Now that’s what I call commitment

Last week, I gave a short speech to a group of 15 or 20 aspiring young business people who were putting themselves forward for Prince’s Trust funding.  The event provided these young people with a few days of training and some tips from hard seasoned campaigners like myself. Read more »

Snow Excuse

So it wasn’t leaves on the line or the wrong type of weather but actually the recent flurry of snow around the country has, according to the Daily Telegraph, persuaded HMRC in their wisdom (!) to consider not charging late payment fines to tax filers if their submission was delayed due to adverse weather conditions. Read more »

What is it about politicians

I recently saw David Cameron interviewed on the Andrew Marr programme announcing how a future Conservative government would take steps to speed up the process for new businesses to get started.  Read more »

Watching the big boys fight it out

As a long term business resident of Clerkenwell, (we first came here in 1989 when it was little more than a ghost town), I have watched the area develop beyond all recognition over the last few years. Read more »

Directors – Protect your home address

1st October 2009 saw a number of major changes within the Companies Act.One such change was the introduction of a Service Address for Directors. Read more »

Microsoft Accounting

Microsoft has confirmed as of 6 November that it will cease distribution and sale of its accounting package Microsoft Office Accounting. Read more »

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act is something that I was vaguely aware of, but largely passed me by both in terms of its introduction and its value.  However, seeking some information recently about details on the numbers of tax returns filed, and failing to find the information I wanted on the HMRC website, I decided to explore the whole process of obtaining information on such critically important(!) matters. Read more »

VAT filing goes online

The other important change being introduced by HMRC relates to VAT filing online.  HMRC plans to phase out paper filing of VAT Returns so that from 1 April 2010, all VAT registered businesses with an annual turnover of £100,000 or more (excluding VAT) must file their tax returns online and pay electronically. Read more »

New Systems, New Problems

1 October 2009 saw the implementation of the final stages of the 2006 Companies Act.  Heralded as one of the largest statutes on record, the changes to company law have been gradually introduced over the last 2 years and 1 October was the final stage. Read more »

Some Customer!

HMRC have announced that they are changing their banking arrangements for the purposes of VAT.  The notice itself, which must have been sent to many thousands of businesses up and down the land, advises VAT registered businesses that they are changing to two new commercial banks namely Citi and Royal Bank of Scotland Group.  As a result of these changes, all payments to HMRC for VAT will need to be made to new bank sort codes and account numbers.  For many businesses who already have electronic arrangements in place, be it by BACS or CHAPS, changes need to be made immediately. Read more »