Less than one month to tax return filing deadline
A new press release from HMRC has highlighted that 49,317 taxpayers took the time to file their tax returns online over the New Year holiday. It is estimated that over 6.5 million taxpayers have already filed their tax returns for 2022-23. This leaves almost 5.7 million taxpayers that are yet to
Beware higher rate tax on dividends
Readers are reminded that if the dividends they draw from their company, when added to their other income, exceeds the basic rate Income Tax Band, then much higher rates of dividend tax will apply.
The tax rates for dividends received (in excess of the current £1,000 dividend tax allowance) are as
What happens if your income exceeds £100K 2023-24?
If you earn over £100,000 in any tax year your personal allowance is gradually reduced by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income over £100,000 irrespective of age. This means that any taxable receipt that takes your income over £100,000 will result in a reduction in personal tax allowances.
Helpline delays at HMRC
HMRC’s self-assessment (SA) helpline will focus on priority queries from 11 December until 31 January. Whilst the helpline is focusing on priority calls in the run-up to the filing deadline, other enquiries will be directed to HMRC’s online digital services, including online guidance, digital
Help to pay your tax this month
If you are having trouble paying your tax on time you may be eligible to receive support from HMRC by applying for an instalment payment plan. An online payment plan for self-assessment tax bills can be used to set up arrangements for paying tax liabilities of up to £30,000.
The large majority of
Rent-a-room relief
The rent-a-room scheme is a set of special rules designed to help homeowners who rent-a-room in their home. If you are using this scheme, you should ensure that rents received from lodgers during the current tax year do no exceed £7,500. The tax exemption is automatic if you earn less than £7,500
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
The Cost of Living support package has been designed to help over 8 million households in receipt of mean tested benefits. The details for Cost of Living Payments due in the 2023-24 tax year were published earlier this year and have recently been updated.
Eligible recipients will receive up to
Income Tax – £5,000 savings zero rate band
If you have taxable income of less than £17,570 in 2023-24 tax year you will have no tax to pay on interest received. This figure is calculated by adding the £5,000 starting rate limit for savings (where 0% of the interest is taxable) to the current £12,570 personal allowance. However, it is
The badges of trade
The ‘badges of trade’ tests, whilst not conclusive, are used by HMRC to help determine whether an activity is a proper economic trade / business activity or merely a money-making by-product of a hobby.
Careful consideration needs to be given to deciding whether a hobby has become a taxable trading
Marriage allowance entitlement
The marriage allowance applies to married couples and those in a civil partnership where a spouse or civil partner does not pay tax or pay tax above the basic rate threshold for Income Tax (i.e., one of the couples must currently earn less than the £12,570 personal allowance for 2023-24).
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