fpdteam, Author at Bennetts Accountancy

UK residence and tax

8th September 2022 by fpdteam

UK Income Tax is generally payable on taxable income received by individuals including earnings from employment, earnings from self-employment, pensions income, interest on most savings, dividend income, rental income and trust income. The tax rules for foreign income can be overly complex.

However, as a general rule if you are resident in the UK you will need to pay UK Income Tax on your foreign income, such as:

wages if you work abroad;
foreign investments and savings interest;
rental income on overseas property; and
income from pensions held overseas.

Foreign income is defined as any income from outside England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are classed as foreign.

If you are not UK resident, you do not generally have to pay UK tax on your foreign income. There are special rules if you work both in the UK and abroad.

The rules are even more complicated when addressing the liability to UK Income Tax for non-domiciles spending a substantial amount of time in the UK. There is a concept in the UK of deemed domicile, whereby any person who has been resident in the UK for more than 15 of the previous 20 years will be deemed to be domiciled in the UK for tax purposes.

Other non-doms living in the UK that wish to retain access to the remittance basis of taxation must pay an additional sum in addition to the tax on any income or gains remitted. This sum is known as the Remittance Basis Charge.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 05-09-2022

Interest rates on student loans from September 2022

8th September 2022 by fpdteam

Student loans are part of the government’s financial support package for students in higher education in the UK. They are available to help students meet their expenses while they are studying. It is HMRC’s responsibility to collect repayments where the borrower is working in the UK. The Student Loans Company (SLC) is responsible for collecting the loans of borrowers outside the UK tax system.

The interest rates that will apply for the 2022-23 academic year were announced in August. Earlier in the summer, the government had announced that student loan borrowers faced a 12% interest rate from September 2022. The government announced in June that there would be a cap of 7.3% on student loan interest rates for current graduate borrowers to protect them from a rise in inflation. This interest rate was calculating using predicted market rates. The actual market rate reduced to 6.3%, so the cap has been lowered to this figure.

The 6.3% rate will apply to student loan borrowers on Plan 2 (undergraduate) and Plan 3 (Postgraduate) loans. This change will impact the total value of the loan, but there is no difference in the monthly repayments paid.

A spokesperson for the Student Loans Company said:

'The change in interest rates is automatically applied so customers don’t need to take any action. We encourage customers to use SLC’s online repayment service to regularly check their loan balance and repayment information, as well as ensure their contact information is up-to-date.'

There are also new measures that will apply from 2023-24 to ensure that new graduates will not, in real terms, repay more than they borrow.

Source:Department for Education| 05-09-2022

Back to school – help with childcare costs

8th September 2022 by fpdteam

As children have returned to school, HMRC is reminding parents that they may be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) to help pay for breakfast and after school clubs.

The TFC scheme can help parents of children aged up to 11 years old (17 for those with certain disabilities). The TFC scheme supports working families with their childcare costs. There are many registered childcare providers including childminders, breakfast and after school clubs and approved play schemes signed up across the UK. Parents can pay into their account regularly and save up their TFC allowance to use during school holidays.

The TFC scheme provides for a government top-up on parental contributions. For every £8 contributed by parents an additional £2 top up payment will be funded by Government up to a maximum total of £10,000 per child per year. This will give parents an annual savings of up to £2,000 per child (and up to £4,000 for disabled children until the age of 17) in childcare costs.

The TFC scheme is open to all qualifying parents including the self-employed and those on a minimum wage. The scheme is also available to parents on paid sick leave as well as those on paid and unpaid statutory maternity, paternity and adoption leave. In order to be eligible to use the scheme parents will have to be in work at least 16 hours per week and earn at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage. If either parent earns more than £100,000, both parents are unable to use the scheme.

HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

‘Tax-Free Childcare can make a big difference to families, helping with the bills for things like wraparound care for school children, nurseries, childminders and holiday clubs. It’s easy to register – search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’ on GOV.UK.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 05-09-2022

PAYE Settlement Agreements

8th September 2022 by fpdteam

A PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA) allows employers to make one annual payment to cover all the tax and National Insurance due on small or irregular taxable expenses or benefits for employees.

