How can we help?

A UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) number is a 10 digit code that's unique to either you or your company. It facilitates HMRC to process tax returns in an efficient, effective and accurate manner. It helps identifying the person (i.e. whether it’s a company, partnership etc.) so that their records can be managed accordingly. It also helps in ensuring that everyone pays what they owe or receive amounts they might be entitled to correctly.

Tax code is a alphanumeric code used to work out how much income tax needs to be collected from a person's income.These codes generally start with a number and end with an alphabet, for eg. 1250L. The number in a tax code denotes the amount of tax-free income the person gets in that particular year. The letter in the tax code refers to personal circumstances which may affect their Personal Allowance.

Various types of trial balance errors are as follows:

Error of Principle:
When a transaction is recorded in a manner that any of the generally accepted accounting principle is violated then it is called error of principle. There isn’t any effect on trial balance in such cases as the amount is correctly posted on debit-credit sides but the accounts are incorrect. Such errors can cause the financial statements to depict misleading picture of the affairs of the business.

Omission Error:
There can be two kinds of error of omission- complete and partial. Complete omission means that a transaction has been missed to be recorded in the journal. There isn’t any effect on trial balance in such cases. Partial omission means that a transaction has been recorded in the journal but omitted to be posted into the ledger accounts. Such kinds of omissions hamper the agreement of trial balance.

Commission error:
Such errors generally relate to arithmetic accuracy. These include recording wrong amount in subsidiary books, wrong totaling of subsidiary books, posting incorrect amount in ledger accounts, posting at the wrong side of ledger accounts, incorrect totaling of ledger balances etc. These may or may not cause trial balance to tally.

Compensating errors:
If two or more errors are committed in a manner that the effect of one error is compensated by the effect of other error, then such errors are called compensating errors. These errors leave agreement of trial balance unaffected.

Over reporting- Once you file your accounts to Companies House and HMRC, they come into public domain. Over reporting in the accounts can cause your competitors to know your business strategy and they could easily take undue advantage of this.

Under reporting- Under reporting to Companies House and HMRC can cause them to take action against you. You might end up paying heavy penalties.

Filing your accounts well before the due date comes with its own benefits. Some of them are:

• You get ample time for amendment (if required).
• You don’t have to worry about deadlines.
• You don’t have to fear paying penalties for late filing.
• Businesses who wish to engage with you get a timely updated information.
• You don’t haste, hence less chances of being prone to mistakes.

Cash basis of accounting deals with recognising revenues- when cash is actually received and expenses- when cash is actually paid. In this method there is no requirement of keeping a track of receivables and payables. The business income isn’t taxed until it’s received in cash or in bank account. It is easier to maintain. The disadvantage of this method is that it ends up giving biased view of the business as expense and its related revenue might get reported in different periods.

Accrual basis of accounting deals with recognising revenues when they are earned and expenses when they are incurred, irrespective of the date of actual payment. irrespective of the fact that whether the money has been received/paid. This method works on matching principle which means expense is reported in the period when related revenues are earned. This method gives a true and significantly better view as compared to cash basis of accounting.

The HMRC Gateway account is an account created to use online services provided by HMRC. To sign in the HMRC gateway one needs 12 digit Government Gateway user ID and password.

UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) is automatically sent when you register for self-assessment or set up a limited company. It can be found on your:

• previous returns
• payment reminders or notices to file return received from HMRC
• in your HMRC online account
• call self-assessment helpline on 0300 200 3310 to request your UTR if you cannot find any documents from HMRC.
• for a limited company, you can request your Corporation Tax UTR online. HMRC will send it to the business address registered with Companies House.

Benefit in kind refer to:

• Asset or service provided by the employer to employee,
• that is used by employee personally but is paid for by company
• and isn’t “wholly, exclusively and necessary” for business purpose.

It needs to be reported in form P11D. The benefits in kind are treated as cash equivalents and so are taxed as a part of employee’s salary.

A trivial benefit is a benefit that:

• costs the employer £50 or less
• isn’t in form of cash or cash voucher
• isn’t a reward for employee’s work or performance
• isn’t mentioned in the terms of contract

There isn’t any requirement to pay tax or National Insurance or report such an expense to HMRC. However, if employer provides trivial benefits as a part of salary sacrifice arrangement, then they won’t be exempt. There will then be a need to report HMRC in form P11D:

• the salary given up or
• how much you paid for the trivial benefits, whichever is higher

The director of a ‘close company’ cannot receive trivial benefits worth more than £300 in a tax year.

The government has prescribed minimum wage rates i.e., the minimum amount per hour that any worker should be paid. Workers above the age of 25 are entitled to National Living Wage which is highest of the National Minimum Wage. The wages amount determined using these minimum wage rates is called minimum wage.

Benchmark Scale rate payments are basically the maximum tax and NICs free amount that can be paid or reimbursed by the employers to their employees in respect of common business expenses incurred by the employee, without requiring any approval from HMRC.

As per the Pension regulators guidelines, the employer has to auto-enroll all its employees under a workplace pension scheme and also contribute prescribed percentage of the salary as an employer’s contribution. Any employers in the UK fulfilling the below conditions are bound by this legislation:

1. if they employ atleast 1 person
2. such person/persons earn more than £10,000 a year
3. such person/persons is/are aged between 22 and State Pension Age

The period falling between two accounting reference dates is called a financial year. It is also known as an accounting period.

The period falling between two accounting reference dates is called an accounting year. It is also known as a financial year.

Capital allowance refer to deductions allowed from the profits with respect to certain assets purchased which have a useful life of more than one tax period. Click here to read about capital allowances in detail.

When a company is formed, the first accounting reference date will be a year later, on the last day of the month in which company was incorporated. Accounting reference date will then be on this date every year. For example, if a company was incorporated on the 6th of July 2018, the first accounting reference date will be on the 31st July 2019. The period falling between two accounting reference dates is called the accounting period or a financial year.

Business mileage is basically a blanket term for the expenses reimbursed by an employer for travel expenses of the employee for purpose of business travel. For sole traders, it shall cover the cost of buying and maintaining vehicle for business purpose. Read more about business mileage allowance in our article. These can be claimed by sole tarder or reimbursed to employees, as the case may be, at actual cost or approved mileage rates.

These can be claimed by sole tarder or reimbursed to employees, as the case may be, at actual cost or approved mileage rates.

Tax code is an alphanumeric code used to work out how much income tax needs to be collected from a person's income.These codes generally start with a number and end with an alphabet, for eg. 1250L. The number in a tax code is the amount of tax-free income the person gets in that particular year. The letter in the tax code refers to personal circumstances which may affect their Personal Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is an allowance to help people with disability or health condition that affects how much you can work. Under ESA the government provides the applicants with either help in form of money to help with living cost in case they are unable to work or support to get back into work they are able to work. The applicant may be employed, self-employed or unemployed. The amount of allowance received depends on stage of application, aplicant’s age and whether they are able to get back into work.

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is an unemployment benefit the UK government provides to people who are unemployed and actively seeking work. This allowance is provided to cover living expenses while the claimant is out of work. Payments of JSA Payments are usually made every 2 weeks. There are 3 types of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA):

• New style’ JSA
• Contribution-based JSA
• Income-based JSA

Application for contribution-based and income-based JSA can be made only if the applicant either:

• gets the severe disability premium, or is entitled to it; or
• got or was entitled to the severe disability premium within the last month and is still eligible for it

Child tax credit is a benefit that a parent or carer gets if they are responsible for at least one child. This basically tops up the income of the one responsible for taking care of a child. It has been replaced by Universal Credit for most people. New claims for Child Tax Credit can be made if you:

• get the severe disability premium, or are entitled to it
• got or were entitled to the severe disability premium in the last month, and you’re still eligible for it.

It can be claimed until the September following your child's 16th birthday or if they are in approved education or training, you can claim until their 20th birthday. The amount of tax credit you receive depends on the number of children you have, and if your child has any disabilities and whether you are making a new claim for Child Tax Credit or already claiming Child Tax Credit.

Working Tax Credit is a payment made by the government to people with low incomes in order to help them with day to day expenses. Whether a person id eligible for this credit depends on the hours of paid work they do each week and their income and circumstances. It has been replaced by Universal Credit for most people. New claim for Working Tax Credit can be made if the claimant:

• gets the severe disability premium, or is entitled to it
• got or was entitled to the severe disability premium in the last month, and is still eligible for it

Under rural rate relief, a business is not required to pay business rates if it is located in a rural area with a population below 3,000 and is either:

• the only village shop or post office, with a rateable value of up to £8,500
• the only public house or petrol station, with a rateable value of up to £12,500

You can click here to contact your local council and check you’re eligible and to apply for rural rate relief.

Personal UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) is a 10 digit code. It is completely unique to each and every UK taxpayer who is a natural person. Whether the taxpayer is sole trader or an individual earning any income or part of a partnership, a personal UTR number is needed to file a Self-Assessment tax return online or via post. HMRC uses it to identify you for everything relating to your taxes.

The following persons need to file self-assessment tax return SA100:

• A person self-employed as a ‘sole trader’ and earning more than £1,000
• A partner in a business partnership
• A person may file a self-assessment return to claim some income tax reliefs
• A person may file a self-assessment return to prove he/she is self-employed, for example to claim Tax-Free Childcare or Maternity Allowance
• A person who’s only income is from wages or pension but also has any other untaxed income, such as money from renting out a property, tips and commission, income from savings, investments and dividends, foreign income etc.
• Most employees paying tax under the PAYE system are not required to file a tax return. However, some employees may have income that has not been taxed at source and needs to be declared to HMRC. Such a person shall do so by submitting a self-assessment tax return.

