Many UK firms are still facing hiring issues as a result of challenging economic conditions, according to a report from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). 73% of firms surveyed by the BCC reported having recruitment problems, with businesses in the hospitality sector the most likely to report challenges. The construction and manufacturing industries are also experiencing ...

Careers Fairs
We recently attended two Careers Fairs to look for graduates for our 4 year graduate scheme within our Audit department. Brunel University On Tuesday 24th October, we attended Brunel's Autumn Placement, Careers Fair. The event was open to all Brunel students (all year groups and disciplines) as well as recent alumni. Royal Holloway University On Wednesday 25th October, we a ...

Should my company be making QIPs (Quarterly Instalment Payments)?
- If your company makes profits of over £1.5m then the answer is probably “yes”
- You need to consider new rules from 1 April 2023 that bring “associated” companies into play, and may mean more companies fall into the QIPs regime
- Companies falling into QIPs need to be mindful of payment dates to manage cashflow

Firms looking to Autumn Statement for help with rising operating costs
Small firms will look to the upcoming Autumn Statement for signs that the government understands their operating concerns, says the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The business group said that UK businesses need urgent action to help stem the issue of late payment. It says that large corporates use late payments to offset interest rate rises by 'demanding, in practice, f ...

Number of cash transactions rises for first time in a decade
The number of payments made with cash rose for the first time in a decade in 2022, according to data published by UK Finance. According to UK Finance, the total number of payments made last year increased to 45.7 billion from 40.4 billion in 2021. 50% of all payments in the UK were made using debit cards, and the number of cash payments rose to 6.4 billion. The data also show ...

Government launches Business Climate Hub
The government has launched the UK Business Climate Hub to offer firms advice and support on reducing their energy bills and cutting their carbon emissions. The Hub includes a free carbon calculator and a suite of new tools to help businesses measure, track and report on their emissions. It also offers detailed advice on topics, including sourcing products from green supplier ...

Another million savers to be hit with tax on interest
The frozen Savings Allowance combined with rising interest rates will push over one million taxpayers into paying tax on their savings this tax year, according to research by investment platform AJ Bell. In the 2023/24 tax year it is estimated that over 2.7 million individuals will pay tax on interest, up by a million in a year. This year's predicted total includes nearly 1.4 ...

Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings
Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) is an annual tax payable mainly by companies that own UK residential property valued at more than £500,000. You’ll need to complete an ATED return if your property: is a dwelling — find out the meaning of ‘dwelling’ in the next section is in the UK was valued at more than: £2 million (for returns from 2013 to 2014 onwards) £1 m ...

HMRC should increase rewards for whistleblowers, says law firm
HMRC should increase the rewards it pays out to whistleblowers in line with the US system, according to law firm RPC. The tax authority paid out over £509,000 to individuals providing evidence about tax fraud over the past year, RPC's research found. That figure is up from £495,000 in 2021/22 and a 75% increase from the £290,000 paid five years ago, the law firm added. Howev ...

HMRC gives £1.8 million a year to charities to help excluded taxpayers
The voluntary and community sector will be able to apply for grants from HMRC to support their work with taxpayers who need extra assistance with their tax affairs. Eligible organisations need to bid for the funding, worth £1.8 million a year from 2024 until 2027, up from the current annual grant of £1.66 million, through HMRC's voluntary and community sector grant funding pro ...