New Partner - Viraj Mehta

Bourner Bullock are pleased to announce that Viraj Mehta will become Tax Partner at Bourner Bullock with effect from 1 June 2015 Read more on our website

Retirees breaking inheritance traditions

Traditional ways of passing on inheritance could be 'dying out', a report by HSBC has suggested. Click here.

IFS criticises main parties' tax plans

There is a lack a coherent strategy across the taxation plans of the main political parties that would further complicate the tax system, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said. Click here.

Devolution popular among English businesses

More than 4 in 10 businesses in England are in favour of greater devolution of decision making to the local level, according to a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Click here.

Mortgage applicants change spending habits

Prospective homeowners are changing their spending habits in order to make their mortgage applications more successful, research by MoneySuperMarket has found. Click here.

Medium-sized business owners plan exit strategies

A third of medium-sized business owners are planning to sell their business, a report by law firm Mills & Reeve has found. Click here.

Annuity rates hit record low

Average rates of standard annuities have fallen to a record low just 3 weeks after the government's pension reforms were introduced, research by Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts has found. Click here.

SMEs risk breaking insurance law

Many SMEs misunderstand their legal insurance obligations and risk breaking the law, a survey by Aviva has found. Click here.

Young people not saving for retirement

More than half of 18-35 year-olds haven't started saving for retirement, research by NOW: Pensions has shown. Click here.

HMRC underestimates EU VAT impact

HMRC miscalculated the number small firms affected by the new EU VAT rules by more than 10,000%, according to a report by Enterprise Nation. Click here.

Adults get savings boost living with parents

Almost three quarters of parents still have children aged over 18 living with them, according to research by TopCashback. Click here.

Freelance earnings outstrip employee salaries

Freelancers' average earnings have outperformed the average employee salary so far this year, according to the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE). Click here.

Divorcees face reduced retirement income

Divorcees planning to retire in 2015 can expect to have an average of £2,100 less a year from their expected retirement income than those that stay married, research by Prudential suggests. Click here.

Employers see benefits of corporate volunteering

Half of all employers allow their staff to participate in voluntary activities in order to develop their skills, according to a report by the Chartered Institute of Skills and Development (CIPD). Click here.

Household bills continue to rise above inflation

Household bills have risen by more than double the rate of inflation over the past decade, according to research by Santander. Click here.

Inflation rate remains at zero in March

The UK inflation rate remained at 0% in March 2015, according to official figures. Click here.

Pensioners at risk from scammers

Fraudulent pension schemes, employer impersonation and fake financial advice are some of the tactics used to defraud pensioners, according to Citizens Advice. Click here.

Auto-enrolment exemptions introduced

Employers will not have to auto-enrol employees in certain circumstances because of changes to government legislation. Click here.

Upcoming election reveals credit rating risks

Young people across the country are harming their credit rating by not registering to vote in the upcoming election, a study by uSwitch.com has found. Click here.

Businesses hold back on capital investment

Almost two thirds of UK businesses generated a cash surplus this year, according to research by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Click here.

Consumers reveal concerns about pension freedoms

Consumers are concerned about the potential risks of taking their pension as cash, a survey by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has shown. Click here.

Auto-enrolment could slow business growth

Auto-enrolment costs could stall the growth of small and micro businesses, according to a survey commissioned by Enrolsme. Click here.

Shared parental leave changes give more flexibility

New rules regarding shared parental leave have come into effect, allowing parents and adopters more flexibility in how they care for their child during its first year of life. Read more.

Pension changes come into effect

Rules on how savers can access their defined contribution pensions from age 55 have changed.

The new rules are designed to give savers greater freedom and flexibility over how they access their pension savings.

The main changes from 6 April 2015 are:

Lump sum payments

Savers can access up to 25% of their pension pot tax-free. This money can be taken as a one-off payment or in multiple amounts.

Flexi-access drawdown

There are now no rules of how much you can take from a drawdown fund each year. All drawdown payments are taxed as income.

Capped drawdown

No new capped drawdown or flexible drawdown funds can be set up from 6 April. Savers already in capped drawdown schemes can continue with their arrangement or convert their fund into a flexi-access drawdown fund.

Dr Yvonne Braun, director of long term savings strategy at the Association of British Insurers, said:

"Don't panic, don't rush and don't be tempted to dash for the cash without carefully considering your options.

"With the new pensions freedoms and flexibility comes responsibility, so the only sensible advice is to contact the free, impartial Pension Wise service who can explain what the changes could mean for you, and your options."

