Category: Budget 2020

key points of winter statement - vat, self employed grants, job support scheme, 10 yrs on bbl loans, delays to paying taxes

9/25/2020

The Chancellor yesterday announced a raft of new measures to support businesses in the UK. Below are the key points to help you and your business:

Job Support Scheme - to replace the Furlough scheme

Government will subsidise the pay of employees who are working fewer than normal hours due to lower demand
Employees must do at least a third (33.3%) of their normal hours
Employers will pay staff for the hours they have work
The government and the employer will pay a third (33.3%) each for the hours they can't work
This means someone working a third of their hours would receive 77% of their pay
The government part of the grant is capped at £697.92 per month per employee
All small & medium sized businesses are eligible for the scheme
It is open to employers even if they have not previously used the furlough scheme
The Job Support scheme will run for six (6) months starting in November 2020 and replaces the "furlough" scheme
Basically means the government will pay a maximum of 22% of someone's wages, down from 80% at the start of the furlough policy

Example:

If an employee (e.g. Mr Bob Smith) works reduced hours the employer pays for that. And in addition the employer and government pay one third of the lost pay each (up to the cap £697.92).

So if Mr Bob Smith normally worked for an employer at £2,000 a month, and then worked 50% hours, he would get £1,000 normal pay plus £333 extra from their employer and £333 from the government.

Self Employed Support - SEISS Grants

A grant will be available to those eligible for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme Grant (SEISS) previously ie basically a 3rd SEISS grant payout and possibly a 4th
The grant will cover three months' worth of profits for the period from November 2020 to the end of January 2021
It will cover 20% of average monthly profits up to a total of £1,875 (previously £6750 and £7500)
A further grant may be available to the self-employed to cover February 2021 to the end of April 2021, depending on circumstances

Bounce Back (BBL) Loans and Covid (CBILS) Loans - time extended from 6 to 10 years to repay + chance to pay interest only

Bounce Back Loans will be extended from 6 to 10 years, cutting down monthly repayments by nearly a half per month after the 12 month interest free period - may need to apply to your bank for this
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme lenders will also be able to extend the length of loans from the current maximum of 6 to 10 years - may need to apply to your bank for this
Extension of deadline for the government's coronavirus loan schemes to the end of November 2020
Businesses that are struggling can choose to make interest only payments for six months and those "in real trouble" can apply to suspend repayments altogether for six months - will need to apply to bank to get this - businesses will not see their credit rating fall as a result, the Chancellor said.

Tax - 5% VAT to remain longer, VAT deferred interest free payments, more time to pay HMRC

The 15% emergency VAT cut for the tourism and hospitality industries will be extended from January 2021 to 31 March 2021
Businesses who deferred their VAT bills will be able to pay back their taxes in 11 smaller interest-free instalments - this will need to be requested to HMRC VAT dept
Self-assessment income taxpayers who need help will be given more time to pay tax bills - again need to request from HMRC prior to deadline

By Anni Khan at Tax Affinity Accountants

Tax Affinity Accountants are experts in Tax and Accountancy. With branches in Worcester Park and Kingston upon Thames and Epsom and Ewell they are considered in the Industry to be expert business accountants and tax advisors for small and medium sized businesses (SME's). Helping and supporting limited company owners and self employed people throughout the UK, they regularly help clients grow their business providing tailored advice and support. Their support has been considered invaluable by many clients and key to their success.

For more information visit www.taxaffinity.com. To read more interesting articles like this visit www.taxaffinity.com/blog. Please feel free to comment and share this with your friends.

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summer statement 2020 - coronavirus update and government policies - key points

8/13/2020

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£1000 Job retention bonus to encourage firms to retain furloughed staff

A one-off £1000 payment to employers for every furloughed employee retained to the end of 31 January 2021 - likely to be a credit to your paye bill rather than a cash payment
Applies to workers earning £520 plus per month

5% VAT for six months - VAT cut for restaurants, hotels and attractions only

Value added tax cut down from 20% to 5% from 15 July to 12 January 2021 for selected areas
Food and non-alcoholic drinks in restaurants, pubs and cafes, as well as hot takeaway food will be covered
Hotels and B&Bs and admission to attractions such as theme parks and cinemas are also affected
Most importantly the 5% VAT cut rate does not need to be passed on to customers or for all items or even at all, so some business may still charge 20% on items

Zero Stamp duty up to £500,000 and 'green homes grant'

The threshold for stamp duty on residential property in England and Northern Ireland will rise from £125,000 to £500,000 - 1st time buyers will gain as will landlords who will see their stamp duty reduced greatly for 2nd homes
Applies from 8 July until 31 March 2021 only
Up to £5,000 per household for 'green' projects to make homes more energy efficient in England - although the requirements and finer details mean that few people will be able to take advantage and it needs to be done via an approved builder which my end up costing you more anyway
Up to £10,000 per household fully funded for low-income households - but be careful you cannot just renew your boiler or double glazing etc

50% Discount on restaurant meals in August only Monday to Wednesday

"Eat out to help out" scheme offers up to 50% discount for every diner, up to £10 a head, from Monday to Wednesday throughout August 2020
Covers food and non-alcoholic drinks - only not other items
Applies at participating restaurants, pubs, cafes only - it is not compulsory all should participate
Restaurant owners can claim the discount in full from the government via an online form - the speed and amount of return is yet to be seen

Financial Support for young workers

"Kickstart scheme": £2bn fund to pay for six-month work placements for 16 to 24-year-olds on universal credit - you have to be on it to be eligible
Payments will cover national minimum wage for 25 hours per week, plus national insurance and pension contributions per person
£1,000 grant per trainee is available for employers who take on new trainees aged 16-24
£2,000 grant for employers per apprentice under 25 hired, £1,500 for those over 25, for six months starting 1 August
Participants can expect to receive £455 per month if they are under 18 years of age, £645 per month if 18 to 20, and £820 per month if 21 to 24
No need to retain trainee after 6 months but they must be claiming universal credits - a good way for businessess to employ young part time trainees / employees and have the government pay for their wages for 6 months

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key points of winter statement - vat, self employed grants, job support scheme, 10 yrs on bbl loans, delays to paying taxes

summer statement 2020 - coronavirus update and government policies - key points

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