Updated 18th March 2020 We recommend someone in your organisation regularly reviews the UK Government’s guidance for employers which is updated daily. This guidance provides details of support available to businesses including : statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs; and the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme to help with tax Other details arising from the Governments announ ...

Updated 18 March 2020 The Government has announced it will delay the roll-out of new IR35 Off-Payroll Tax rules for 12 months. This announced by the chief secretary to the Treasury, Steve Barclay, in the House of Commons on 17 March 2020. The decision appears to have taken following “significant pressure” from campaigners and contractors. There had been representations to th ...

Updated 18 March 2020 There are a number of practical steps that SMEs can take to mitigate the impact that the spread of the disease could have on market demand: Look for alternative ways to deliver services and/or products: Consider alternative sources of supply, ensuring you don’t put your eggs in one basket, either within one company or one geographic region. Ensure you ha ...

Updated 18 March 2020 The Chancellor confirmed the amendment previously announced by the Prime Minister on 4 March 2020 (www.gov.uk/government/news/sick-pay-from-day-one-for-those-affected-by-coronavirus), that the requirement for three waiting days is to be suspended allowing SSP to be paid from the first day of absence as an emergency measure following the outbreak of corona ...

Updated 18 March 2020 Coronavirus business interruption loan scheme up to £2m per loan. To abolish business rates for retail businesses for this year and extend scheme to leisure businesses not currently covered. Long term review of rates in autumn budget. £3,000 cash grant for small businesses who already get rates' relief. £5bn emergency response fund on top of other plan ...

Updated 18 March 2020 The spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continuing to dominate the news, with major implications for public health and the NHS. It is also causing economic disruption and we want to reassure you we have put in place sensible measures to ensure that Ward Williams is well prepared and well positioned to continue to provide our services. So, we'd like to e ...

With the end of the tax year looming there is still time to save tax for 2019/20. Make full use of your ISA allowance - ISAs can offer a useful tax free way to save, whether this is for your children's future, a first home or another purpose. Individuals may invest up to a limit of £20,000 for the 2019/20 tax year. Savers have until 5 April 2020 to make their 2019/20 ISA inv ...

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has announced that employees will be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from day one when self-isolating rather than having to wait until day four under the SSP waiting days rules. The change will be included in a package of measures, to be introduced by emergency legislation, to deal with coronavirus. Updating Parliament on the Government ...

Employees are allowed to claim tax relief on their annual professional fees or subscriptions to some HMRC approved professional organisations. The costs are tax deductible generally where the individual must have membership to do their job or it is helpful for their work. Where the fees are paid by the individual's employer this will not generally result in a benefit in kind ch ...