To know more about self-assessment tax return filing due dates click here. You can also read our article on self assessment to know more about it.

The following persons need to file self-assessment tax return SA100:

• A person self-employed as a ‘sole trader’ and earning more than £1,000
• A partner in a business partnership
• A person may file a self-assessment return to claim some income tax reliefs
• A person may file a self-assessment return to prove he/she is self-employed, for example to claim Tax-Free Childcare or Maternity Allowance
• A person who’s only income is from wages or pension but also has any other untaxed income, such as money from renting out a property, tips and commission, income from savings, investments and dividends, foreign income etc.
• Most employees paying tax under the PAYE system are not required to file a tax return. However, some employees may have income that has not been taxed at source and needs to be declared to HMRC. Such a person shall do so by submitting a self-assessment tax return.

To know more about self-assessment tax return filing due dates click here.You can also read our article on self assessment to know more about it.

The tax year for personal tax return is 6 April current year to 5 April of next year.

The deadlines for filing personal tax returns (for tax year 2018-19) are:

‘Payments on account’ mean advance payments made for your Self-Assessment tax bill. HMRC assumes that you will continue to earn at the same rate as the previous year, therefore, you’ll pay approximately the same amount of tax in the following year. Each year two payments on account have to be made. Each payment is half the previous year’s tax bill. Each payment is due by midnight on 31 January and 31 July. To know more click here.

The time period for which the tax records need to be kept depends on whether the tax return was filed before or after the deadline.

If the tax return was filed before the deadline: 22 months after the end of the tax year the tax return is for.

If the tax return was filed after the deadline: 15 months after you sent the tax return.

Claiming expenses on actual basis requires the businesses to maintain records pertaining to those expenses. Simplified expenses relieve the businesses from the burden of maintaining records. The business expenses are calculated using flat rates and the resultant figure is claimed as business expense out of the net profits for the year. Once they have claimed simplified expenses you can no more claim actual expenses for the same. You can read more about simplified expenses in our article here.

Simplified expenses can be used by:

• sole traders
• business partnerships that have no companies as partners

Flat rates for simplified expenses can be claimed for:

• business costs for vehicles
• working from home
• using business premises for personal use

All other expenses are claimed by working out the actual costs.

If you’ve never registered for self-assessment with HMRC ever before, then you need to register for it online on gov.uk website. Once you register, HMRC will set up your self-assessment online service account and send you a letter with your UTR.

You need to re-register online via form CWF1 if you’ve sent a self-assessment return online before. For this you’ll need your 10 digit UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference). To know where you can find your UTR click here.

Once you register, you will get a letter from HMRC within 10 business days (21 days if you’re abroad) that will have an activation code for your online account which you will need while signing in to your online account for the first time.

Yes, you can make changes to your self-assessment return either online or by post within 12 months from filing deadline for the self-assessment return for the said period.

Examples:

1. For tax year 2017-18.
   The due date of filing the return will be 31st January 2019. If any amendments need to be made to it later, then they can be made upto 31St January 2020.
2. For tax year 2018-19.
   The self-assessment tax return will have to be filed online by 31st January 2020. If any amendments need to be made to it later, then they can be made latest by 31st January 2021.

The income tax rates in UK for current tax year i.e. from 6 April 2019 to 5 April 2020 are as follows:

The due date for filing self assessment tax returns are:

The due date for paying self-assessment tax returns for tax year 2018-19 is Midnight 31 January 2020 and for tax year 2019-20 is Midnight 31 January 2021

You must keep your accounting records for a period of at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year. For example for tax year 2018-19, the tax return will be filed upto 31 January 2020 and the accounting records need to be kept till atleast 31 January 2025.

Yes, you can make changes to your self-assessment return either online or by post within 12 months from filing deadline for the self-assessment return for the said period.

Examples:

1. For tax year 2017-18.
   The due date of filing the return will be 31st January 2019. If any amendments need to be made to it later, then they can be made upto 31St January 2020.
2. For tax year 2018-19.
   The self-assessment tax return will have to be filed online by 31st January 2020. If any amendments need to be made to it later, then they can be made latest by 31st January 2021.

SA100 is the form for carrying out self-assessment of an individual’s income and informing the same to HMRC. It is accompanied with several supplementary forms to detail out income from other sources like UK property, foreign income etc. SA 100 alongwith relevant supplementary forms is called self-assessment return. You can read our article on “SA 100-things every taxpayer should know’ here

Firstly, advisory fuel rates (AFR) are used when company’s car is used by employee whereas approved mileage allowance (AMR) is used when employee’s own car is used for business travel.

Secondly and most importantly, AFR only covers for fuel expense since the employer is already paying for the car. On the other hand, AMA covers cost of insurance, repair, maintenance etc. AFR can be used to figure out how much of the annual business mileage are spent on fuel, regardless of the fact whether company’s or own vehicle is used.

1250L W1 and 1250L M1 codes or just 1250L X code are temporary codes. HMRC applies an emergency tax code if it doesn’t have enough details about the amount of tax the person needs to pay. M1 is used when the pay is monthly while W1 is used when the pay is weekly. 1250L X can apply to either of these. M1/W1 or X code indicates that the tax shall be non-cumulative. In other words, the tax will be calculated based on the only current period’s pay and not on the basis of year to date earnings.

A “cumulative” code (like 1250L) calculates tax due by taking into consideration rebate on any overpaid tax or recovery on any underpaid tax automatically. Suppose, if a person is not paid in a particular pay period a cumulative code would automatically give him/her benefit of the tax allowances for the no income period on the next payment but a non-cumulative code would not. In cases where HMRC does not issue a cumulative tax code before the end of the tax year, any overpayment gets rebated when the year is reconciled or when the person completes his/her self-assessment return. One always starts a new tax year with a cumulative tax code.

Property allowance is a tax exemption of up to £1,000 a year available only to individuals with income from land or property. This means that if the rental income is less than £1,000 then no tax is payable and also nothing needs to be informed to HMRC. But, if the rental income is more than £1000 then self-assessment tax return needs to be filed. One needs to choose between receiving the property allowance and deducting the actual expenses from rental income. Claiming actual expenses is advisable if this produces a rental loss, as no loss can be claimed if he/she elects to use the property allowance.

HMRC introduced a system called “payments on account” for assesses who pay most of their tax through Self-Assessment. If the Self-Assessment bill of a person is more than £1,000, then his/her tax needs to be paid on account. But, if more than 80% of one’s income gets taxed through PAYE, then this system won’t apply on him/her.

The people who are self-employed need not pay tax from zero income. They are allowed personal allowance before they start paying tax. Personal allowance refers the amount earned in a tax year before you start paying tax. It is also known as “tax free allowance”. The personal allowance for year 2018/19 is £11,850 and for year 2019/20 is £12,500.

Once a business opts for claiming simplified expenses it needs to stick to it throughout the life of the business or the life of asset regarding which simplified expenses are claimed.

The company Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) is issued by HMRC when the company is set up and registered. It is a 10 digit code. HMRC will use the UTR to identify the company whenever it contacts them about tax. The company’s UTR is included in the first letter it receives from HMRC at its registered office.

It is important to note that company’s Company Registration Number (CRN) is not the same as company Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). Click here to know the difference between both of them.
Here is a sample letter containing the company UTR.

A Company Registration Number (CRN) is not the same as company Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). While UTR is used when company contacts HMRC, the CRN is used when company contacts Companies House. Also, CRN is public information but UTR is known only to company and is required to be disclosed only in certain specific situations.

CT 603 is a notice HMRC issues to a company to request the filing of a company tax return for corporation tax, including supplementary pages. If HMRC has sent company a ‘Notice to deliver a Company Tax Return’ (form CT 603), then the company must, by law, deliver a Company Tax return (CT 600). The said Company Tax return shall be prepared for the company’s accounting period that is the same as or ends in the period specified in form CT603.

Income in form of dividends paid to a company from earnings on which corporation tax has already been paid by the originating company is called franked investment income.

It relates to companies who’ve made common law claims in relation to tax paid ‘under a mistake of law’. If a restitution award is made, whether as a result of judgment or an agreement, THE INTEREST element of the award will be chargeable to corporation tax at a special rate of 45% instead of normal rate (i.e. currently 19%). This interest is defined as restitution interest. It does not apply to any element of the award that represents the repayment of overpaid tax.

A CT activation code is a 12 digit code which is needed to activate the company’s corporation tax account. Once you successfully enroll for corporation tax online service, you receive a letter containing activation code within 7 days of enrollment. The activation code is valid for only 28 days from the date mentioned on the letter and you need to use it before that. If it expires then you’ll have to request a new activation code online. This can be done by signing in for HMRC online services and enrolling for the services again. But if the code is lost within aforementioned 28 days, then sign in for HMRC online services and ask for a new code.

As per section 1055 of Corporation Tax Act 2009 the company has a surrenderable loss if in an accounting period the company:

• obtains an additional deduction under section 1044 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009 in calculating the profits of a trade and it makes a trading loss in that period in the trade, or
• is treated as making a trading loss under section 1045 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009.

