Federation of Small Businesses calls for more help for SMEs as financial support winds down

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) calls on the Government to offer more economic support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as coronavirus-related limits continue and fewer financial packages are being handed out.  Read More

UK Export Finance records “record” year thanks to success of General Export Facility

UK Export Finance has recorded a “record” year thanks to the success of the General Export Facility (GEF), it has been revealed.

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Online sales tax proposal for Autumn Budget

The UK Treasury is considering online sales tax for retailers such as Amazon, Asos and Ocado, after a drastic increase in online shopping and the current “uneven system”, has caused many in-store retailers to be at a disadvantage. Read More

Number of late Self Assessment returns doubles, HMRC reveals

The number of taxpayers who failed to file their Self Assessment tax return on time has doubled, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has revealed.

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COVID-19: Payment holidays on credit cards, car finance and personal loans extended

Payment holidays on credit cards, car finance, personal loans and pawned goods have been extended following the Government’s announcement of a second lockdown from Thursday 5 November. Read More

Solicitor working from home? Claim for an entire year’s worth of expenses today

Solicitors working from home as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic could claim back a percentage of their household costs for the whole year, it has been confirmed. Read More

Coronavirus apprenticeships guidance updated

Updated guidance from the Department for Education on apprenticeships during the Coronavirus crisis has been published and contains a number of announcements relating to employment arrangements for apprentices.

These updates include confirmation that:

• Apprentices aged 19 and older can begin to resume on-site training;
• Apprentices who are made redundant but continue their study element can claim Universal Credit if they meet all eligibility criteria;
• A dedicated service for redundant apprentices will be launched shortly; and
• Temporary flexibility suspending the requirement that level two apprentices study and attempt level two functional skills assessment has been extended until 31 December 2020.

Full details of these updates can be read here.

The announcements come shortly after the Chancellor announced additional funding for apprenticeships at the Summer Economic Update on Wednesday 8 July 2020.

The apprenticeships funding will provide £2,000 to employers in England for every apprentice hired under the age of 25 and £1,500 for each newly-hired apprentice aged 25 or older.

The new funding is in addition to schemes already in place to support employers in taking on apprentices.

COVID-19: The key dates for your tax diary

There are a number of Government support measures to help businesses through the coronavirus pandemic, as well as various business tax obligations being deferred. However, it can be difficult to keep track of all of the dates, deadlines and requirements, with many being amended, delayed or deferred over the past few months. Read More