Tax credit renewals
There is less than a month to renew tax credit claims for the year ahead. Why is more care needed this time round?
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Accounting for VAT if there is no cash payment
Your business has submitted repayment returns for the last two quarters and you are concerned that you might have underpaid output tax on some supplies where no money has changed hands. Are your concerns justified?
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Treatment of distributions under review
The government has launched a consultation on modernising the tax treatment of distributions and repayments of capital by companies. The proposals could affect the distinction between dividends taxed as income and capital payments subject to CGT. What changes are being considered?
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Tax relief on equipment you haven’t paid for (yet)
The timing of tax relief for purchases of equipment isn’t straightforward when payments are delayed or goods are purchased through hire purchase (HP) agreements. How can you use these rules to your advantage and get tax relief before you’ve paid the final invoice?
Tax credit claims need to be renewed annually in order for payments to be maintained. The deadline is 31 July each year, and so anyone who hasn’t already sent the paperwork in should be doing so as a matter of urgency. However, this year’s renewal pack contains a prompt to consider switching to Universal Credit (UC) instead.
UC is slowly replacing tax credits. It is no longer possible to make a new claim for tax credits, and by the end of 2024 existing claimants will be moved onto UC. Anyone who is in receipt of tax credits can opt to switch to UC now, and it can be a good idea as it can mean the amount received increases. However, it is essential to ensure this will be the case, as it isn’t possible to switch back. A good starting point is the benefits calculators on GOV.UK, but we strongly recommend consulting an independent adviser, e.g. from the Citizen’s Advice service, before making a decision.
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