For expenditure incurred on or after 1 April 2015 the amount of the surrenderable loss shall be calculated as the lesser of:

• the amount of the unrelieved trading loss sustained in that period; and
• 230% of the related qualifying R&D expenditure.

Click here to read about R&D tax relief

As per section 1056 of Corporation Tax Act 2009 the amount of the unrelieved trading loss is the amount of the trading loss less the sum of following:

• any relief that was, or could be obtained by making a claim to set the loss against profits of the same accounting period under section 393A(1)(a) of Income and Corporation Tax Act 1988,
• any other relief obtained in respect of the loss,
• any amount surrendered to group or consortium members.

Knowing unrelieved trading loss is used to calculate amount of surrenderable loss

A Company Tax Return needs to be filed within 12 months from the end of accounting period to which it relates.

The corporation tax bill needs to be paid within 9 months and 1 day from the end of accounting period to which it relates.

The Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is a standard used for tagging business data for computers. It involves applications of computer readable tags to business data such that data is automatically processed by the software. This information is encoded to be machine readable only. iXBRL, or inline XBRL, is a newer version of the language which allows financial information to be presented in a format that is both human readable and machine readable. The data (e.g. Financial Statements) is presented in a normal document format but with XBRL “tags” embedded in the soft copy document. iXBRL thus handles both the presentation of accounts and the delivery of XBRL data in a single file.

CT600 is a form that the companies use to report all the information used to derive the corporation tax liability for the year.

A company tax return contains all the details relating to the corporation tax payable to HMRC. It not only comprises of CT600 and supplementary pages but also Accounts for the period covered by the return and computations showing how entries on the return have been calculated from the figures in the accounts. It is also called corporation tax return.

Yes, you can make changes to the corporation tax return of your company upto 12 months after the tax return filing deadline. This can be done either online or by sending a paper return to HMRC. Suppose you need to make changes in the return for the year ending on 30th November 2018, then deadline for filing the return will be 30th November 2019. Thus amendments, if any, need to be made up to 30th November 2020.

Currently, corporation tax rate is 19%.

Yes, you can make changes to the corporation tax return of your company upto 12 months after the tax return filing deadline. This can be done either online or by sending a paper return to HMRC. Suppose you need to make changes in the return for the year ending on 30th November 2017, then deadline for filing the return will be 30th November 2018. Thus amenedments, if any, need to be made upto 30th November 2019.

A company number is officially known as a Company Registration Number (CRN). It is issued by Companies House immediately upon incorporation of a company. It is unique to a company and is displayed on the certificate of incorporation. A company must provide this number whenever it contacts Companies House.

It is important to note that company’s CRN (company registration number) is not the same as company Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). Click here to know the difference between both of them.

A company is called dormant for Companies House if it had no ‘significant transaction’ in a financial year. If a company pays filing fees to Companies house, penalties for late filing of accounts and/or money paid for shares when the company was incorporated; then such transactions shall not amount to significant transactions and so the company shall still continue to be a dormant company.

A company shall be considered to be dormant for corporation tax purposes, if:

• It has stopped trading and has no other income like investment income, rental income etc.
• It is a new limited company that hasn’t started its business.
• It’s a flat management company.
• It is an unincorporated association or club owing less than £100 corporation tax.

A worker is involved in off-payroll working when they work for a client through their own intermediary, often a personal service company (PSC), but would be an employee if they were providing their services directly instead of involving the arrangement of providing service through a PSC. An intermediary will usually be the worker’s own personal service company. It could also be a partnership, a managed service company, or an individual.

Inside IR 35: The entity inside IR 35 are required to pay tax & National Insurance Contributions on the entirety of their deemed salary, just like a permanent employee would have.

Outside IR 35: The entities outside IR 35 are deemed to be legitimate companies and they continue to operate and pay tax accordingly (as any other limited company would have).

Following persons shall be covered under IR 35 off-payroll working rules 2020:

1. Public sector entities
2. Private sector companies that satisfy at least two of the following conditions:
   • Annual turnover of more than £10.2 million
   • Balance sheet total more than £5.1 million
   • More than 50 employees
3. Any person other than company, LLP, unregistered company, overseas company with an annual turnover of more than £10.2 million.
4. If the parent of a group is medium or large, their subsidiaries will also have to apply the off-payroll working rules.

There are 5 parties involved in the labour supply chain:

1. Worker
2. Intermediary - Workers own personal service company (PSC)
3. Fee payer (maybe)
4. Agencies (maybe)
5. Client - for whom work is being done

‘Clients’ covered under IR35 wef April 2020 are:

1. Every public company
2. Every private company which satisfies 2 or more of the following conditions:
   • Annual Turnover of more than £10.2 million
   • Balance sheet total of more than £5.1 million
   • 50 or more employees
3. Every entity, other than company, limited liability partnership, unregistered company and overseas company with an annual turnover of more than £10.2 million.
4. If the parent of a group is medium or large, their subsidiaries will also have to apply the off-payroll working rules.

IR35 or off payroll working rules refer to an anti-avoidance tax legislation designed to collect tax and National Insurance at a rate similar to employment, where the contractor is an employee in all but name.
Click here to read about IR 35 in detail.

Check Employment Status for Tax service (CEST) is a tool that has been developed by HMRC to help the user in determining the employment status of a person, i.e., whether the said person is employed or self-employed for tax purpose. It is pertinent to note here that the tool assumes there is a contract in place between employer and employee to see whether the engagement can be classed as employment or self-employment. HMRC claims it to provide accurate results and that it shall stand by the result produced by the tool provided the information input is accurate and the tool is used in accordance with the guidance.

A Managed Service Company (MSC) has a separate set of owners and organisers managing a group of contractors. Management Service Company differs from Personal Service Company. MSC manages and controls the affairs of the business, not the contractor. Further, MSC are subject to different regulations by HMRC.

A Personal Service Company is a limited company set up to provide services of a single contractor. In other words it is generally an “intermediary” taking the form of a limited company. This company is generally owned 100% by the contractor, and he/she is usually the sole director too.

Forming a PSC has many benefits. Firstly, the liability of the sole contractor becomes limited. Secondly, it provides a more formal and professional way to present services to their clients. Also, company form of business structure enables managing taxes efficiently.

You can reclaim VAT on following purchases and services made before registering into VAT:

• 4 years for goods you still have or that were used to make other goods you still have.
• 6 months for service.

It is worth noting that you can only reclaim VAT on supplies for the business which is now registered for VAT. Also, these supplies must be used for ‘business purpose’ only.

Click here to read more about claiming back VAT.

VAT flat rate scheme is meant for small businesses who do not keep proper bookkeeping. Under this scheme, the VAT payable to HMRC is calculated as a percentage of VAT-inclusive turnover. There are different VAT flat rates for different types of businesses. This scheme is available for businesses with taxable turnover of less than £150,000. Once a business joins the scheme it can remain in it even if turnover exceeds £150,000 up to 230,000 in a year.

A VAT return generally covers period of 3 months. These period of 3 months is called VAT accounting period. However, your VAT accounting period will comprise of 12 months in case you have opted for VAT Annual Accounting Scheme.

Generally, the due date for submitting the return online is 1 calendar month and 7 days after the end of a VAT accounting period. Accounting period varies from business to business. The deadline for businesses which opt for annual accounting schemeis different.

Generally, the due date for submitting the return online and paying HMRC are usually the same - 1 calendar month and 7 days after the end of a VAT accounting period. You need to allow time for the payment to reach HMRC’s account. The due date for businesses which opt for annual accounting scheme is different.

If the due date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, your payment must clear HMRC’s bank account on the last working day before it, unless you pay by Faster Payments.

If you opt for annual accounting scheme you need to file VAT return only once a year. Your VAT accounting period will comprise of 12 months. The VAT return shall be due in 2 months from the end of VAT accounting period.

If you’re covered under the annual accounting scheme you need to make advance payments towards your VAT bill during a VAT accounting period and a final payment once you file your VAT return. HMRC will tell you in writing when your installments are due and how much they’ll be.

If the due date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, your payment must clear HMRC’s bank account on the last working day before it, unless you pay by Faster Payments.

The amount paid as VAT over and above the value of goods purchased or services availed is called input tax. If the said goods and services are used for business purpose, then input VAT so paid can be reclaimed.

When a VAT registered business sells goods or provides services, then it needs to charge VAT over and above the value of invoice at VAT rate prescribed for said good or service. This extra amount so charged is called output VAT.

Value added tax as the name suggests is tax on value addition. It is a tax levied on value added at each stage of supply chain, from production to point of sale. Unlike income tax, which is levied on how much we add to the economy; VAT is a ‘consumption tax’ that is charged on purchase of goods and service i.e. how much we consume. VAT is an ‘indirect tax’ as it is collected by businesses on behalf of government and ultimately paid into government’s coffer.
Click here to read detailed article on understanding Value Added Tax.

When goods or services are zero rated they are still called VATable supplies. The VAT rate on such goods and services is zero. Hence, a supplier supplying goods at zero rate can reclaim credit on purchases.

When goods or services are zero rated they are still called VATable supplies. The VAT rate on such goods and services is zero. So if the taxable turnover goes above £85,000 the supplier needs to register under VAT.

