Taxation (and can you avoid it?)

Up to a Million Landlords Targeted by HMRC

Nov 20th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Business News, Property, UK Business Taxes

New Powers Come Into Force Next April
As part of a drive to track down tax evaders, up to one million landlords could be subject to investigation from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) who aim to identify those landlords who are not paying the correct amount of tax.
HMRC say that in their experience many buy-to-let investors [...]



Domicile - Having Your Cake and Eating It

Nov 18th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Offshore Tax Planning, Taxation (and can you avoid it?)

International businessman Robert Gaines-Cooper has failed to persuade the Court of Appeal that he has changed his UK domicile.
We read a lot in the UK press about “non-doms” and how they don’t pay their fair share of tax. Recent legislation has made it more difficult for “non doms” to benefit but as usual the only [...]



What is an Offshore Bank Account?

Nov 17th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Doing Business Offshore, Offshore Tax Planning

An offshore bank account can be described as: “a bank account maintained by an individual or business in a bank in any country of which they are not normally a resident”. Basically what this long phrase means is that if you are a British resident and you open a bank account in somewhere like Spain [...]



Don’t Do As I Do. Do As I Say: International Business Deserting London

Oct 9th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Rants & Raves, UK Business Taxes

What can you think when you realise that the chairman of the International Business Advisory Council - charged with safeguarding London’s pre-eminence as a business centre - is about to move his own HQ to Ireland?
Such is the position of Sir Martin Sorrell, head of advertising conglomerate WPP, who announced last week that he was [...]



Using a Limited Company to Save Property Tax

Aug 14th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Tax Saving Ideas

Deciding on whether it would be beneficial for a property investor to use a Limited Company can be quite complicated.
A lot will depend on your personal circumstances but also on what type of property business you are engaged in. For example if you buy property to renovate and then sell on at a profit you, [...]



Quick Guide to Individual Savings Accounts (ISA’s)

Aug 14th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Investments, Tax Saving Ideas, UK Personal Taxes

An Individual Savings Account (ISA) allows any UK taxpayer aged 18 or over to save up to £7,200 each year (for 16-17 year olds this is £3,600 cash) and not pay tax on the income they receive from the investment.
They are now a permanent feature of the UK savings landscape.
Tax Advantages of ISAs

All income from the ISA [...]



VAT Invoicing Requirements – Fines if You Don’t Comply

Aug 12th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Accounting for the Money, UK Business Taxes

As from 1st of October 2007 there were changes made to what information you need to include on a VAT invoice. If you don’t comply then HM Revenue and Customs can hit you with pretty massive fines.
Although fines are unlikely to be levied for non compliance in the first year, business owners cannot be complacent. [...]