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Simplified expenses use of home

If a taxpayer is self-employed and running a business from home, there are simplified expense rules available for claiming a fixed rate deduction for certain expenses where there is a mix of business and private use. The simplified expenses rules are

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Trading income priority rules

There is specific tax legislation that seeks to determine which charge takes priority where two different charges could potentially apply to the same income. These rules are known as the 'priority rules'. HMRC manuals state that for Income

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New advisory fuel rates published

Advisory fuel rates are intended to reflect actual average fuel costs and are updated quarterly. The rates can be used by employers who reimburse employees for business travel in their company cars or where employees are required to repay the cost of

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Government to end free movement if a no-deal Brexit

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal in place on 31 October 2019, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens (and their family members) who are living in the UK by this date will still be eligible to apply for settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement

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Do you trade with EU companies?

The new Chancellor, Sajid Javid, has stepped up plans to help ensure businesses are ready to trade post-Brexit if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. If you trade goods with the EU then you will be responsible for making customs declarations, as is

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How dividends are taxed

The dividend tax allowance was introduced in April 2016. It replaced the old dividend tax credit with an annual £5,000 dividend allowance with tax payable on dividends received over this amount. The tax-free dividend allowance was reduced to

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Deregistering for VAT

A compulsory VAT deregistration is usually required if you: Stop making taxable supplies Sell your business Change legal status Disband a VAT group Join a VAT group Join the agricultural flat rate scheme A voluntary VAT deregistration can

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VAT changes for CIS Sub-contractors

Important changes to the VAT rules for building contractors and sub-contractors are coming into effect from 1 October 2019. In a nut-shell, if you are subject to the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) and if you are registered for VAT, from the 1

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Blind Person’s Allowance

The Blind Person’s Allowance is an extra amount of tax-free allowance made available to those who are eligible. The allowance for the current 2019-20 tax year is £2,450. If both spouses / civil partners are eligible, they will both get an

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New CGT rules for homeowners

Currently, if a property has been occupied at any time as an individual’s main private residence, the last 18 months of ownership are disregarded for CGT purposes. This relief applies even if the individual was not living in the property when

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