There are three VAT rates prescribed:

1. Standard rate- It is the rate at which most of the goods and services are charged. The standard rate is 20%.
2. Reduced rate- It is charged on domestic fuel or power, mobility aids for older people, children’s car seats etc. The reduced rate is fixed at 5% on the value of goods and services.
3. Zero rate- The goods and services covered under this rate are VAT taxable and charged to customers at 0%. Though practically no VAT is collected but the businesses are still required to record such sales in their VAT account and report them in VAT return. Zero rate is applicable on books, newspapers, motor cycle helmets, children’s clothes and shoes etc.

Exempt supplies- Some goods and services are exempt from VAT. No VAT is charged on goods that are exempt.

The partly exempt business can claim tax credit on capital goods through capital goods scheme. Under this scheme VAT recovery is adjusted based on the taxable use. As the taxable use increases, a further amount of input tax can be claimed and, as it decreases, equivalent input tax already claimed needs to be repaid. Click here to know more about capital goods scheme.

VAT is generally recorded, collected and paid by the seller. But, if a transaction is covered under reverse then the VAT will be recorded by the buyer instead of the seller. Thus in such situations, VAT is paid by the buyer directly to HMRC instead of the seller.

VAT reverse charge applies to intra-community EU transactions and with effect from 1st October 2020, this will also apply to construction industry services.

MTD refers to Making Tax Digital. With effect from1st April 2019, all the VAT registered businesses with an annual turnover of more than £85,000 were mandated to maintain their VAT records digitally and file the VAT returns through MTD-compatible software. Businesses with a taxable turnover less than the VAT threshold can voluntarily opt for it. Click here to read more about Making Tax Digital.

Zero rated: The goods and services covered under this rate are VAT taxable and charged to customers at 0%. Though practically no VAT is collected but the businesses are still required to record such sales in their VAT account and report them in VAT return. Also, the best part is that a claim can be made for any INPUT VAT paid while producing/acquiring zero-rated goods. Zero rate is applicable on books, newspapers, motor cycle helmets, children’s clothes and shoes etc.

Exempt supplies: No VAT is charged on goods that are exempt, and such turnover is neither required to be reported in a VAT return nor can you claim back the INPUT VAT charged on your inputs. Exempted supplies include sponsored charitable events, Admission charges by charities, Charitable fundraising events etc. If a business only supplies VAT exempt goods, then such business is neither required nor allowed to register for VAT.

A group of companies connected to each other may choose to file a single VAT return. Such group of companies are treated as single entity and so are called a VAT group.

Making VAT group facilitates two or more eligible persons to account for VAT under a single registration number and allows any one of the eligible persons within the group acting as the representative member.

VAT return is basically a form that depicts the amount of VAT owed to HMRC or the amount they owe to you. It shows total sales and purchases, amount of VAT owed, amount of VAT reclaim, VAT refund from HMRC for a particular VAT accounting period.

Yes, net errors made in previous 4 years can be corrected in later VAT returns if the amount of net error is either:

• £10,000 or less, or
• Between £10,000 to £50,000 but not exceeding 1% of total value of sales (before correction)

The difference between the total errors in output VAT and the total errors in input VAT is called a net error.

The different VAT flat rate scheme are as follows:

1. Limited Cost Business: A business that spends a small amount on goods is classed as a ‘limited cost business’ if goods cost less than either:
   • 2% of your turnover,
   • £1,000 a year (if your costs are more than 2%)
     If a business satisfies the condition of limited cost business then it has to pay a higher rate of 16.5%.
2. Others: If the business isn’t a limited cost business, the VAT flat rate will depend on the type of business. Click here to know the flat rates applicable on different types of business.

There are 3 PAYE forms- P45, P60, P11D

P45- It is given to an employee when he/she leaves a job. It provides summarised details and amount of tax and insurance paid by the employee from the start of that tax year until termination of employment. This form includes employee’s tax code that enables employer to calculate the amount of tax to be withheld from an employee’s salary.

P60- It is given to ALL existing employees at the end of every year. It shows the tax they’ve paid on their salary in an year.

P11D- If employee receives any ‘benefit in kind’ then employer needs to submit this form to HMRC. This form records how much each benefit is worth. Employer may provide employee with a copy of P11D.

PAYE payment reference number helps HMRC to identify whom the payment is from and to which month and year the payment relates to.

It is made up of 3 parts- account office reference number of the employer, the end of the current tax year and number of the tax month. If the tax year is 2018-19 then year-end will be 2019 and last two digits, i.e. 19 will become the year code. The month code means the month’s number from the beginning of the tax year, i.e. April-May is 01, May-June is 02 and so on.

For e.g. Account reference number is 123XY45678910

Tax year 2018-19

Tax month is 6th May-5th June

Then the PAYE payment reference number will be 123XY456789101902.

That is [ref: 123XY45678910] [ year end 19] [month 02]

It’s a 13-character reference number that helps HMRC to identify you when you send a payment to HMRC for your tax and national insurance on payroll. It is also called collection reference. This number can be found on

• the letter HMRC sent you when you first registered as an employer
• the front of your payment booklet or the letter from HMRC that replaced it

Yes, benefits in kind can be payrolled if the employer has registered with HMRC for using the ‘payrolling employees taxable benefits and expenses service’. All the benefits can be payrolled except employer providing accommodation and interest free and low interest loans. These needs to be reported in P11D even if you’re payrolling other benefits for the same employees. Further, if company car benefits are payrolled then there is no need of P46.

If the employer intends to payroll benefits and expenses then he/she needs to register for payroll before the start of tax year in which he/she wishes to begin running it.

There is no need for P11D if the benefits are payrolled. Two benefits, i.e. employer providing accommodation and interest free and low interest loans cannot be payrolled, hence these need to be reported in P11D.

P87 is a form that can be used by employees to claim tax relief for allowable employment expenses. If the allowable expenses are less than £2,500, the employee can claim tax relief through P87 form, but if the allowable expenses are more than £2,500 then these can be claimed only by filing a self-assessment return.

If benefits in kind are payrolled then prima facie there is no requirement of submitting P11D form.

However, all the benefits except employer providing accommodation, interest free and low interest loans can be payrolled. Hence, these need to be reported in P11D even if you’re payrolling other benefits for the same employees.

Further, you need to complete and file form P11D(b) to report Class 1A National Insurance contributions on benefits in kind despite payrolling them.

For the purpose of PAYE, the employer needs to keep the following records:

• Amounts paid to employees and deductions made therein
• Reports and payments made to HMRC
• Employee leave and sickness absences
• Tax code notices
• Expenses and benefits that are taxable
• Documents like agency contract, employee authorization forms etc.

The records need to kept for 3 years from the end of the tax year they relate to. HMRC may check records to make sure that the employer is paying the right amount of tax. Click here to read more about PAYE and payroll.

EPS refers to Employer Payment Summary. It is basically used to claim refunds/recoverable amounts from HMRC or making declarations to HMRC. Few situations in which EPS needs to be filed are:

1. For recovering statutory payments
2. For reporting Apprenticeship levy
3. For recovering Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) deductions suffered
4. For informing HMRC that you have ceased using PAYE scheme, etc.
5. For making an election to claim the employment allowance.

EPS refers to Employer Payment Summary. It is basically used to claim refunds/recoverable amounts from HMRC or making declarations to HMRC. Few situations in which EPS needs to be filed are:

1. For recovering statutory payments
2. For reporting Apprenticeship levy
3. For recovering Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) deductions suffered
4. For informing HMRC that you have ceased using PAYE scheme, etc.
5. For making an election to claim the employment allowance.

FPS refers to Full Payment Submission. FPS is sent to HMRC to inform HMRC about the payments made to employees and the deductions made. It contains information like starter and leaver information, employee details, employee payment and deduction information etc.

FPS refers to Full Payment Submission. FPS is sent to HMRC to inform HMRC about the payments made to employees and the deductions made. It contains information like starter and leaver information, employee details, employee payment and deduction information etc.

Employer Summary Scheme (EPS) needs to be sent to HMRC by the 19th of the following tax month to apply any reduction (for example statutory pay) on what you’ll owe from your FPS.

Full Payment Submission (FPS) needs to be sent to HMRC on or before each payday even if taxes and National Insurance are paid to HMRC quarterly or monthly.

Payroll refers to the process of evaluating employee’s pay, deducting income tax and national insurance contributions and reporting the same to HMRC.

PAYE refers to the system of Pay As you Earn. It is a system used by HMRC to collect Income tax and NI contributions from employee’s pay as they earn it.

When you register to payroll benefits on the online service, you select the benefits you want to payroll. Therefore, you can choose which benefits in kind you wish to payroll and which you wish to process through form P11D. You may even choose to exclude employees who you will not payroll benefits for, i.e. for such employees you will continue submitting form P11D.

Registering to payroll benefits in kind is a one off requirement. You do not need to register for it every year. Click here to registering to payrolling benefits online.

No, it is not necessary to payroll benefits in kind nor does HMRC wishes to make it compulsory in future. You can instead report the benefits in kind through form P11D.

Tips and gratuities paid to employees are not benefits in kind. Instead if the employer distributes the tips then it shall form part of salary and be subject to tax and NICs as usual.

The P11D form should be filed with HMRC on the 6th July every year. Any tax that is due must be paid to HMRC by the 22nd July each year.

P11D(b) is used to inform HMRC how much Class 1A National Insurance employer needs to pay on all the benefits in kind they’ve provided to employees.

