Month: August 2019

  • Construction industry scheme – VAT and charges

    Few sectors have such an impact in the UK as the construction industry. It not only provides the fabric of our nation – the places where we live and work – but also underpins our entire economy. In 2017, construction contributed £113 billion to the UK economy, while construction output increased by 14% in 18…

  • Pensions – have you got enough to retire?

    Are you on track for a comfortable retirement? All of us dream of the day we can retire, saying goodbye to the alarm clock and commute, filling our days with sun-soaked beach holidays, leisurely rounds of golf, or cruising the world. As delightful as that sounds, the days when people can retire at a certain…

  • The buy-to-let saga

    The Government is being urged to stop its crackdown on the buy-to-let market, following evidence showing the negative effects of a string of tax changes. The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders’ Association (IMLA) said recent changes are forcing some landlords out of the private rented sector. It found that landlords with one buy-to-let property made up just…

  • Are you using your Gift allowances?

    Fewer people should have to pay tax on gifts made to loved ones in the years before their death, according to the Office for Tax Simplification (OTS). Under the current rules, inheritance tax of up to 40% is paid when someone dies within seven years of making a gift. The OTS called on the Treasury…

  • Childcare scheme – are you eligible ?

    Employers are being advised to assist employees with covering the costs of childcare, with the school holidays in full swing. Parents who earn more than £131 a week and less than £100,000 a year are eligible for tax-free childcare. The scheme offers up to £2,000 a year towards a child under the age of 12,…

  • Demand for digital skills on the up and up

    Businesses could be set to face an increasing talent gap in the coming years as demand for digital skills continues to rise. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said 67% of UK firms currently have unfilled digital vacancies. Its Delivering Skills for the New Economy report also expected 95% of UK businesses to see demand…