Tax changes from 6 April

The start of the new tax year on 6 April saw new tax and regulatory changes come into effect. 
Here are the headline measures affecting businesses and individuals:

Personal allowance

The income tax personal allowance will rise from £10,000 to £10,600. The personal allowance will continue increasing incrementally until it reaches £11,000 in 2017/18.

Marriage Allowance

From 6 April, spouses and civil partners will be able to transfer up to £1,060 of their personal allowance to their partner. More than 4 million eligible married couples and 15,000 civil partners will be able to save £212 a year.

Savings tax

As announced during Budget 2014, the interest tax on savings up to £5,000 will be abolished. This will mean that from 6 April, people earning less than £15,600 each year will no longer have to pay the 10% tax.

The government estimates that this will remove tax on savings for 1.5 million people.

Tax on inherited pensions

The 55% tax charge on inherited pensions will be abolished meaning that unused pension contributions can be passed to the beneficiary free of tax.

National insurance

National insurance contributions (NICs) for under-21s will no longer be mandatory. Employers hiring care and support workers can claim NIC deductions of up to £2,000.

ISAs

The annual ISA allowance will increase from £15,000 to £15,240 and the threshold for Junior ISAs and child trust funds will rise from £4,000 to £4,080.

Capital gains tax

The CGT annual exemption is rising from £11,000 to £11,100.

Homebuyers benefit from stamp duty reforms

More than two thirds of homebuyers stand to benefit from the stamp duty (SDLT) reforms introduced after the 2014 Autumn Statement, according to research by Nationwide. Read more.

Low inflation provides savings boost to over-55s

The falling cost of living is allowing over-55s to increase their savings and pay off debts, a survey by Aviva has found. Read more.

Tax changes from 1 April

A host of new tax changes affecting businesses and individuals have come into effect on 1 April. Here is a quick breakdown of the changes and how they may affect you.

Corporation tax

All companies will now pay a main rate of corporation tax of 20% on profits of £300,000 and under. Corporation tax will effectively become a single rate as the main rate is reduced to the current small companies rate of 20%. Tax on the next £1.2 million of profits will also reduce from 23.75% to 21.25%.

VAT

The threshold for compulsory VAT registration is increasing from £81,000 to £82,000. The turnover limit for when businesses can deregister from VAT also is rising from £79,000 to £80,000.

Scottish Land and Buildings Transaction Tax

The Land Buildings and Transaction Tax (LBTT) will replace stamp duty in Scotland and is likely to apply to most property transactions. The obligation for collecting this tax has moved from HMRC to the new tax authority Revenue Scotland.

The 2015/16 residential and commercial rates:

Band	Residential	Band	Non-residential
Up to £145,000	0%	Up to £150,000	0%
£145,001 to £250,000	2%	£150,001 to £350,000	3%
£250,001 to £325,000	5%	Over £350,000	4.5%
£325,001 to £750,000	10%	N/A	N/A
Over £750,000	12%	N/A	N/A

Air passenger duty

The 2 most expensive bands of air passenger duty (APD) have been abolished. Band C (for people travelling over 4,000 miles) and band D (over 6,000 miles) are being merged into band B. All passengers travelling over 2,000 miles will now pay £71 in APD. This compares to the £85 charge for band C and £97 charge for band D in the 2014/15 tax year.

Diverted profits tax

There is also a new tax on diverted profits that will see multinationals charged 25% on all profits artificially diverted overseas. The government hopes that this tax will help to limit the large-scale tax evasion that some high profile companies are currently undertaking with regards to their UK operations.

SME owners work 15 months a year

SME owners work the equivalent of an extra 3 months in a year, according to a survey by the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA). Read more.

Small Business Act becomes law

A range of measures aimed at supporting the UK's small business sector have become law as the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act gained royal assent. Click here.

Retirees provide financial support to families

More than a third of people retiring this year are currently supporting their families financially, according to survey by Prudential. Click here.

SMEs lack qualified financial staff

More than a third of SMEs do not have a qualified person in charge of finances, research by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has found. Click here.

Charitable donations popular among estate planners

Almost a fifth of people plan to leave money to charity when they die, according to research by the AA. Click here.

Small firms lack confidence in late payment rules

Small businesses do not trust the Prompt Payment Code (PPC) to effectively tackle the UK's poor payment culture, according to research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Click here for more.

Budget 2015 savings measures popular with public

The new ISAs and tax breaks announced during Budget 2015 have proven popular with the public, according to a survey by uSwitch. Click here for more.

New ISA to help first time buyers

A new type of ISA will provide a financial boost to people saving to buy their first home, the Chancellor has announced during his 2015 Budget statement. Click here for more.

Budget 2015: Reaction

The Chancellor George Osborne has delivered the final Budget statement of this Parliament. Here is a round-up of immediate reaction from the UK's leading industry bodies.