Yes, if you wish to deregsiter from payrolling of benefits you can do it before the start of tax year using the online service.

Yes, you can choose to exclude employees for whom you do not wish to payroll benefits in kind. For such employees you will continue submitting form P11D.

In order to simplify the procedural requirements for movement of goods between the EU and the UK post Brexit, TSP have been introduced. TSP aim to make import of goods easier for an initial period of one year to give businesses time to prepare for usual customs procedures while importing from the EU. The businesses registered for TSP will be able to postpone payment of import duty until one month after imports. Further, they’ll be required to give reduced information in the import declaration when the goods are crossing the border and give full declaration only after the goods have crossed the border.

Common Transit Convention (CTC) allows quicker movement of goods across the borders of common transit countries. The common transit countries are EU member states, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Turkey, North Macedonia, Serbia. The customs declaration and payment of customs duty needs to be paid only when the goods reach final destination. This facilitates cash flow benefits and reduces administrative burdens.

Yes, the companies need to mandatorily report Person with Significant Control (PSC) changes to Companies House as and when they happen. Beside reporting changes to Companies House, companies are also required to maintain a Register of People with Significant Control. If you fail to comply with these requirements you could be committing a criminal offence.

1. Filing of dormant accounts to Companies house- Dormant accounts should include a balance sheet and any relevant notes for the past financial year. The accounts will have to be filed with Companies House every year, no later than 9 months after the end of the company’s financial year.
2. Filing of confirmation statement to Companies House- You are also required to provide an annual confirmation statement for a dormant company every 12 months. The due date for filing a confirmation statement for the dormant company is 12 months from the date the company was incorporated and then needs to be filed every 12 months. It must be filed within 14 days from this date. It is to be filed even if there is no change to the relevant details.

Note: As long as the company is inactive throughout the financial year there won’t be any tax liabilities and it won’t have to file a tax return. However, in cases when company was previously trading you need to call HMRC on 0300 200 3410 or write a letter addressed at Corporation Tax Services, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AX, United Kingdom to tell them that the company is dormant and that you shall thereby not submit any tax return.

Click here to know more about compliances required by a dormant company.

1. Filing of dormant accounts to Companies house- Dormant accounts should include a balance sheet and any relevant notes for the past financial year. The accounts will have to be filed with Companies House every year, no later than 9 months after the end of the company’s financial year.
2. Filing of confirmation statement to Companies House- You are also required to provide an annual confirmation statement for a dormant company every 12 months. The due date for filing a confirmation statement for the dormant company is 12 months from the date the company was incorporated and then needs to be filed every 12 months. It must be filed within 14 days from this date. It is to be filed even if there is no change to the relevant details.

Note: As long as the company is inactive throughout the financial year there won’t be any tax liabilities and it won’t have to file a tax return. However, in cases when company was previously trading you need to call HMRC on 0300 200 3410 or write a letter addressed at Corporation Tax Services, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AX, United Kingdom to tell them that the company is dormant and that you shall thereby not submit any tax return.

Click here to know more about compliances required by a dormant company.

To inform HMRC about the dormant status call on 0300 200 3410 or write a letter addressed at Corporation Tax Services, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AX, United Kingdom.

A company does not have its own physical existence. The Board of Directors is basically the soul and body of the company. As a result anything required to be done by the company under the Companies Act, 2006 is to be carried out by the Directors unless otherwise provided (e.g. Passing resolutions required to be passed at a general meeting etc.). Most important obligations as required to be complied by a Company Director:

• Ensure that the company has filed accounts with Companies House and HMRC on or before due date.
• Make sure that the corporation tax returns are filed with HMRC on time.
• Filing confirmation statement to Companies House.
• Maintain various statutory registers like- register of charges, register of members, register of directors etc.).

A company does not have its own physical existence. The Board of Directors is basically the soul and body of the company. As a result anything required to be done by the company under the Companies Act, 2006 is to be carried out by the Directors unless otherwise provided (e.g. Passing resolutions required to be passed at a general meeting etc.). Most important obligations as required to be complied by a Company Director:

• Ensure that the company has filed accounts with Companies House and HMRC on or before due date.
• Make sure that the corporation tax returns are filed with HMRC on time.
• Filing confirmation statement to Companies House.
• Maintain various statutory registers like- register of charges, register of members, register of directors etc.).

A Person with Significant Control (PSC) is an individual who meets any one or more of the following conditions in relation to a company:

1. directly or indirectly holding more than 25% of the shares
2. Directly or indirectly holding more than 25% of the voting rights
3. Directly or indirectly holding the right to appoint or remove the majority of directors
4. he/she has the right to exercise, or actually exercising, significant influence or control
5. he/she has the right to exercise, or actually exercising, significant influence or control over the activities of a trust or firm which is not a legal entity, but would itself satisfy any of the first four conditions if it were an individual.

These need to be reported to various authorities. Click here to know more.

The confirmation statement is used to confirm that the information held by Companies House about the company is up to date. It requires information like changes in the name and registered address of the company, directors’ details, the location of statutory records, shareholder or guarantor details, register of people with significant control, and information about share capital. It is to be filed even if there is no change to the relevant details.

Click here to know due date for filing a confirmation statement.

Every company, whether dormant or non-trading, must file a confirmation statement. It is to be filed to Companies House at least once a year, but a company may choose to file it more often.

Yes, you need to file confirmation statement for a dormant company too. This statement provides important company information such as the name and registered address of the company, directors’ details, the location of statutory records, shareholder or guarantor details, register of people with significant control, and information about share capital.

The due date for filing a confirmation statement is 12 months from the date the company was incorporated or the date you filed your last confirmation statement. It must be filed within 14 days from this date. It is to be filed even if there is no change to the relevant details.

Click here to know more about compliances required for a dormant company.

To make a previously dormant company active, inform HMRC within 3 months from the date company starts trading. It can be done by signing in to company’s HMRC gateway account and registering the company as active.

An umbrella company is a standard UK limited company. It acts as an ‘employer’ on behalf of its contractor employees. The recruitment agency shall enter into a contract with umbrella company, on behalf of the contractor who will be carrying out the work for the end client. Another contract, i.e. employment contract is to be signed between umbrella company and the contractor employee. Once the work is completed, the contractor employee shall submit a timesheet to both his recruitment agency, and umbrella, showing the number of hours he/she worked. The umbrella company will raise an invoice to the recruitment agency, which will subsequently bill the end-client. As soon as the umbrella company receives payment from the agency, they can prepare employee’s payroll and pay him/her a salary, allowing deductions for employment taxes, the pre-agreed umbrella fee/margin, personal taxes, and pension contributions (if applicable). They will also reimburse for certain allowable expenses he/she might have claimed – such as mileage.

The umbrella company is created as a special purpose entity to lessen the compliance burden. Instead of working as a contractor to the company yourself and getting stuck in hassles of compliances required to be done by a contractor, one could simply enter into employment contract with an umbrella company and work for the client. In this case the umbrella company shall carry out all the administrative activities like running your payroll, paying taxes and dealing with HMRC etc. Also, you could be able to claim work related expenses, holiday pays, workplace pension scheme etc. All you need to do is submit your time sheet and expenses and wait to get paid; the umbrella company will do all the paper work for you.

From the client’s point of view, it needs not run payroll, provide any employment benefits etc. All these need to carried out by umbrella company only.

A Personal Service Company is a limited company set up to provide services of a single contractor. In other words it is generally an “intermediary” taking the form of a limited company. This company is generally owned 100% by the contractor, and he/she is usually the sole director too.

Forming a PSC has many benefits. Firstly, the liability of the sole contractor becomes limited. Secondly, it provides a more formal and professional way to present services to their clients. Also, company form of business structure enables managing taxes efficiently.

A Managed Service Company (MSC) has a separate set of owners and organisers managing a group of contractors. Management Service Company differs from Personal Service Company. MSC manages and controls the affairs of the business, not the contractor. Further, MSC are subject to different regulations by HMRC.

Company’s accounting records need to be kept for 6 years from the end of the financial year they relate to, or longer if:

• they show a transaction that covers more than one of the company’s accounting periods
• the company has bought something that it expects to last more than 6 years, like equipment or machinery
• Company Tax Return was sent late
• HMRC has started a compliance check into your Company Tax Return

Small company is a company which fulfills any two of the following:

• Has a turnover of £10.2 million or less,
• Balance sheet total is £5.1 million or less,
• Has 50 employees or fewer.

To know how to do bookkeeping for these companies click here.

Micro company is a company which fulfills any two of the following conditions:

• Has a turnover of £632,000 million or less,
• Balance sheet total is £316,000 million or less,
• Has 10 employees or fewer.

To know how to do bookkeeping for these companies click here.

You can request Companies House for extra time for filing your company accounts only in special circumstances. The application for extension must contain reasons for extension and the length of extension requested. It needs to be submitted to Companies House before normal filing deadline. This can be done by dropping a mail at Company House’s enquiries section or writing to:

Yes, you can extend or shorten the current accounting period by changing the current or the immediately previous accounting reference date. You need to inform Companies House for change of accounting reference date in form AA01. The submission should be done before the due date for filing the accounts of period that you wish to change. This change can be done using Companies House’s software filing or online filing services or by sending the relevant paper forms.

