TaxCalc Blog

What do accountants really think about advisory?

Last month, we surveyed over 300 firms across the UK, asking how practitioners felt about the value of compliance and how keenly they were adopting ‘advisory’ services. 

The aim was to understand how well the ‘advisory is the future’ message that’s been broadcast to firms for the past twenty years or so has resonated – that the traditional model of selling compliance services (those which focus on historical data and the reporting regulations that surround them) should be de-emphasised as a source of revenue in favour of proactive ‘advisory’ services. 

Have your say on basis period reform

HMRC has opened a consultation on basis period reform which asks for views on how best to implement a proposal to simplify the rules under which profits of an unincorporated trading business are allocated to tax years using basis periods.

What you need to know about applying for the fifth SEISS grant.

The fifth Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant can be claimed by individual taxpayers who are either self-employed or who are a member of a partnership.

Claims must be made by the taxpayer and not by an agent on their behalf; although they can seek assistance from an agent in completing their claim.

Have you paid your COVID19 deferred VAT?

One of the COVID19 relief schemes in 2020 was the 'VAT Payments Deferral Scheme'. This automatically deferred any VAT liabilities from VAT quarters falling due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020. Any amounts due between these dates were given a deferral until 31 March 2021.

If you haven’t yet paid these outstanding liabilities, don't worry – all is not lost!

With these three options, you may still be able to avoid the 5% penalty or interest.

How are electric vehicles being incentivised in 2021?

The UK recently brought forward its ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by an entire decade, with the ruling now slated to take effect from 2030. It came as a surprise to many when a scheme that aims to make electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable was cut.

Covid support for you and your clients

To support you in helping your clients, here are the latest updates from HMRC on the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

Mandatory digital links for MTD for VAT. What to do now.

Since the introduction of MTD for VAT a ‘soft landing period’ has been in place, allowing businesses time to get their systems digitally-linked to comply with the full MTD for VAT requirements. This period enabled businesses to use ‘cut/copy and paste’ methods to move data from one system to another before filing to HMRC. From 1 April 2021, this will no longer be permitted. However, there is no need to panic. It is likely you already have everything you need to continue being compliant, or some simple adjustments could be all that’s required. 

The Science Behind Compliance

We’ve all learned the necessity of compliance. Face masks, elbow handshakes, two-metre distancing, remote working, showing up for your jab – it may all be tough and go against impulse, but we understand that we need to comply with the rules. There is a cost to our society, our economy and our mental health, but putting it bluntly this is a matter of survival. If anyone is familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, our basic requirements are physiological well-being, plus safety and security. Though we may not agree with every single rule, we have to act en-masse to preserve our way of life.