Blog
All the latest changes to tax legislation- important tax dates and deadlines, Help-Sheets on managing your personal finances, business news & opinion, as well as updates on what’s happening at Rawcliffe’s.
![Understanding The Pros And Cons of The VAT Flat Rate Scheme for Businesses](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1630074831732-LDYJ3FC2ZMRG4M8ZI855/VAT.jpg)
Understanding The Pros And Cons of The VAT Flat Rate Scheme for Businesses
Value Added Tax (VAT) is a significant consideration for businesses. It impacts your cash flow, the amount of
![Are You Ready? Carers Leave Act Comes into Force From 6 April 2024](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/53338a34-90c0-41fb-a61d-763ae947f098/people+500+328.jpg)
Are You Ready? Carers Leave Act Comes into Force From 6 April 2024
The Carer’s Leave Act comes into force on 6 April 2024, which will affect all employers in the UK.
![Are You Eligible for A £252 Saving on Your Tax Bill?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/b2e4dac4-2bf2-4fbe-9e27-3ee47b29e75e/pound-in-speech-bubble-560x420.jpg)
Are You Eligible for A £252 Saving on Your Tax Bill?
With the tax year ending on 5 April, March is a good month to check whether sharing unused tax allowances with your
![Making Tax Digital: New Policy Paper Published](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1619784553418-JUCEN1PE8HM5YISBBFS8/MTD-560x420.jpg)
Making Tax Digital: New Policy Paper Published
A new policy paper has been released by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on Making Tax Digital for
![Cuts to National Insurance: Reminders About Changes](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1627648060539-XK44R1WZ235J5NWTOD3Q/people-500+328+++2+++.jpg)
Cuts to National Insurance: Reminders About Changes
In November 2023’s Autumn Statement, the government announced some National Insurance (NI) changes. Some of these changes went into effect in January 2024, whereas others will come into effect on
![Are You Getting Minimum Wage Payments Right?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/53338a34-90c0-41fb-a61d-763ae947f098/people+500+328.jpg)
Are You Getting Minimum Wage Payments Right?
Last Tuesday, the government named and shamed 524 businesses for failing to pay the minimum wage to their staff.
![Companies House Fees to Increase from 1 May 2024](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/b2e4dac4-2bf2-4fbe-9e27-3ee47b29e75e/pound-in-speech-bubble-560x420.jpg)
Companies House Fees to Increase from 1 May 2024
Companies House have reviewed the fees they charge and have released details of the new charges that will apply from 1 May 2024.
![Update on HMRC Double Cab Pick Up Guidance](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1622993041939-WJCMXCHP46PSB6UEQIL5/car-2-560x420.jpg)
Update on HMRC Double Cab Pick Up Guidance
On Monday 12 February 2024 HMRC updated its guidance on the tax treatment of Double Cab Pick Ups (DCPUs), following a 2020 Court of Appeal judgment. The guidance had confirmed that, from 1 July 2024, DCPUs with a payload of
![Truck Tax: Double Cab Pickups 1 July 2024 Onwards](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1622993041939-WJCMXCHP46PSB6UEQIL5/car-2-560x420.jpg)
![New Powers for Companies House in Tackling Economic Crime](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1633077458343-06ZZDY7SGJH4E1IA571F/arrow-500+328.jpg)
New Powers for Companies House in Tackling Economic Crime
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which received royal assent on October 26, 2023, gives Companies House the power to play a more substantial role in
![Income Tax and Selling Online](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1619784553418-JUCEN1PE8HM5YISBBFS8/MTD-560x420.jpg)
Income Tax and Selling Online
In recent weeks there has been a flurry of online activity discussing the new law that will require online marketplaces to report information about income made by their users to HMRC
![Pilot Scheme to Look at Potential Fraudulent Bounce Back Loan Scheme Applications](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/b2e4dac4-2bf2-4fbe-9e27-3ee47b29e75e/pound-in-speech-bubble-560x420.jpg)
Pilot Scheme to Look at Potential Fraudulent Bounce Back Loan Scheme Applications
The Department for Business (DBT), the Cabinet Office, and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have initiated a pilot program to detect potential fraud committed by sole traders under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme
![Advisory Fuel Rate for Company Cars](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1622993041939-WJCMXCHP46PSB6UEQIL5/car-2-560x420.jpg)
Advisory Fuel Rate for Company Cars
The table below sets out the HMRC advisory fuel rates from 1 March 2024. These are the suggested reimbursement rates for
![Don’t Be Late In Paying Your Personal Tax Bill](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1630074632456-DLMKZLDKOF6NYPLCLVU9/TAX-+500+328.jpg)
Don’t Be Late In Paying Your Personal Tax Bill
2022/23 income tax, CGT, class 2 and 4 NIC liabilities should have been paid by 31 January 2024 unless you have agreed
![Get Ready for More R&D Changes](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/962f2120-a616-43f6-a2f3-199946dea6a8/Percentage.jpg)
Get Ready for More R&D Changes
On top of the major changes to research and development (R&D) tax relief that took effect from 1 April 2023, there are yet more changes that
![Data Protection - UK-US Data Bridge - A Factsheet for UK Organisations](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1633083396883-KNIR26T9MZRBFS4M17QR/MTD.jpg)
Data Protection - UK-US Data Bridge - A Factsheet for UK Organisations
Following a review of the current handling and protection of personal data, the UK and US have established a "data bridge". This allows personal data to freely
![4,757 Festive Tax Return Filers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/1630074591769-X605VPJOY5UV7D6EATMW/TAX-+500+328.jpg)
4,757 Festive Tax Return Filers
HMRC announced that 4,757 taxpayers filed their Self Assessment tax return on Christmas
![Regular Gifts Out of Your Income Can Save Inheritance Tax](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f89954ba8af7f524b802451/53338a34-90c0-41fb-a61d-763ae947f098/people+500+328.jpg)
Regular Gifts Out of Your Income Can Save Inheritance Tax
One tax planning opportunity that many thought the chancellor might restrict was the exemption from inheritance tax for regular gifts out of