The company authentication code is a 6-digit alphanumeric code which is received at the time of incorporation of the company. This code is required to authenticate any document you submit online or making changes to company’s details. It acts like electronic signature for officers of the company. You will generally receive the authentication code via post within 5 days of incorporation.

In case later, if you lose onto your authentication code, then you can simply request for a new one, we can help you with the same free of charge.
Here is a sample letter containing authentication code.

1. If the company is solvent then it can be closed by:
   • getting the company struck off from the Register of Companies or
   • by member’s voluntary dissolution
2. If the company is insolvent then it can be closed by: entering an arrangement for liquidation with creditors

A company which has not commenced trading since incorporation is called a dormant company. While a company which was previously trading but isn't active and trading anymore is termed as a non-trading company.

A non-trading company may be receiving other incomes like rent, interest and/or maybe paying expense like rent, bank charges etc. However, to maintain a dormant status, the company shall not be have any significant accounting transaction.

A close company is a company:

1. which is under control of-
   • five or fewer participators or
   • any number of participators if those participators are directors,
2. more than half the assets of which would be distributed to five or fewer participators, or to participators who are directors, in the event of the winding up of the company.

If you are filing your company’s first accounts and those accounts cover a period of more than 12 months, you must deliver them to Companies House:

• within 21 months from the date of incorporation in case of private companies
• within 18 months from the date of incorporation in case of public companies
• 3 months from the accounting reference date whichever is longer

The time allowed for filing company’s first accounts for the subsequent years, to Companies House is:

• 9 months from the accounting reference date for a private company
• 6 months from the accounting reference date for a public company

When a company shortens its accounting period, the new filing due date will be the longer of the following two options;

• 9 months for a private company (or 6 months for a public company) from the new accounting reference date
• 3 months from the date of receipt of the notice (change of accounting reference date).

An annual confirmation statement for a company needs to be filed every 12 months. The due date for filing a confirmation statement is 12 months from the date the company was incorporated or the date you filed your last confirmation statement. It must be filed within 14 days from this date. It is to be filed even if there is no change to the relevant details.

Firstly, advisory fuel rates (AFR) are used when company’s car is used by employee whereas approved mileage allowance (AMR) is used when employee’s own car is used for business travel.

Secondly and most importantly, AFR only covers for fuel expense since the employer is already paying for the car. On the other hand, AMA covers cost of insurance, repair, maintenance etc. AFR can be used to figure out how much of the annual business mileage are spent on fuel, regardless of the fact whether company’s or own vehicle is used.

Advisory Fuel Rates (AFRs) are the rates prescribed by government for:

1. Calculating how much employees need to reimburse their employer for use of the company vehicle for personal travel
2. Calculating how much employers need to reimburse an employee for fuel expenses that they are responsible for a company car on business travel.

Where the fuel cost is reimbursed at AFR instead of actual cost, for the particular engine size and fuel type, then HMRC will accept that there’s no taxable profit and no Class 1A national insurance to pay. Click here to read more about Advisory Fuel Rates.

Current advisory fuel rates (AFR) per mile are:

Hybrid vehicles: HMRC treats hybrid cars the same as either petrol or diesel cars for this purpose.
Electric vehicles: If the car is fully electric, the Advisory Electricity Rate (AER) of 4p per mile shall be applied.

If the business wishes to claim the cost of buying and running the vehicles, then it will have to keep records of buying, repairs, maintenance, road tax etc. separately. Instead one can opt to claim such cost of buying and running the vehicles at flat rates. These flat rates are called approved mileage claim or approved mileage allowance. Click here to read more about it.

Vehicle Approved mileage rate per mile

Note 1: Sole traders have a choice to claim for actual expenses instead of claiming vehicle expense as simplified expense.

Note 2: The amount so calculated is the total allowable expense for the whole year irrespective of how many vehicles have been used.

A company is called dormant for Companies House if it had no ‘significant transaction’ in a financial year. If a company pays filing fees to Companies house, penalties for late filing of accounts and/or money paid for shares when the company was incorporated; then such transactions shall not amount to significant transactions and so the company shall still continue to be a dormant company.

A company shall be considered to be dormant for corporation tax purposes, if:

• It has stopped trading and has no other income like investment income, rental income etc.
• It is a new limited company that hasn’t started its business.
• It’s a flat management company.
• It is an unincorporated association or club owing less than £100 corporation tax.

The director of a company can be removed before the expiration of his period of office, as per the procedure laid out in Article of Association of the company.

Some other circumstances in which the director may be removed are as follows:

• Immediate removal
  As per model AOA, director can be removed in following circumstances immediately:
  • A provision of the Companies Act 2006 or any other UK legislation prohibits a director from remaining in office.
  • A bankruptcy order is made against a director.
  • A composition is made with that person's creditors generally in satisfaction of that person's debts.
  • A director is deemed physically incapable of remaining in office by a registered medical practitioner.
  • Court makes order to prevent the director from exercising the powers or rights, by reason of that person's mental health.
  • Resignation of director.
• Removal by ordinary resolution
  If the director is to be removed in circumstances not specified in the AOA, then an ordinary resolution needs to be passed by shareholders to remove the director. Shareholders must be given ‘Special Notice’ of at least 28 days before conducting such a general meeting. The director who is to be removed must also be notified to attend the meeting and make representations. Such removal generally happens when shareholders are unhappy with the said director’s performance.
• Removal by court or other authority
  This may happen in following situations:
  • If the director fails to maintain his or her statutory duties and responsibilities.
  • If the director’s conduct is deemed ‘unfit’ for any reason.
  • An official complaint is made to the Insolvency Service by any member of the company or public.
  • He/she is disqualified to be a director by the Court, Companies House, HMRC, the Competition and Markets Authority etc.

Memorandum of Association is a legal document that forms the basis for formation of a company. It is a statement signed by all initial shareholders or guarantors agreeing to form the company.

Articles of Association is a legal document containing the rules on running and internal management of the company agreed by the shareholders or guarantors, directors and the company secretary. It contains key information like appointment and removal of directors, how decisions shall be made, rights and responsibilities of directors and members etc.

Penalties for not filing Company Tax Return by the deadline are as follows:

[Note that if your tax return is late 3 times in a row, the £100 penalties are increased to £500 each.]

Balance Sheet refers to a statement showing value of company’s assets, liabilities and equity as on a specific date, generally every 12 months. It is also known as Statement of Financial Position.

Construction Industry Scheme is a scheme under which contractors deduct money from a sub-contractor's payment and pass it to HMRC. This is a type of reverse charge, whereby the amount so deducted and paid to HMRC are actually advance payments towards sub-contractor's tax and Class 4 National insurance liability.

The Construction industry scheme was introduced in order to prevent the loss of revenue to HMRC which arose as a result of payments between contractors not being properly accounted for tax purposes.

Construction Industry Scheme mandates the contractors to deduct CIS deductions , from the payments to be made to sub-contractors, at either 30% (if the sub-contractor is not registered with HMRC) or 20% (if sub-contractor is registered). The amount so deducted is paid to HMRC and this stands to the credit of sub-contractor's account.

If sub-contractors are not registered, then HMRC does not have any way to verify them since they have no records relating to such sub-contractor. So the higher rate of deduction is meant to encourage sub-contractors to register with HMRC to enjoy the benefit of lower deduction. This would as a result make it easier for HMRC to keep a hold on them.

After deducting the money in Construction Industry Scheme, contractors need to send HMRC a monthly return of all payments made to all subcontractors within the scheme in the preceding tax month. The return needs to be filed irrespective of the fact whether the subcontractors were paid-gross, net of the standard deduction or net of the higher deduction. It should be filed within 14 days from the end of the tax month the deductions relate to.

Yes, exactly. The contractors are merely fulfilling the statutory duty assigned to them by the HMRC. They are actually acting on behalf of HMRC, thereby lowering the latter's burden and ensuring proper accounting of taxes and their payment into government coffers.

The money deducted by contractor out of payments due to sub-contractor is ultimately paid to HMRC as an advance payment towards sub-contractor's tax and Class 4 National insurance liability. So such an amount stands as a credit in the respective sub-contractor's account upon being paid to HMRC.

Yes, the sub-contractor can claim back the money deducted from its payment by the contractor. The way it can be claimed back is different for a self-employed and company.

If the sub-contractor is self-employed then they need to file self-assessment return as usual, recording the full amounts on invoices as income and showing any deductions the contractors have made in the ‘CIS deductions’ field.

If the sub-contractor still owes tax after this, he/she will need to pay it by 31 January following the end of the tax year. If a tax refund is due, then HMRC will pay the money back. Click here to know more.

In case sub-contractor is a company, then they need to claim back CIS deductions through monthly payroll scheme. They cannot claim it in corporation tax return as in case of sole trader. If they do say, they might be penalised. Click here to know more.

In case sub-contractor is company then they need to claim back CIS deductions through monthly payroll scheme. They cannot claim it in corporation tax return as in case of sole trader. If they do say, they might be penalised. To claim the CIS deductions, companies need to:

1. Send their monthly Full Payment Submission (FPS) as usual to HMRC.
2. Enter the total CIS deductions for the year to date while sending Employer Payment Summary (EPS).
3. HMRC will take the CIS deductions off what the sub-contractor owes in PAYE tax and National Insurance. The sub-contractor needs to pay the balance by the usual date.

