Personal Finance Archives - PMA Accountants

INCREASE IN WORKING TAX CREDITS

Asif2020-04-09T21:16:48+01:00April 9th, 2020|Categories: Blog, COVID-19, Personal Finance|Tags: BLOG, Covid-19, Working Tax Credit|

The government has announced that Working Tax Credits payments will be increased from 6 April 2020. As part of a number of measures to support the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, the basic element of Working Tax Credit has been increased by £1,045 to £3,040 from 6 April 2020 until 5 April 2021. The amount a claimant or household will benefit from will depend on their circumstances, including their level of household income. But the increase could mean up to an extra £20 each week. The government is also uprating Child Benefit, other tax credits rates and thresholds, and [...]

Dividend Allowance

Asif2019-08-23T16:23:01+01:00July 31st, 2019|Categories: Blog, Limited Company, Personal Finance, Taxation|Tags: BLOG, Dividends, Limited Companies|

Many family-owned companies allocate dividends towards the end of their financial year and/or the tax year, which means that the impact of the reduction in the dividend allowance from £5,000 to £2,000 from 6 April 2018 is only now starting to come to light. Many other taxpayers may not become aware of the change until they complete their 2018/19 tax return, which in most cases, will be due for submission to HMRC by 31 January 2020. The amount of tax payable on a dividend will primarily depend on which tax band the first £2,000 falls in. The tax rates on dividend [...]

Tax-free childcare – don’t miss out!

Asif2019-09-02T11:29:40+01:00July 12th, 2019|Categories: Blog, Personal Finance|Tags: BLOG, Tax Free Childcare|

HMRC are currently running a campaign to remind people that they could get up to £2,000 per child, per year, towards childcare costs. Broadly, eligible parents/guardians may receive government top-ups of £2 for every £8 that they pay into a tax-free childcare account, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child (or £4,000 for disabled children). There is an overall maximum limit of £10,000. The scheme is open to all working parents across the UK with children under 12, or under 17 if disabled. Under the scheme, the parent/guardian opens an online account and decides how much to pay in. [...]

Tax-efficient remuneration with pension contributions

Asif2019-09-02T11:29:35+01:00July 10th, 2019|Categories: Blog, Personal Finance|Tags: BLOG, Pensions|

Tax relief is generally available on pension contributions at the taxpayer's highest rate of income tax paid, meaning that basic rate taxpayers get relief on contributions at 20%, higher rate taxpayers at 40%, and additional rate taxpayers at 45%. In Scotland, income tax is banded differently, and pension tax relief is applied in a slightly different way. Pensions are a particularly tax-efficient form of savings since nearly everyone is entitled to receive relief on contributions up to an annual maximum regardless of whether they pay tax or not. The maximum amount on which a non-taxpayer can currently receive basic rate [...]

Making use of gift exemptions for IHT

Asif2019-09-02T11:23:11+01:00June 14th, 2019|Categories: Blog, Personal Finance, Taxation|Tags: Exemptions, Gifts, HMRC, IHT, Inheritance Tax|

According to a recent survey undertaken on behalf of HMRC, only 25% of people making financial gifts have a working knowledge of inheritance tax (IHT) rules surrounding such payments. The report entitled Lifetime Gifting: Reliefs, Exemptions, and Behaviours, reveals a significant lack of awareness of the gifting rules, liability for inheritance tax and the risk of making financial gifts without considering tax rules, which can apply for any gifts over £3,000 in value in a given tax year. The research also revealed that those with potentially smaller estates (below £500,000) appear to have a limited knowledge of the longer-term reach of inheritance [...]

Rent-a-room tax break remains

Asif2019-09-02T11:22:33+01:00May 16th, 2019|Categories: Blog, Personal Finance, Taxation|Tags: BLOG, Rent A Room Scheme, Self Assessment|

HMRC's rent-a-room scheme currently allows individuals to receive up to £7,500 of gross income from renting out spare rooms in their only or main home without a liability to tax arising. Broadly, as long as income is below the annual threshold, it does not need to be reported to HMRC. However, the emergence and growth of peer-to-peer online marketplaces and digital platforms (for example Airbnb) has made it significantly easier to advertise rooms and put those with spare accommodation in touch with a national and global network of potential occupants. HMRC are of the opinion that this type of income [...]

Voluntary disclosures

Asif2019-09-02T11:24:03+01:00March 8th, 2019|Categories: Blog, HMRC, Personal Finance|Tags: BLOG, DDS, Digital Disclosure Service, HMRC, Voluntary Disclosure|

HMRC have updated their online guidance on disclosing unpaid tax to include information on authorising an agent to deal with a disclosure made through the Digital Disclosure Service (DDS). The DDS gives individuals and companies a chance to bring their affairs up to date in a simple, straightforward way. Anyone who owes tax on your income you must tell us about any unpaid tax now. Anyone who owes tax on income or gains must tell HMRC about any unpaid tax. They will then have 90 days to calculate and pay what is owed. - How to make a voluntary disclosure to HMRC explains [...]

Make the most of tax efficient savings offers

Asif2019-09-01T23:08:37+01:00January 9th, 2019|Categories: Blog, Personal Finance|Tags: BLOG, ISA, Premium Bonds, Savings Allowance|

As the end of the current tax year approaches, it is worthwhile making a check to ensure that the various tax-efficient savings opportunities have been utilised wherever possible. The following paragraphs highlight some of the areas where savings may be made. ISAs The maximum annual investment limit for Individual Savings Accounts (SAs) will remain at £20,000 for 2019/20. The limit effectively allows a couple to save £40,000 a year between them and receive interest on the investment tax free. There will also be no capital gains tax to pay when the account is closed. Junior ISAs are available to UK-resident children [...]

Help-to-Save accounts go live

Asif2019-09-01T22:08:42+01:00October 29th, 2018|Categories: Personal Finance|Tags: BLOG, Help To Save, HMRC, Personal Finance|

Many people on low incomes who wish to build up a savings pot can now register for a government-incentivised Help-to-Save account. The launch of the new account follows an eight-month trial, with over 45,000 customers who deposited over £3 million. The new scheme is easy to use, flexible and secure, will help those on low incomes build up a 'rainy day' fund, and encourage savings behaviours and habits. How much is saved and when is up to the account holder, and they don't need to pay in every month to get a bonus. The scheme, administered by HMRC, will be [...]

How to get your SA302 for mortgage applications

Asif2019-09-01T22:08:01+01:00September 21st, 2018|Categories: Articles & Guides, HMRC, Personal Finance|Tags: BLOG, HMRC, Mortgage, SA302, Tax Overview|

How to get proof of earnings for mortgage or loan applications. What’s new? From 4 September 2017 HMRC will not send SA302s on paper to Agents. HMRC maintain a list of lenders who have agreed to accept the online self-service copy in place of a SA302. Tax overviews and online copy of SA302 tax calculation HMRC advise that a large number of mortgage or loan lenders should now be accepting a self-service copy in place of a paper SA302 sent from HMRC. Typically, the lenders will want to see a tax overview and full tax calculation for the tax years they [...]