News and Articles

Driving License style penalty points for late filing of taxes by the self employed HMRC will be scrapping their system of fixed penalties and replacing with a points system. It will apply to 12 million people who file annual tax returns and small businesses who file...

It was announced by HMRC on Monday that they have effectively extended the 31st January deadline for filing a 2019-20 tax return until 28th February. They stated that they will not charge the automatic £100 penalty for the late filing, provided the return is filled by 28th February. This eleventh hour change of heart is a victory for common sense as more than 3 million people have still not filed their 2019-20 tax return.

Selling low values parcels into Europe Do you sell low value items into Europe? Are you a so-called distance seller? Under the new UK and EU simplification rules, there will be an exemption for distance sellers of €150 or £135 on any consignment. This protocol saves...

Minimum wage up a shocking 9% from April So, an early warning – Minimum wage rates in the UK will, on first glance, increase on 1st April by around 2%. The headline rate for adults goes from £8.20 to £8.36. However, in a concurrent change, the higher National Living...

Tax returns and Covid Well one thing has not changed because of Covid. The deadline for online filing of your personal tax return is still 31st January 2021, just over 6  weeks away. If you still must file, my accountancy practice Baxterworld, may be able to help. We...

As if coronavirus wasn’t enough to contend with, UK businesses are now having to navigate importing and exporting through new Brexit borders.   The EORI number was introduced on 1st July 2009 to trace imports and exports within the EU.  Up until 31st December...

In a recent interview Marco Pierre White commented on the importance of the front-of-house experience in a restaurant. We take a look at ways to measure the effectiveness of customer service in a restaurant or cafe.

As part of the preparations for Brexit, supermarkets have been buying up non perishable foodstuff. How could the anticipated shortage of fresh food affect the F&B and hospitality industry?

With the National Living Wage coming into effect soon, many will be considering how it will affect their staff and industry as a whole. Statistics from Fourth make it seem less daunting for small businesses in hospitality than you might assume.

As the repercussions of Brexit come closer, more and more industries are discovering unexpected ways they will be impacted. For many this will involve a reduced pool from which to hire employees. This particular problem will hit the hospitality, food and beverage...

Childcare Vouchers (Old scheme) – This employer led scheme allows you to provide a member of staff with childcare vouchers worth up to £55 per week completely tax free. You can gift the vouchers instead of salary (salary sacrifice). You save the employer’s national...

Gifts – As of 6th April 2016, “trivial” benefits up to the value of £50 are tax and N.I. free.This covers gifts to your staff such as a bottle of wine, chocolates, flowers etc. However, cash gifts and gift vouchers are excluded from this. Entertainment – You can pay...