If sub-contractor company's PAYE bill for the period is reduced to zero and there are still some CIS deductions that could not be claimed back, then these need to be carried these forward to the next month or quarter (in the same tax year). Also, they need to inform HMRC in the EPS that they have nothing to pay.

If the sub-contractor is self-employed then they need to file self-assessment return to claim back CIS deductions . They need to record the full amounts on invoices as income and show any deductions the contractors have made in the ‘CIS deductions’ field.

They need to record the full amounts on invoices as income and show any deductions the contractors have made in the ‘CIS deductions’ field. If the sub-contractor still owes tax after this, he/she will need to pay it by 31 January following the end of the tax year. If a tax refund is due, then HMRC will pay the money back.

No, for a SOLE TRADER the CIS deductions is available to be adjusted against the overall personal tax liability computed at the end of the year. As you know the taxes are payable on profits (income after deducting expenses), you are right in thinking that there should be a refund (at least partial one) every year. But the only exception here is when you fall under the higher income slab and pay taxes at 40% in your annual personal tax return.

For a LIMITED COMPANY, the CIS suffered needs to be submitted through the payroll and can only be adjusted against the overall PAYE liability for the year, and therefore it is very rare to not have a refund. The only essential here is registering for PAYE and then running regular payroll to claim it back.

There are two types of contractors:

1. Mainstream contractors
   If you are into construction business and you pay sub-contractors for this construction work, then you will be called a mainstream contractor. Mainstream contractor includes builder, labour agency, gang master, property developer.
2. Deemed contractor
   If you are not indulged into construction work but you spend more than £1 million a year on an average on construction in any 3-year period, then you shall be a deemed contractor. Deemed contractor includes housing association or arm’s length management organisations (ALMOs), local authorities, government departments.

Contractors are required to be registered under Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) if:

• They pay to subcontractor for construction work
• If though they are not into construction business but still spend more than £1 million a year on construction work in any 3-year period.

Subcontractors should register under the CIS if:

• They are self-employed, owner of a limited company, a partner in a partnership firm and
• They work for any contractor

A person who performs construction work on behalf of a contractor is called subcontractor.

Contractors need to pay deductions due to be made in each tax month to HMRC within 14 days from the end of the relevant month or within 17 days where payment is made electronically. The payment of CIS deductions need to be made irrespective of the fact whether or not these deductions have actually been made.

The deduction rates prescribed under Construction Industry Scheme are as follows:

1. 20% for registered subcontractors
2. 30% for unregistered subcontractors
3. 0% if the subcontractor has gross payment status

If the subcontractors opt for gross payment status, then they are entitled to receive payment from their contractor in full, without any deductions. The subcontractor in such case shall pay the tax and national insurance contributions at the end of the tax year.

Following business grants have been announced by the government to support businesses from the economic disruption caused by coronavirus outbreak:

1. Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG): Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries, with a rateable value:
   • Less than £15,000 will be provided with a cash grant of £10,000
   • Between £15,001 and £51,000 will be provided with a cash grant of £25,000
2. Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF): To support the small businesses covered by SBRR, Rural Rate Relief (RRR) and tapered relief, the government announced to provide one-off cash grant of £10,000 to around 700,000 businesses to help meet their on-going business costs.

Note that the businesses eligible for such reliefs shall receive only one grant per property. Also, they cannot receive bothn SBGF and RHLG on the same property.

Businesses with properties which were as on 11 th March 2020:

1. Eligible for Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) Scheme (including those with a Rateable Value between £12,000 and £15,000 which receive tapered relief).
2. Eligible for relief under the Rural Rate Relief Scheme

shall be eligible for Small Business Grant Fund.

Following businesses shall not be eligible for SBGF:

1. Properties occupied for :
   • personal uses, such as private stables and loose boxes, beach huts and moorings.
   • Car parks and parking spaces.
2. Businesses :
   • which were in liquidation as of the 11 March
   • which were dissolved

Businesses eligible for the business grants will be contacted by their local authority, though some local authorities have decided to operate an applications process. You can check out the website of your local authority or contact them to find out how it works in your area.

Click here to find out your local authority and its website address.

Rateable value is the open market rental value of the property as on 1 April 2015, based on an estimate by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

The business rates relief allows businesses a business rates holiday for tax year 2020-21, meaning the businesses eligible for business rates tax relief would not have to pay businesses rates for the year 2020-21.

Following businesses are eligible for business rates relief:

Business rates refer to the amount required to be paid to the government by businesses on most non-domestic properties like shops, offices, warehouses, pubs etc.

The government has provided the following reliefs if you are finding it difficult to pay your taxes by the deadline:

1. Deferral of VAT payment: The VAT taxpayers will not have to pay VAT payment during 20 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 until the end of tax year 2020-21 (i.e. 5 April 2021). However, the government shall pay VAT refunds and reclaims as normal.
2. Deferral of Income Tax payment: Any income tax payments due on 31 July 2020 shall be deferred to 31 January 2021. This would particularly help those individuals who are required to pay Payments on Account or those who have existing time to pay arrangement with HMRC.
3. Time to pay arrangements: Where the taxpayer is unable to pay the taxes before the due date of payment because of financial difficulty caused by the virus breakout, they can now approach HMRC’s COVID-19 helpline to agree a bespoke ‘Time to Pay’ arrangement. This would help the business earn some extra time before having to make the tax payments without the concern of being penalised. Furthermore, HMRC will waive late payment penalties and interest in cases where a business experiences administrative difficulties in contacting HMRC or paying taxes due to COVID-19.
   If you have missed a tax payment or you might miss your next payment due to COVID-19, then you call HMRC’s dedicated helpline: 0800 0159 559 for any support required.

Under Job Retention Scheme the government has decided to reimburse 80% of furloughed workers wage costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month plus the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and minimum automatic enrolment employer pension contributions on that wage. This scheme shall be in action for at least 3 months beginning from March 2020. This relief has come up to prevent laying off employees in the times of crisis.

Yes, the salaried company directors are eligible to be furloughed and receive support through Job Retention Scheme. So if you agree to be a furlough director, you cannot take any work that would generate revenue or provide services. However, you may carry out duties to fulfil statutory obligations.

Every UK business that had created and started a PAYE payroll scheme on or before 19 March 2020 and has a UK bank account shall be eligible for Job Retention Scheme. This means any entity with a UK payroll can apply, including businesses, charities, recruitment agencies and public authorities.

For applying for the Job Retention Scheme:

• Decide which employees have to be categorised as ‘furloughed workers’
• Agree with the employee on this change
• Work out the amount you’re claiming in each claim period (a period here shall mean a minimum of 3 weeks)
• Submit the information relating to employees furloughed and their earnings to HMRC through a new online portal which is yet to be notified.
• Only send one claim at least every 3 weeks (the minimum length an employee can be furloughed)

[Note:

1. The online service is now available. While applying for the claim you’ll need the Government Gateway user ID and password you got when you registered for PAYE online. Click here to apply for the claim. Now, if you do not finish your claim in one session, you can save a draft but complete your claim within 7 days of starting it.
2. The grant will start on the day you were placed on furlough and which can be backdated to 1 March 2020.]

“Furlough” means to grant leave of absence to employees, instead of resorting to lay-off procedure. The employees keep such employers on the payroll but do not have any work to be assigned to them. Under the Job Retention Scheme if the employee has been categorised as furlough, then he/she cannot take up any work for the employer for the time he/she is furloughed. Also, if the employer decides to furlough an employee then he/she will have to be furloughed for a minimum of 3 weeks.

Please note that changing the status of employees is subject to employment law and, depending on the employment contract, may be subject to negotiation. For further guidance, visit Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service website.

The Job Retention Scheme will continue to apply for agency workers who are paid through PAYE, including those working under umbrella company.

Furlough will then be agreed between agency and worker. Further, where agency provides clients with workers employed by an umbrella company that operates the PAYE, it will be for the umbrella company and the worker to agree whether to furlough the worker or not.

Once an agency worker has been categorised as furloughed he/she should take up no work on behalf of agency or for the agency client.

Yes, you can use Job Retention Scheme for apprentices also. Apprentices can be furloughed in the same way as other employees. Unlike other employees, they can continue to train whilst furloughed.

Apprentices should be paid at least Apprenticeship Minimum Wage, National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage as applicable on them. This means you (the employer) must cover any shortfall between the amount you can claim for their wages through this scheme and their appropriate minimum wage.

Yes, you need to file your VAT return as usual before the filing deadline. The deferral period has been granted for VAT payments only.

Deferral of VAT payment is an automatic offer. NO application is required.

Deferral of Income tax payment is an automatic offer. NO application is required.

Yes, the government has announced a scheme called Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) to support the sole traders in financial distress.

The Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will allow the sole traders/self-employed to claim a taxable grant amounting to 80% of the average profits from the tax year 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. It is capped to maximum of £7,500 for entire period of 3 months paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months.

Those self-employed individuals and members in the partnership firm who fulfil the following conditions can apply for the SEISS:

• Traded in the tax year 2018 to 2019 and submitted self-assessment return for tax year 2018-19
• Traded in tax year 2019-20
• Intend to continue trading in tax year 2020-21
• Were trading at the time of applying for the scheme unless affected by COVID-19
• Have lost trading/ partnership trading profits due to COVID-19
• Further eligibility test would include:
  1. Test 1: The self-assessment return for tax year 2018-19 will be examined. The trading profits must be no more than £50,000 and at least equal to the non-trading income.
  2. Test 2: If taxpayer is not eligible based on the 2018 to 2019’s self-assessment tax return, then HMRC will examine the tax years 2016 to 2017, 2017 to 2018, and 2018 to 2019. The average trading profits must be no more than £50,000 and at least equal to the average non- trading income for 3 years.

