Dying Without a Will: How Your Estate Is Divided

Dying Without a Will: How Your Estate Is Divided

Most people hope their estate will be shared according to their wishes. But if you die without a will (known as dying intestate), the law decides who gets what. The distribution depends on the value of your estate, whether you were married or in a civil partnership, and if you had children.(Note: These rules apply to […]

Directors-Loan-Write-Off-Tax-

Director’s Loan Write-Off: Tax & NI Rules You Need to Know

Loans from a personal or family-owned company to its directors aren’t unusual — but when those loans are written off, the tax and National Insurance implications can catch people off guard. HMRC has recently been paying closer attention to this area, even contacting individuals whose loans were released or written off between 6 April 2019 […]

Credit note vs VAT bad debt relief

Credit Notes vs VAT Bad Debt Relief: How to Choose the Right Option

Bad debts are an unfortunate reality for most businesses. When customers don’t pay, it impacts cash flow, profitability, and overall financial stability. But beyond the cash loss, there’s also the VAT question: should you issue a credit note or claim bad debt relief (BDR)? While both options adjust VAT, the rules are very different—and choosing the […]

Why Adjusted Net Income Matters

Why Adjusted Net Income Matters: Understanding the Tax Impact

What is Adjusted Net Income? Adjusted net income is a crucial figure when it comes to calculating tax liabilities in the UK. It determines your entitlement to personal allowances and affects other tax-related calculations like the High Income Child Benefit Charge. In essence, adjusted net income is your total taxable income before personal allowances are applied, but after deducting […]

Lending to Family from Your Company

Lending to Family from Your Company: Key Tax Rules to Know

Why Consider Lending Through Your Company? There are various scenarios where you may wish to financially support a family member—such as helping a child with a deposit for their first home. If you own a personal or family-run company with retained profits, it might seem practical to lend the money directly from the company rather […]

How to Register for VAT

Understanding VAT Registration: When It’s Required and How to Do It

Understanding When VAT Registration Is Mandatory If you’re operating a business in the UK—whether as a sole trader, in a partnership, or through a limited company—you must register for VAT when: Your total VAT-taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 over the past 12 months, or You expect your turnover to exceed £90,000 in the next 30 days alone. Important: If both you and your […]

Claiming Capital Allowances for Cars: What Businesses Need to Know

Claiming Capital Allowances for Cars: What Businesses Need to Know

Understanding the Basics When it comes to claiming capital allowances, cars are treated differently from other business assets. Although business owners can claim capital allowances on cars used for business purposes, sole traders and partners also have the option of using the simplified expenses method instead. It’s important to note that if you’re using the […]