Many clients of business support agencies like London Registrars may have noticed the recent introduction in Parliament of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, which proposes the replacement of the familiar Annual Return with something called the ‘Annual Confirmation Statement’. It may sound like a drastic a change but it only really amounts to a rebranding of the Annual Return. Continue reading
What the rules say about VAT record keeping
Many of the businesses that haven’t taken advice from specialists such London Registrars (a firm of company secretaries and business consultants in London) may have been informed after a visit by HMRC that their VAT records were in need of improvement.
In the last few years HMRC have concentrated on publicising the importance of maintaining appropriate records. Since 2011, this publicity campaign has been supported by a special programme for checking corporate records. For those organisations with records that fail to pass muster, there is the threat of a fine of up to £3,000, levied under the rules for direct tax (income and corporation tax) self-assessment. However, in relation to VAT, a separate record-keeping penalty of up to £500 can be imposed. Continue reading
Important information about LLP incorporation
Where as a business may seek business formation services such as limited company incorporation and company limited by guarantee incorporation, many may be advised to use another legal business entity giving limited liability but with a partnership regime – namely a Limited Liability Partnership. Companies House now have over 52,000 registered LLPs (May 2014), and they differ somewhat from the original limited liability companies because of their lack of directors, shareholders or share capital and a different tax regime. Continue reading
Settlement agreements
What is a settlement agreement?
A settlement agreement (formerly known as a compromise agreement) is a formal and legally binding agreement made between an employer and an employee (or ex-employee as the case may be) under which an en employee agrees not to pursue any claims in relation to his or her employment or its termination in return for a financial settlement. Continue reading
The important information about directors and auto-enrolment pensions
Despite the widespread television advertisements urging awareness of pension auto-enrolment (AE), a year or two still remains until it becomes compulsory for small and medium-sized firms. Nonetheless, such ads have focused talk on the importance of companies providing their personnel with workplace pensions. The question for many of those using London Registrars’ business consultancy service will be whether directors will be affected in addition to regular employees. Continue reading
Keeping to the bare minimum requirements for company records
A key element of effective corporate governance will always be the keeping of appropriate company records. However, a balance must be struck between complying with legal requirements and not getting bogged down with red tape, to the expense of everyday business operations. It begs the question of what the bare minimum requirements are for company records. Continue reading
New rules relating to partnership taxation
Clients of London Registrars’ business consultant services may be interested to read that there have been recent changes to partnership taxation, following the closure of a consultation designed to tackle the perceived use of partnerships to avoid tax. The consultation, which was announced by the Chancellor in the 2013 Budget, culminated in the issuing of draft legislation in December 2013, with the resultant measures set for inclusion in the 2014 Finance Bill
There are new rules concerning limited liability partnerships (LLPs), for example, aimed at tackling ‘disguised employment’. No longer will it be automatically presumed that an LLP member is self-employed for tax purposes and instead a member will be treated as an employee for tax purposes, subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions. This will make them subject to PAYE and NICs. Continue reading
How the minimum wage crackdown could impact on unsalaried or low-paid directors
Many of those firms using the services of a business consultancy in London will have taken note of the recent national minimum wage (NMW) crackdown that has seen a quadrupling in non-compliance fines. This also raises the question of the potential effect on unpaid directors or those taking a low salary.
Recent reports have signalled the government’s intention to take a harder line with companies failing to pay young workers the NMW. Vince Cable has indicated that a general NMW crackdown is imminent. Legislation has already been pushed through parliament, which means that from 1 February 2015, the maximum penalty for failing to pay the NMW will be £20,000, compared to the current £5,000. Continue reading
The Pensions Regulator publishes findings of record-keeping review
Clients of London Registrars’ business consultancy service may be interested to read the Pensions Regulator’s recent publication of a report detailing its findings from a review into pension scheme record-keeping. Seven case investigations into the matter have now been opened as the regulator seeks to improve standards of record-keeping.
The regulator has said that various types and sizes of schemes exhibited good practice, but it also expressed concern about certain areas, where both the schemes themselves and the payment of member benefits were put at risk. It cited some generally smaller schemes as having lower levels of engagement with their advisers, therefore finding it more difficult to demonstrate that record-keeping challenges had been effectively tackled. Continue reading
Third annual progress report into Women on Boards published
In February 2011, Lord Davies’ landmark review into Women on Boards was published, aimed at identifying the barriers preventing the greater presence of women in the boardroom, in addition to making recommendations to government and business on what actions could be taken to increase the proportion of women on corporate boards. Now, more than three years on, the third annual progress report on the matter has been published. Continue reading