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

John Cridland, director general of the CBI, said that the Chancellor has delivered some "encouraging" measures:

"Stability and consistency are what businesses need to grow and prosper. This Budget sets the tone, providing a clear plan for fiscal health and growth."

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)

John Longworth, director general of the BCC, praised the Chancellor for balancing the government's electoral objectives with the country's long-term deficit targets:

"Businesses in every corner of the UK want more sustainable public finances, and they also want governments to take steps to support growth. Once again, it appears that the Chancellor has pulled off a difficult balancing act, maintaining fiscal discipline while ensuring that necessary deficit reduction doesn't undermine the UK's growth prospects."

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

John Allan, national chairman of the FSB, commented on the government's review into the business rates system:

"The review into business rates is long overdue. When complete, it must deliver tangible benefits to businesses and not end up as just another report that sits on the shelf."

Association of British Insurers (ABI)

Huw Evans, director general of the ABI, spoke about the decision to further reduce the lifetime allowance:

"Pension providers support reform of pension tax relief but three piecemeal cuts to the current system in five years is the wrong way to go about it.

"We need a fundamental review of the whole system to make it fairer and to deliver long-term stability for people doing the right thing by saving for their retirement."

Budget 2015: Business announcements

The Chancellor George Osborne delivered his final Budget statement of this Parliament to the House of Commons on Wednesday 18 March 2015.

This is a summary of the main announcements affecting businesses.

• Corporation tax: the main rate will be cut to 20% from April 2015. The rules will be amended to prevent contrived loss arrangements.
• National insurance: NICs for under-21s will be abolished from April 2015. They will also be abolished for young apprentices from April 2016.
• Business rates: a "major" review of business rates was announced. Small business rates relief will be extended from April 2015.
• Tax returns: the self-assessment tax return will be abolished, affecting 12 million people and small businesses. In most cases, the information HMRC needs will be uploaded automatically into new digital tax accounts.
• Diverted profits tax: a tax aimed at large companies that artificially shift profits offshore will come into effect from April 2015.
• Entrepreneurs' Relief: loopholes will be closed to make the relief only available to those selling genuine stakes in businesses.
• Travel and subsistence: a clampdown on umbrella companies and agencies that abuse tax relief on travel and subsistence.
• Bank levy: the annual bank levy will be raised to 0.21%.
• Farmers: Farmers will be able to average their income over 5 years for tax purposes.

Budget 2015: Other announcements

The Chancellor George Osborne has now delivered his Budget 2015 statement to the House of Commons. Here we summarise some of the other announcements affecting investment and government spending:

• Charities: Automatic gift-aid that charities can claim will rise from £5,000 to the first £8,000 of donations. The government will give £75 million to regimental charities and emergency services.
• Duties: The Chancellor announced a 1 pence cut on beer duty. Cider and spirit duties were cut by 2%. Fuel duty will not increase in September as previously planned.
• Broadband: The government will invest £600 million in upgrading Britain's high-speed broadband and mobile network infrastructure.
• Export finance: UK Trade & Investment resources will double to support British businesses exporting to China.
• Transport: The South West will receive £7 billion for investment in transport.
• The Severn Crossing: The toll rates for the Severn bridges will be reduced from 2018.

Budget 2015: Personal finances

Chancellor George Osborne described his final budget as one that would see Britain leaving behind the "chaos of the past" and "walking tall again."

Here's our summary of the key measures aimed at personal finances:

Minimum Wage

• the rate will rise to £6.70 this autumn
• people on minimum wage will be paid £8 an hour by 2020.

Pensions

• from next year, the lifetime allowance will drop from £1.25 million to £1 million
• the lifetime allowance will be indexed to protect pension pots from inflation from 2018
• pensioners will be able to access the money held in their annuities 
• the 55% tax charge on accessing annuities will be abolished next year and replaced with tax at the marginal rate. 

Married couple's allowance

• the transferable tax allowance for married couples to rise to £1,100 from April 2015.

Income tax

• the personal income tax allowance will be raised to £10,600 for 2015/16
• it will rise to £10,800 in 2016/17 and £11,000 in 2017/18
• the threshold for the higher rate of income tax will increase from £42,385 this year to £43,300 by 2017/18. 

ISAs

• more flexible ISAs will allow people to remove money and return it back in the same year without losing their tax-free entitlement
• Help to Buy ISAs will help first time buyers get on the property ladder
• for every £200 savers deposit in a Help to Buy ISA, the government top it up by 25% (£50) up to a limit of £12,000.

