It would appear that small businesses and the self-employed have once again come into the firing line through measures introduced in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget. For the full 68 page report on the Budget 2017 you can click here. In the meantime, here are the key points affecting small business owners: Compliance with Making Tax […]
Why is everyone talking about Xero?
As an accountant, I regularly receive calls from software companies, inviting me to trial their product. So when I was first approached by Xero I have to admit that my initial reaction to the “salesy“ (although admittedly slick) marketing pitch was to run a mile. But actually, Xero proved to be anything but an […]
Can I still claim tax relief if I lose a receipt?
You sit down to tackle the mound of paperwork in your weekly, monthly or dare I mention annual bookkeeping ritual (click here for why this isn’t a good idea) only to discover you’re missing receipts for expenses you know you’ve incurred. You understand that “allowable” expenses are a good thing when it comes to working out […]
What is a tax enquiry and how can you avoid one?
Tax enquiry, Tax investigation, eek … all sounds a bit scary doesn’t it? And, when it comes to your small business accounts and taxes, haven’t you spent enough sleepless nights worrying about whether you are doing everything legally and above board? Facing up to a Tax Enquiry can seem like a daunting prospect. And I’ll […]
10 Reasons why it pays to submit your tax return early
Who has sat down at the last minute to do their tax return only to discover that there is something they don’t understand, paperwork that can’t be located or that their tax position is more complicated than first envisaged? And, then the problem you discover is that there’s not enough time to figure it out […]
I’m a sole trader – will I need to submit 4 tax returns a year?
You’re a sole trader running a small business. You’re feeling comfortable with the whole annual self-assessment tax process and you’ve mastered Excel spread-sheets. But, brace yourself. The government has planned a big digital overhaul of the tax system with a raft of new tax changes coming your way. The rationale behind the “Making Tax Digital” plan is HMRC’s […]
7 things you can do using online accounting software that you can’t do with Excel
You’re a small business owner managing your own bookkeeping using Excel. But recently, the complexity of the business has changed. You’re trying to muddle through with the same old processes and procedures but inside you’re crying out for some order, some structure (and a bit of a breather). Can you relate? When it’s OK to […]
5 sole trader bookkeeping mistakes to avoid
It’s taken commitment, guts and talent to create something out of nothing. I know from personal experience that’s no mean feat. It’s seriously hard work. You’re juggling more things than sometimes seems possible. You’re trying to do it all. And I’ll bet there have been times that you’ve wanted to throw in the towel. Am I […]