The expenses or benefits included in a PSA must be defined as one of the following;

minor – e.g., a small birthday present;
irregular – e.g., one-off relocation expenses over £8,000 (these are tax-free below £8,000); and
impracticable (difficult to work out the value of or divide up between individual employees) – e.g., shared cars or taxi journeys.

Employers that are required to notify HMRC of the value of items included in a PAYE settlement agreement (PSA) must do so using form PSA1.

The deadline for applying for a PSA for 2021-22 expired on 5 July 2022. Any tax or National Insurance due for 2021-22 under a PSA must be paid electronically to clear into HMRC’s bank account by 22 October 2022. Employers that pay by cheque must ensure that the payment reaches HMRC’s Accounts Office by 19 October 2022. There may be interest and / or a late payment penalty due where the payment is made late.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 05-09-2022

Company Share Option Plans

1st September 2022 by fpdteam

There are a number of government approved share schemes which offer tax advantages to employees. One of these schemes is known as the Company Share Option Plans (CSOP). Under a CSOP, employees do not pay Income Tax or NICs provided the qualifying conditions are met. This applies to a qualifying option to buy up to £30,000 worth of shares at a fixed price. However, there may be a CGT liability when the shares are eventually sold.

The rules state you will not be chargeable to Income Tax if you exercise your options at a time when the CSOP scheme remains tax-advantaged and:

The exercise occurs between 3 and 10 years from the date of grant.
Where the plan rules allow, you cease employment within 3 years of the date of grant and you exercise within 6 months of the date you ceased for one of the following reasons:
- injury or disability
- redundancy
- retirement
Where the plan rules allow, and you exercise your option within three years of the date of grant and within six months of the ‘event’ because:
- your employment is transferred under the TUPE regulations;
- your employer has been sold or transferred out of the group; and
- you wish to accept a cash takeover offer for the shares, subject to certain conditions (the scheme organiser will advise you if this applies).
Where the plan rules allow your executors to exercise your options within twelve months of the date of your death.

The exercise of an option in all other circumstances will be chargeable to Income Tax.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 30-08-2022

Overdrawn director’s loan account

1st September 2022 by fpdteam

An overdrawn director's loan account is created when a director (or other close family member) 'borrows' money from their company. Many companies, particularly 'close' private companies, pay for personal expenses of directors using company funds. Where these payments do not form part of a director’s remuneration, they are usually posted to the director’s loan account (DLA).

The DLA can represent cash drawn by a director as well as other drawings by a director (including personal bills paid by the company). Whilst it is quite common for small company accounts to show an overdrawn position on a DLA, this can create some unwelcome consequences for both the company and the director. The rules are further complicated if the loan is for more than £10,000 as interest must be charged.

There are also further Income Tax costs if the loan is written off or 'released' (not repaid) by the company. If this happens, the company must deduct Class 1 National Insurance through the company’s payroll. The director will be required to pay Income Tax on the loan through their Self-Assessment tax return.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 30-08-2022

Farming – using the herd basis

1st September 2022 by fpdteam

There are special rules which can apply to farmers and market gardeners that prepare their accounts on accruals basis. This includes special rules for farmers’ averaging relief, dealing with losses and the treatment of compensation for compulsory slaughter.

The special rules also refer to the use of the herd basis. The herd basis is a special method of calculating profits or losses which may be used by farmers who keep production livestock. Usually, farm animals are treated as trading stock. However, under the herd basis a herd or flock of production animals is excluded from trading stock and treated, in most but not all circumstances, like a capital asset.

Any farmer that wishes to use the herd basis must elect to do so. Where a herd basis election is in force, the treatment for calculating farming profits of the herd or herds covered by the election is governed by special rules. The herd basis rule can also apply where animals are jointly owned, for example, in some share-farming arrangements.

From the farmer’s point of view, the main benefits are likely to be that:

the cost of maintaining the herd can be charged against tax; and
any profit on its eventual disposal will be tax-free.