Personal savings

• from April 2016, the first £1,000 of the interest earned on savings will be tax-free
• the allowance for higher rate taxpayers will be set at £500.

Chancellor shakes up annuity market

Annuity holders will be able to sell their annuity income without incurring a 55% tax charge, under plans announced by the Chancellor George Osborne. Click here for more.

Government launches business rate review

A "wide-ranging" review of the English business rates system has been launched, Treasury officials have announced. Read the whole article on our website.

Average savings highest in a decade

British people saved more money in 2014 than in any year during the past decade, according to figures from National Savings & Investments (NS&I). Click here for more.

Employees lack access to digital services

Less than half of employees think they are able to do their jobs properly due to insufficient access to digital technology, according to a survey by Fujitsu. Read the whole article on our website.

Small firms continue to utilise equity finance

The use of equity finance among small firms has more than doubled over the past 3 years, according to a report by the British Business Bank. Click here for more.

Workplace sickness absence rates improve

Two fifths of employers have seen improvements in their sickness absence rates over the last 12 months, according to research by Group Risk Development (GRiD). See our website for more.

New savings rate removes tax on interest

An online calculator has been launched to help people see if they are eligible for the new 0% savings tax rate, the Chancellor George Osborne has announced. Click here for more.

Pension savers snub retirement advice

Almost three-quarters of over-50s are not currently planning to seek retirement advice after the government's pension reforms are introduced in April, according to research by LV=. Read more here

Calls to simplify tax status for self-employed

Working out the employment status of workers should be made easier for businesses, according to a report from the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS). Read the whole article on our website.

Small costs result in big expenses for SMEs

SMEs owners often underestimate the small day-to-day costs of running a business, research by AXA has suggested. Read the whole article here.

Employees uncertain about pension contributions

The majority of employees on a workplace pension scheme think they should increase their pension contributions, according to a report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Click here fore more.

SMEs in profit at 2007 levels

The number of SMEs making a profit has returned to pre-financial crisis levels in the last 12 months, according to research by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Read the whole article on our website.

Small business productivity in need of boost

Improving the productivity of UK small businesses is "one of the biggest challenges" for policy makers, according to a report by the All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group. Read more here.

Three quarters focus on saving

Almost three quarters of British people say they are currently saving, according to research by Scottish Widows. Read more here.

Pension saving highest in 18 years

Pension saving is at its highest level in 18 years, according to official figures. Read the whole article on our website.

Small firms concerned about cloud computing

Almost 4 in 10 small businesses are concerned about the security of using cloud accounting services, according to research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). See more here.

Millions to benefit from marriage tax break

More than 4 million married couples and 15,000 thousand civil partnerships stand to benefit from the Marriage Allowance, according to official government estimates. Click here for more.

Stamp duty reforms benefit homebuyers

More than two thirds of homebuyers in England and Wales will benefit from the stamp duty (SDLT) reforms announced in the Autumn Statement 2014, according to research by Nationwide. See more.

Raise minimum wage, says LPC

The national minimum wage (NMW) should be increased by 3% in October 2015, according to the Low Pay Commission (LPC). Read the full article here.

Staying in work could boost pension savings by a third

Workers could increase their pension savings by a third if they work 5 years beyond the state pension age, according to research by Friends Life and the Pensions Policy Institute. Click here for more.

Firms affected by late payment

More than three quarters of businesses suffer from late payments, according to research by Bacs. Read more.

Savers not discussing pension reform plans

Less than a third of 40-70 year-olds have spoken to someone about the upcoming pension reforms, according to research by Partnership. Click here for more.

Record number of women in work

The proportion of women in employment has reached a record 68.2%, official figures reveal. Read the whole article here.

Inflation falls to new low in January

UK inflation fell to 0.3% in the year to January 2014, according to official figures. Read the whole article on our website.

Renting property more expensive than buying

First time buyers pay almost 10% less each month than those who rent, according to research by Halifax. Read on our website.

Business support scheme reform needed, says FSB

Small businesses are not getting enough local or national support, according to a report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). See here for more.

Tax summaries now available online

The 8 million people who electronically filed their 2013/14 self-assessment tax return on time are now able to view their tax summary online, HMRC has announced. Click here for more.

Employers urged to provide more work experience

One fifth of employers say that nothing could persuade them to provide work experience placements to young people, according to a report by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). See more here.

Automatic workplace pension transfers from autumn 2016

Workers will be able to take their pension pots with them when they change jobs from autumn 2016, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced. Read more on our website.

Older workers willing to retrain

Almost two-thirds of workers over 50 say they want further training so they can continue working into retirement, according to research by MetLife. Click here for more.

