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Income and work
A quarter of employees have financial problems that are affecting their performance at work. A CIPD survey of over 1,800 UK employees found that 31% of those aged 18-24 are facing financial concerns that they feel are negatively impacting their ability to do their job effectively. 20% of those earning £45,000 – £59,999 say that…
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Retirement income
Median income for retired households rose by 3.1% between 2014/15 and 2015/16, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The latest disposable income and inequality statistics show that median income for retired households at the end of 2015/16 was £21,800. This is an increase of 13% (around £2,500) from 2007/08. The median income for…
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SME borrowing update
SME borrowing is projected to rise 22% in 2017, according to Zurich. The survey of 1,000 SME owners showed that firms are planning to borrow an average of £41,770. This would see lending to SMEs rise to over £50 billion in 2017. Anne Griffiths, head of SME proposition at Zurich, said: “Borrowing can often be…
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Raising business finance – your options
Raising finance for small businesses. Raising finance is a crucial but challenging aspect of running a successful business, whether you’re launching a start-up or looking to expand your operations. You can have the best product in the world, a solid business plan and a comprehensive marketing strategy, but if you can’t access the necessary finance…
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Defined contribution pensions and tax
A guide to the tax implications of accessing your pension. After decades of contributing to a defined contribution pension and watching it grow, there comes a point when an individual’s working life ends and their retirement begins. Your pension savings are likely to be the primary financial tool that you have to ensure you live…
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VAT flat rate changes
Changes to the VAT flat rate scheme could have significant effects on the tax liability of small businesses that currently make use of the scheme. The flat rate scheme simplifies the process of calculating how much VAT a business needs to pay or claim back from HMRC. It introduces a fixed rate of VAT and…
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Starting a business
Things to consider when starting a business. Last year 608,110 businesses were incorporated according to data from Companies House. This is a year-on-year increase of 26,937 on the 581,173 businesses started in 2014. However, figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 55% of new businesses fail within 5 years. In order to avoid…
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IHT and the nil-rate band
A detailed guide to the residence nil-rate band for inheritance tax. The rise in property prices throughout the UK means that even those with modest assets may find that their estate exceeds the £325,000 nil-rate band for inheritance tax (IHT). The percentage of properties sold for more than £325,000 has doubled since the current nil-rate…
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Autumn Statement 2016
Chancellor Philip Hammond is due to deliver his Autumn Statement on 23 November 2016. Speaking at the Conservative party conference in October, Hammond said the government will prioritise spending on housing and business investment to boost the economy. Here is a round-up of some of the potential measures that could be announced.
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Higher earning parents use flexible working
Parents who earn more are more likely to work flexibly, according to the charity Working Families. 69% of parents who earn more than £70,000 a year work in a flexible way, compared to 47% of those earning between £10,000 and £40,000. More than two thirds (68%) of all working parents said their work interferes with…
