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Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) applies to the sale of a business, shares in a trading company or an individual’s interest in a trading partnership. When the relief if available, Capital Gains Tax (CGT) of 10% is payable in place of the standard rate. This can mean a substantial CGT saving for someone looking to exit from their business. There are a number of qualifying conditions that must be met in order to qualify for the relief. BADR used to be known as Entrepreneurs’ Relief before 6 April 2020. The name change did not affect the...

There are special rules concerning the liability to IHT of a transfer made during one’s lifetime. For example, most gifts made during a person's life are not subject to tax at the time of the gift. These lifetime transfers are known as 'potentially exempt transfers' or 'PETs'. These gifts or transfers achieve their potential of becoming exempt from IHT if the taxpayer survives for more than seven years after making the gift. If the taxpayer dies within three years of making the gift, then the IHT position is as if the gift was made on death. A...

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is normally charged at a simple flat rate of 20% and this applies to most chargeable gains made by individuals. If taxpayers only pay basic rate tax and make a small capital gain, they may only be subject to a reduced rate of 10%. Once the total of taxable income and gains exceed the higher rate threshold, the excess will be subject to 20% CGT. A higher rate of CGT applies to gains on the disposal of residential property (apart from a principal private residence). The rates are 18% for basic rate taxpayers (2023-24:...

The Corporation Tax Main Rate applies to companies with profits in excess of £250,000. The applicable rate is currently 25%. A Small Profit Rate (SPR) of 19% applies to companies with profits of up to £50,000. Where a company has profits between £50,000 and £250,000 a marginal rate of Corporation Tax applies that bridges the gap between the lower and upper limits. The lower and upper limits are proportionately reduced for short accounting periods of less than 12 months and where there are associated companies. The effect of marginal relief is...

The Let Property Campaign provides landlords who have undeclared income from residential property lettings in the UK or abroad with an opportunity to regularise their affairs by disclosing any outstanding liabilities whether due to misunderstanding the tax rules or because of deliberate tax evasion. Participation in the campaign is open to all residential property landlords with undisclosed taxes. The campaign is not suitable for those letting out non-residential properties. Landlords who do not avail of the opportunity and are targeted by...

The VAT Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) Scheme applies to goods imported in consignments with a value of £135 or less (known as low value goods) from countries outside the EU and Northern Ireland, to consumers in the EU, Northern Ireland, or both. The IOSS Scheme can be used to report and pay VAT due on imports of low value goods to consumers (B2C sales) in the EU, Northern Ireland, or both. To use the scheme your goods must: be located in a country outside the EU and Northern Ireland at the point of sale; have a consignment value of £135 or...

In the coming months we will start to see how our new government intends to change the UK tax rules to further its economic growth agenda. Whatever they decide to do, readers who presently benefit from tax and/or business planning strategies, should be prepared to revise their plans as fiscal changes are announced. For example, if you are considering the disposal of assets at a profit, then any gain may be subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT). If the Chancellor changes the CGT rates, perhaps by treating capital gains as income for tax purposes...

Ever wondered how your stake in your business is represented in your accounts? The answer can be found at the bottom of your balance sheet. Simply put it is the value of your physical business assets less any liabilities; usually described as net assets. But this is not the full story as there is a further intangible asset that is generally omitted from your accounts. It’s called goodwill. It is the extra value a buyer is willing to pay, over and above the net assets value of your business, for the rights to your customer lists and other...

Two separate £1,000 tax allowances for property and trading income were introduced in April 2017. If you have both types of income highlighted below, then you can claim a £1,000 allowance for each. The £1,000 exemptions from tax apply to: If you make up to £1,000 from self-employment, casual services (such as babysitting or gardening) or hiring personal equipment (such as power tools). This is known as the trading allowance. If your annual gross property income is £1,000 or less, from one or more property businesses you will not have to...

The Employment Allowance benefits eligible employers by reducing their National Insurance liability. The current allowance is £5,000. An employer can claim less than the maximum if this covers their total Class 1 NIC bill. The allowance is only available to employers that have employer NIC liabilities of under £100,000 in the previous tax year. Connected employers or those with multiple PAYE schemes will have their contributions aggregated to assess eligibility for the allowance. The Employment Allowance can be used against employer Class 1...