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How to check a UK VAT number

The online service for checking a UK VAT number is available at: www.gov.uk/check-uk-vat-number. This service can be used to check: if a UK VAT registration number is valid; and the name and address of the business the number is registered

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What is a group company structure?

A group is formed when one company has control of, owns, a number of subsidiary companies. A group is different to an arrangement where an individual owns a number of companies personally. In this case the companies would be called associated or

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Connected persons for tax purposes

The definition of a connected person for tax purposes varies. A statutory definition of “connected persons” for Capital Gains Tax purposes is set out in Section 286 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act (TCGA) 1992. The legislation

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Tax relief for training costs

If you are self-employed it is important to know if an expense is tax allowable. Any allowable costs can be used to reduce your taxable profit. As a general rule you can claim for items that you would normally use for less than 2 years as allowable

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Reclaiming pre-trading VAT

There are special rules that determine the recoverability of VAT incurred before a business registered for VAT. This type of VAT is known as pre-registration input VAT. There are different rules for the supply of goods and services, but VAT can only

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Post cessation transactions

Tax relief may be available for post-cessation expenses of a trade. To be an allowable post-cessation expense the trade must have ceased and the expense must have been deductible in calculating the trading profits. This means that the expense still

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Tax and employee share schemes

There are a number of government approved share schemes which offer various incentives to employees. The rules of the schemes vary but they are all designed to help incentivise employees by giving them the opportunity to invest in their employer's

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Is your income over £100,000?

If you earn over £100,000 in any tax year your personal allowance is gradually reduced by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income over £100,000 irrespective of age. This means that any taxable receipt that takes your income over £100,000 will result

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Child Benefit for 16 – 19 year olds

More than a million parents will receive reminders to extend Child Benefit for their teenagers if they are continuing their education or training after their GCSEs. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is sending more than 1.4 million Child Benefit

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Are we unpaid tax collectors?

Business owners often refer to VAT as if it were a cost to their business regardless of their VAT position; whether they are registered for VAT or not. If you are not registered for VAT, you do not have to add VAT to your sales and you cannot

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