self-certify so they don’t need any evidence for their employer. After that, employers may ask for evidence of sickness absence.
Employers should use their discretion concerning the need for medical evidence for certification for employees who are unwell.
Where sickness absence relates to having symptoms of coronavirus or living with someone who has symptoms, the isolation note can be used to provide evidence of the advice to self-isolate.
- If an employee has to stay at home because of coronavirus and they need a note for an employer, they can get an isolation note from the NHS website.
- After answering a few questions, an isolation note will be emailed to the employee. If they don’t have an email address, the note can be sent to a trusted family member or friend, or directly to their employer.
- The service can also be used to generate an isolation note on behalf of someone else.
- Businesses and workplaces should encourage their employees to work at home, wherever possible. If an employee has to stay at home but feels well enough to work, they will not need an isolation note.
Latest guidance on self-isolating and close contacts
If you have symptoms of or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 you must self-isolate. If you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, follow the latest guidance on self-isolation and testing.
See: Coronavirus (COVID-19): self-isolating and close contacts | nidirect
Coronavirus: Workplace Safety Guidelines
As an employer, you must protect the safety and health of everyone in your workplace. This applies to businesses who continue to operate under the current impact of coronavirus.
Health and safety law requires employers to do ‘what is reasonably practicable’ to protect their staff and members of the public.
Employers are advised to follow some simple steps to help protect the health and safety of staff. Best practice workplace measures include:
- businesses and workplaces should encourage their employees to work at home, wherever possible
- if someone becomes unwell in the workplace with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, they should be sent home and advised to follow the advice to stay at home
- employees should be reminded to wash their hands for 20 seconds more frequently and catch coughs and sneezes in tissues
- frequently clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, using your standard cleaning products
- employees from vulnerable groups should be supported to work from home
See welfare facilities at work for information on the handwashing facilities you must provide.
You should ensure that you follow the latest advice from the Public Health Agency and incorporate this information into your risk assessment.
As an employer, you must complete a risk assessment to spot potential hazards and to make any changes possible to reduce the risk of accidents. You should regularly review your risk assessment to make sure it still meets all requirements and complies with health and safety law.
See assess the health and safety risks in your business.
The Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) provides an example risk assessment template for businesses when carrying out a risk assessment for coronavirus – see COVID-19 risk assessment template
See: Coronavirus: Workplace safety guidelines (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)
Webinar: Global Technical Compliance
Invest Northern Ireland is organising a webinar for companies looking to bring mechanical or electro-mechanical machinery and electrical/electronic products to the global market.
Companies trading within the European Union (EU) know that their products require CE marking – this indicates that the product can be legally supplied and ensures free movement throughout the European market. CE marking is mandated by European Directives, but what about the rest of the world?
On 30 November 2021, Invest NI will host a half-day, intensive webinar aimed at companies looking beyond the EU. They will provide:
- up-to-date and relevant information on global standards’ requirements for product and component safety
- compliance guidelines for key global trading areas, focusing on those that are of particular interest to participants attending
Bringing machinery, electrical and electronic products to market in different countries is complicated, so if you are planning to trade (or are currently trading) in the global marketplace, you are likely to find this event useful.
See: Registration (gotowebinar.com)
Webinar: CE Marking Electrical Seminar
Invest Northern Ireland is organising a webinar for companies looking to sell electrical goods in UK or EU markets. CE marking is mandated by European Directives. Many products are covered by these directives and, to be placed on the market in European Union (EU) and Great Britain (GB), they must bear the CE, UKCA, or UKNI mark – it’s a legal requirement.
The appropriate conformity marking is the claim that the product meets the essential requirements of all relevant product directives and can be legally supplied and move freely throughout the EU, GB and Northern Ireland.
On 7 December 2021, Invest NI will host a webinar to provide companies with guidance on compliance, and assists them to determine the route that is most appropriate, cost-effective and efficient for their product. For most companies, the marking is a self-certification process and involves an evaluation of the product or equipment against a relevant standard.
The course is based primarily on the Low Voltage (LV) and Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directives. It will be interactive and participative, with opportunities for discussion. On completion, participants should have an understanding of:
- the statutory requirements involved
- the technical requirements and compliance standards
- the CE, UKCA, UKNI marking process and identifying the best route to compliance
See: Registration (gotowebinar.com)