Note:

1. HMRC shall use data on the 2018 to 2019 tax returns already submitted to identify those eligible. Changes, if any, made to submitted returns after 26 March 2020, will not be considered while working out eligibility or amount of the grant.
2. You can use HMRC’s online tool to find out if you’re eligible to make a claim. You’ll need self-assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number and National Insurance number while using the tool.

The amount of grant provided under SEISS shall be 80% of average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months, and capped at £7,500 altogether.

The total trading profit for the 3 tax years (where applicable) will be added and then divided by 3 (where applicable), and the resultant figure will be used to calculate a monthly amount.

HMRC will pay the grant under SEISS directly into your bank account, in one instalment. It will be paid into bank account where Bacs payment can be accepted.

The online service to apply for grant under SEISS will be available from 13 May 2020. The HMRC will itself inform the taxpayers eligible for this grant and give them the date they from which the taxpayer can make the claim. If claim is approved they’ll receive payment within 6 working days.

Following details will be required for applying for grant under SEISS:

• Self-assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number
• National Insurance number
• Government Gateway user ID and password
• Bank account number and sort code you want the grant to be paid into (only provide bank account details where a Bacs payment can be accepted)
• Self-declaration that the business is adversely affected due to coronavirus.

Yes, you can avail loan facility under new, temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBIL) to support your small and/or medium sized business’ finances. The major support provided through this loan scheme is:

• Amount of facility provided under this scheme is up to £5,000,000 per business
• The Government will pay a Business Interruption Payment to cover the first 12 months of interest and lender fees, thus reducing the immediate amounts payable by a business.
• Zero guarantee fees for SMEs to access the scheme
• This facility is backed by partial guarantee of 80% by government. (However, The borrower remains 100% liable for the debt notwithstanding the 80% government guarantee)

For applying for loan under the scheme of CBIL you should talk to your bank or one of the 50+ accredited finance providers to discuss your business plan. You may contact them through their websites as the branches might be shut at the present to enable social distancing.

Also, you can read about rules of the scheme here and get the list of accredited lenders here.

Under the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme government will repay employers the current rate of SSP that they pay to current or former employees for periods of sickness starting on or after 13 March 2020. Even if the employer pays more than the current rate of SSP they can only claim the current rate amount.

The amount equivalent to current rate of SSP paid for periods of sickness will be repaid under the SSP rebate scheme. The repayment will cover up to 2 weeks starting from the first day of sickness, if an employee is unable to work because they either:

• have coronavirus or
• are self-isolating at home

This scheme is open for all the UK businesses. The employers can apply for the scheme if they:

• are claiming for an employee who’s eligible for sick pay due to coronavirus
• had a PAYE payroll scheme that was created and started on or before 28 February 2020
• had fewer than 250 employees as on 28 February 2020
• Connected companies and charities can also use the scheme if their total combined number of PAYE employees is fewer than 250 on or before 28 February 2020.

The scheme covers all types of employment contracts, including:

• full-time employees
• part-time employees
• employees on agency contracts
• employees on flexible or zero-hour contracts

The online service for apply for SSP rebate has not been notified yet.

To claim rebate under SSP Rebate scheme you must keep records of all the statutory sick payments that you want to claim from HMRC, including:

• the reason why an employee could not work
• details of each period when an employee could not work, including start and end dates
• details of the SSP qualifying days when an employee could not work
• National Insurance numbers of all employees who you have paid SSP to
• You’ll have to keep these records for at least 3 years following your claim.

In general, SSP is paid when the employee is sick for at least 4 days in a row (including non-working days). However, from 13 March 2020 employer should start paying SSP from the first ‘qualifying day’ an employee is off work, as long as they are off for at least 4 days in a row.

In order to provide financial assistance to large businesses to cope up with the financial distress as a result of coronavirus outbreak, government has announced two schemes as follows:

1. Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF).
2. Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)

All non-financial companies that meet the criteria set out on the Bank of England’s website are eligible to apply for Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF). It majorly covers large-sized businesses making a material contribution to the UK economy.

You can apply for Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) on Bank of England’s website.

For businesses located in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the support available can be found in the following links:

• Click here for Business in Scotland
• Click here for Business in Wales
• Click here for Business in Northern Ireland

If you think the filing of your company accounts will be late because your company is affected by COVID-19, and your filing deadline has not yet passed, you can apply for an automatic and immediate 3 month extension to file your accounts.

If your company is affected by coronavirus and finds it difficult to submit accounts on time, then you can apply to extend the filing deadline provided your filing deadline has not passed yet. Click here to apply for such extension.

Yes, all companies can apply for extending their accounts filing deadline provided your filing deadline. However, companies that have already extended their filing deadline, or shortened their accounting reference period, may not be eligible for an extension.

If you wish to extend your company accounts filing deadline as your company is affected due to coronavirus, then you can apply for deadline extension. You will need the following information to apply:

• Company number
• Email address
• Reason for extension
• Any document to support the application (optional)

Once the application is submitted the Companies House will revert back in 5 days to inform whether the application has been accepted or not. So we recommend all the companies in need of an extension to assess their personal circumstances and make the application at the earliest possible.

Following employees are covered under Job Retention Scheme:

• Employees on any type of employment contract -zero-hours, flexible, part-time or fixed term
• Apprentices
• Agency workers (including those employed by umbrella companies)
• Office holders, company directors) - but only on their PAYE income
• Salaried members of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs).
• Limb (b) workers - ie those on PAYE
• Domestic staff, nannies etc.

The wage cost shall include all regular payments that are obligatory on employer’s part to be paid, like wages, fees, compulsory commission etc. Any discretionary bonus, tips, commission payments and non-cash payments shall be excluded.

The claim needs to be made using the amounts on the payroll either shortly before or at the time of running the payroll. If possible, furloughed worker’s wages should be reduced to 80% of the salary within the payroll before they are paid.

The furlough period should be of minimum 3 weeks. Once the employees join back the work they should be taken off the furlough. Employees can be furloughed multiple times, but each separate instance must be for a minimum period of 3 consecutive weeks.

You do not need to apply for business rate relief. If you are eligible for the discount then it shall be applied by your local authority automatically. In case of any queries, click here to contact your local authority.

Businesses that satisfy ALL of the following conditions shall be eligible for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG):

1. It is based in the UK.
2. It is operating in retail, hospitality or leisure industry.
3. It is eligible for a discount under the business rates Expanded Retail Discount Scheme.
4. The business properties having rateable value of less than £51,000.

With respect to Charities:

Charities which would otherwise meet this criteria but whose bill for 11 March had been reduced to NIL by a local discretionary award should still be considered to be eligible for this grant.

Following businesses shall not be eligible for RHLG:

1. Properties occupied for :
   • Personal uses, such as private stables and loose boxes, beach huts and moorings.
   • Car parks and parking spaces.
   • Properties with a rateable value of £51,000 or over.
2. Businesses :
   • which were in liquidation as of the 11 March.
   • which were dissolved.
   • that are not ratepayers in the business rates system.

Following businesses shall be eligible for applying for loan under the scheme of CBIL:

• UK-based business
• Annual turnover of up to £45 million
• The borrowing proposal which the lender would consider viable, if not for the coronavirus pandemic

The following businesses are not eligible to apply:

• Banks, insurers and reinsurers (but not insurance brokers)
• Public-sector bodies
• Further-education establishments, if they are grant-funded
• State-funded primary and secondary schools

In order to facilitate liquidity amongst larger firms, the Chancellor announced that the government has agreed to a new lending facility with the Governor of the Bank of England to provide low cost, easily accessible commercial paper. This Facility is called Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF). It will provide funding to businesses by purchasing commercial paper of up to one-year maturity, issued by firms to help businesses in paying wages and suppliers. Information on how to access this scheme will be provided by the government shortly.

Yes, you can avail loan facility under new, temporary Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) to support your large business’ finances. The major support provided through this loan scheme is:

• Providing large businesses (with annual turnover over £45 million) loans of up to £50 million.
• This facility is backed by a partial guarantee of 80% by the government.
• This Facility will be offered at commercial rates of interest.

Following businesses shall be eligible for applying for finance facility under the scheme of CLBILS:

• UK- based business
• Annual turnover of over £45 million
• Business has been adversely impacted by coronavirus. This needs to be self-certified.
• The business is unable to secure facility under the Bank of England’s COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility.

Such business should have a borrowing proposal for the lender:

• To consider viable, if not for the coronavirus pandemic.
• To believe that it will enable you to trade out of any short-term to medium-term difficulty.

The following businesses are not eligible to apply for loan under this scheme:

• Banks, insurers and reinsurers (but not insurance brokers)
• Building societies
• Public-sector bodies
• State-funded primary and secondary schools

The facility to apply for the loan is now available on Bank of England’s website. Click here to know full rules of the scheme and guidance on how to apply thereunder. The businesses can apply for finance under the scheme through a series of accredited lenders, which are listed on the British Business Bank website.