Business Matters – Page 7
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NewsBusiness rates and the need for reform
BUSINESS RATES: It’s not hard to find arguments for the need to reform business rates, a tax which - to most businesses - is life threatening, says Adam Bernstein.
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Is your website legally compliant?
Having a legally compliant website is fundamental to running a successful e-business, says Nigel Miller. Making errors reduces or destroys consumer confidence in the business and can also land a firm in hot water.
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When hard work and hope are not enough
The direction of the pendulum, following the laissez faire approach of the Enterprise Act 2002, is now swinging the other way, says Peter Windatt.
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A helping hand from the taxman?
Tax has to be paid – that’s a given, says Jason Piper. But while most think of the taxman in negative terms, HMRC does actually offer small businesses a helping hand with administration and with tax reducing programmes.
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Changes to fines in the magistrates’ court
‘Charity fined after operating uncertificated vessel’ and ‘Ship operator fined after oil pollution’ - two headlines on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s website that show the marine sector can easily appear in a magistrates’ court, says Stuart Ponting.
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Holiday pay can lead to unhappy holidays
Following the Employment Appeal Tribunal''s (EAT) decision in the holiday pay case of Bear Scotland Ltd v Fulton & another, Mark Stevens says the words ‘timebomb’, ‘floodgates’ and ‘ruin of small business’ were widely reported.
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On the tax naughty step
Other people’s tax affairs seem to be in the newspapers these days – just ask Gary Barlow, Katie Melua and Jimmy Carr, says Jason Piper. Already in the news, their tax position is just an extra story.
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Developments in employment law
October is a traditional time for the government to implement employment law changes and this year is no exception, says Mark Stevens. On 1 October this year, the national minimum wage increased.
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Where there’s a will there’s a way
Research has shown that 60% of people don’t have a will and 47% of Britons admitted they have no idea how assets are distributed after death, says Paula Myers. But you need to control how your estate will be handled…
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Claiming all your allowable expenses
Tax can be an absolute minefield and ensuring that the correct income is declared is vital, says Majid Rasheed. However, what can be expensed is open to interpretation.
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Employers to take a “sickie”?
From the end of 2014, the government will roll out a new, proactive approach to sickness absence, says Andrew Moore. The Health and Work Service will provide occupational health (OH) advice and support for employees, employers and GPs.
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Switch and Save on Energy
In June 2011, energy industry regulator Ofgem said it wants to ‘radically overhaul’ the energy market, says Adam Bernstein. The big six companies will find their incredibly complex tariffs under scrutiny.
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Consumer Law – key changes retailers need to know
Consumer law relating to the supply of goods and services has been getting increasingly outdated in recent years, says Sarah Riding, especially with the arrival of digital content such as downloads and software.
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Flexible working and shared parental leave
The Children and Families Act 2014 received royal assent on 13 March 2014, says Mark Stevens. It makes key changes to the law in relation to vulnerable children.
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There’s danger in dilapidations
The relationship between landlord and tenant is often tricky, says Christopher Sykes, but the biggest and most expensive area of likely discord relates to the dilapidations and repairing liabilities under a typical business lease.
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Payroll – the new playground for form fillers
Real Time Information (RTI) and pensions auto enrolment are giving businesses of all sizes some real headaches, says Jason Piper. But they are something business owners and managers really ought to understand.
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Alternative sources of finance
Bob Hope, the late actor and comedian, summed up quite accurately what most believe about bank lending practices, says Adam Bernstein: “A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don''t need it.”
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Simplifying tax for employers and partners
Like other tax systems around the world, the UK’s regime has grown to be a complex arrangement of rules and regulations that few really understand, says Adam Bernstein. So the Coalition government set up the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS).
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An inspector calls
Recent changes in the law mean it is easier than ever to prosecute individuals and employers for breaches of health and safety legislation, say Stuart Ponting and Claire Pincombe.
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Insuring the future is less expensive than no insurance
No one likes bills, even less so for something that is intangible, says Adam Bernstein. But bills for insurance shouldn’t be dodged; insurance is far less expensive than not being insured in the event of a loss.
