So let’s face facts. Start-ups need money, without cash, however little, an idea is just an idea. All businesses in their first stages of operations will need bankrolling by somebody. Most businesses - and dare I say it the ones that I’ve seen succeed - are...

Pension freedoms under threat for final salary savers The Telegraph reports that millions of workers could be denied flexible access to their final salary pension pots if the government agrees to let companies renege on pension promises made to staff. Under the...

Government guilty of two-faced approach to tax avoidance A report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Responsible Tax has criticised the Government for having a two-faced approach to tackling international tax avoidance. MPs said ministers privately pushed-back...

BoE cuts rates to 0.25% as part of major stimulus package The Bank of England has slashed interest rates to a new record low of 0.25%, the first cut in seven years, and policymakers indicated they would vote for further cuts towards zero within months. The move is...

May promises tax haven crackdown Theresa May is planning to reform capitalism and stamp out irresponsible corporate behaviour following the collapse of BHS, Downing Street has said. Amongst other measures, the government will target companies' use of offshore tax...

Small businesses worry over negative rate plans Mike Cherry, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, says plans by RBS to charge interest on accounts are deeply concerning to small firms. The bank has warned businesses that it may have to charge them to accept...

ECONOMY No evidence Brexit has hurt UK economy The FTSE 100 closed above 6,700 for the first time in over 11 months after a Bank of England survey showed “no clear evidence” of a sharp Brexit-induced economic slowdown while the pound climbed to an intraday high of...

A report from the Adam Smith Institute suggests Britain should abolish corporation tax, inheritance tax and capital gains tax, as part of a series of changes to “reboot Britain” post-Brexit. The think-tank says corporation tax should be cut to 12.5%, then 6.25%,...

The construction of a building designed as a dwelling or to be used for relevant residential/charitable purpose attracts the zero-rate of VAT, subject to certain conditions. One of these conditions specifies that, for VAT purposes, the conversion, extension or...

The UK’s vote to leave the European Union has been met with a lot of uncertainty from the business community, so we’ve addressed some of the most pressing questions below. What should I do now? The most important thing is to pause and take a breath. The triggering of...

Several years ago the Court of Justice for the European Union ruled in favour of the taxpayer in the case of Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club. In its judgement green fees paid by non-members to a non-profit making members’ golf club should properly be treated as...

The value of your business assets is protected from inheritance tax (IHT) by business property relief (BPR). But as soon as you contract to sell the business, BPR is lost. What steps can you take to preserve it? BPR basics The reason for business property relief (BPR)...