Majority of businesses lack mental health policy

Three-quarters of employers don't have a workplace mental health policy, research by the Institute of Directors (IoD) and YouGov has found. Read more here.

Pensioner bonds extended by 3 months

The government's Pensioner Bonds will remain on sale for another 3 months, the Chancellor George Osborne has announced. See the article on our website.

New Website!

We are delighted to announce the arrival of our newly designed website which can be found at the same address: www.bournerbullock.co.uk.

The website will be updated regularly with useful information and news to ensure that you are kept completely up to date with your accountancy and tax matters.

Freelancers optimistic for 2015

The freelance sector will grow during 2015, according to new research by the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE). See our website for more.

Pension charge cap plans submitted to Parliament

Draft regulations that will place a cap on workplace pension charges have been submitted to Parliament. Read the whole article on our website.

Government outlines measures to tackle late payments

Business groups will be given new powers to tackle unfair payment practices under measures announced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). See more here.

Small businesses 'face £10bn tax compliance bill'

Small businesses are being placed at a competitive disadvantage as a result of the high cost of complying with UK tax legislation, a new report has suggested. Read more here.

Increasing number of taxpayers facing fine for late tax returns

As the 31 January deadline for submitting the 2014 self assessment tax return passed, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) revealed that the number of taxpayers failing to file their tax returns on time had increased on last year. See the article on our website.

Younger workers hardest hit by financial crisis, study shows

Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has been released, showing the impact of the financial crisis and economic recovery on UK employees. See our website for the whole article.

Retail sales show strong yearly growth

Despite slower sales compared to December, the year to January has seen a large improvement in sales volumes, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Click here for more.

MPs to tackle supply chain bullying

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has assembled a cross-party group of MPs to help tackle the problem of poor payment practices facing a significant number of small firms in the UK. Read more on our website.

UK economy 'grows by 2.6%' in 2014

The UK economy grew by 2.6% in 2014, but experienced a slowdown in the final quarter of the year, according to the latest report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Read the whole article on our website.

Study suggests cost of business rising ahead of inflation

The Forum for Private Business (FPB) has released research showing that small business costs rose 3.1% last, despite falling inflation rates. Read more here.

Tax crackdown sees improved results

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) raised over £137 million from additional rate taxpayers in 2014. Read the whole article on our website.

Car insurance costs set to rise, says AA

Car insurance costs are likely to rise in the coming year, perhaps by up to 10%, according to the AA. Read more here.

New stamp duty rates announced for Scotland

Scotland’s Finance Secretary John Swinney has confirmed that the planned new rates of stamp duty on residential property in Scotland will be amended, following a recent review of the system. See our website for more.

Treasury invites suggestions for 2015 Budget

HM Treasury is encouraging interested parties to submit their ideas for consideration ahead of the 2015 Budget. Read more here.

Call for single EU threshold for VAT

A single EU threshold should be introduced for VAT, below which small businesses would not need to register for VAT MOSS, according to the business organisation Enterprise Nation. Click here for more.

Scottish stamp duty to be reviewed

Following a proposal in the Scottish draft Budget to review the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), a discussion is underway to determine plans for the future of stamp duty land tax in Scotland. Read the whole article here.

4.5 million tax returns still outstanding as 31 January deadline nears

As the 31 January self-assessment deadline looms, HMRC figures suggest that 4.5 million online returns for the 2013/14 tax year have still to be filed, with 6.5 million having been submitted ahead of the deadline. Read more here.

Small business group warns of 'two-speed' digital economy

Nearly half of the UK’s rural small businesses are not satisfied with their broadband provision, and continued poor connectivity risks the emergence of a two-speed digital economy, according to research conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Read more here.

Inflation reaches fifteen-year low

Inflation fell to 0.5% in December, the lowest rate since May 2000, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed. Find out more here.

Government publishes guidance on new 'Fit for Work' service

The Government has published guidance on its new Fit for Work service, which aims to help tackle the problem of long-term sickness absence. Read the whole article on our website.

Osborne plans tax cuts for future Government

Chancellor George Osborne has announced plans to use a predicted budget surplus to cut taxes, should the Conservative party win the next election. Read more here.

Interest rates to remain at current low

The Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee has voted to keep interest rates at 0.5% for at least another month, and rates are expected to remain low for the foreseeable future. Read the whole article.

Report calls for CPI inflation to be replaced

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) should be abandoned as the UK’s main measure of inflation, according to a new report. Click here to read more.

Petrol prices nearing £1 a litre following further cuts

Petrol prices are edging closer to the £1 a litre mark, following the announcement of further cuts by the UK’s four biggest supermarkets. Read the whole article on our website.