Note, that these special rules do not apply to farmers and market gardeners who calculate their profits using the cash basis.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 30-08-2022

Still time to claim super-deduction

1st September 2022 by fpdteam

There is still time to claim the super-deduction allowance that offers 130% first-year tax relief. The deduction is available to companies until March 2023. The super-deduction is designed to help incorporated businesses finance expansion in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and to help drive growth.

The super-deduction tax break was introduced on 1 April 2021 and allows businesses to deduct 130% of the cost of any qualifying investment on most new plant and equipment investments that would ordinarily qualify for 18% main rate writing down allowances. This means that for every £1 businesses invest they can reduce their tax bill by up to 25p.

In addition, an enhanced first year allowance of 50% on qualifying special rate assets also applies expenditure within the same period. This includes most new plant and machinery investments that would ordinarily qualify for 6% special rate writing down allowances.

Only companies can claim the the super-deduction. This means that self-employed traders are unable to benefit. However, they could benefit from the temporary increase in the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) cap to £1 million. The AIA allows for a 100% tax deduction on qualifying expenditure on plant and machinery. The temporary limit of £1 million will also remain in place until 31 March 2023 before reverting to the usual £200,000 limit.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 30-08-2022

Working from home

1st September 2022 by fpdteam

If you receive no compensation from your employer, you can still claim tax relief for certain costs that arise when working from home. HMRC will usually allow you to claim tax relief if you use your own money for things that you must buy for your job, and you only use these items for work. You must make a claim within four years of the end of the tax year that you spent the money.

Costs you may be able to claim for include:

if you purchase your own uniforms, work clothing and tools for work;
the cost of repairing or replacing small tools you need to do your job as an employee (for example, scissors or an electric drill); and
cleaning, repairing or replacing specialist clothing (for example, a uniform or safety boots).

A claim for valid purchases can be made to recover actual costs or as a 'flat rate deduction'. However, you cannot make a claim for relief on the initial cost of buying small tools or clothing for work.

You may also be able to claim tax relief for using your own vehicle, be it a car, van, motorcycle or bike. As a general rule, there is no tax relief for ordinary commuting to and from your work. The rules are different for temporary workplaces where the expense is usually allowable. You should also be able to claim if you use your own vehicle to undertake other business-related mileage.

Please note, if you have agreed with your employer to work at home voluntarily, or if you choose to work at home, you cannot claim tax relief on the bills you have to pay. If you previously claimed tax relief when you worked from home because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you may no longer be eligible for relief.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 30-08-2022

How dividends are taxed

1st September 2022 by fpdteam

The dividend tax allowance was first introduced in 2016 and replaced the old dividend tax credit with an annual £5,000 dividend allowance. Tax was payable on dividends received over this amount. The tax-free dividend allowance was reduced to £2,000 with effect from 6 April 2018 and remains fixed at that level ever since. The 1.25% increase in NIC contributions that came into effect on 6 April 2022 was mirrored by a similar increase in the tax charge on dividends.

This means that the tax rates for dividends received in 2022-23 (in excess of the dividend tax allowance) are taxed as follows:

8.75% for basic rate taxpayers will pay tax on dividends;
33.75% for higher rate taxpayers will pay tax on dividends; and
39.35% for additional rate taxpayers will pay tax on dividends.

Dividends that fall within your Personal Allowance do not count towards your dividend allowance. Depending on your other income sources and the amount of dividends received, you may pay tax at more than one rate on dividends received.

If you receive up to £10,000 in dividends, you can ask HMRC to change your tax code and the tax due will be taken from your wages or pension or you can enter the dividends on your Self-Assessment tax return if you already complete a return. You do not need to notify HMRC if the dividends you receive are within your dividend allowance for the tax year.

If you have received over £10,000 in dividends, you will need to complete a Self-Assessment tax return. If you do not usually send a tax return, you will need to register by 5 October following the tax year in which you received the relevant dividend income.

Source:HM Revenue & Customs| 30-08-2022