Tax-efficient investing
Legitimate ways for higher earners to reduce a tax bill Without a carefully developed tax planning strategy, higher-rate taxpayers run the risk of missing out on key tax benefits and paying more in taxes than necessary. A higher tax liability can diminish the value of your investment earnings over the long term. To start with, […]
Minimum wage apprenticeships – not plain sailing
A report out in January shows that around 20% of those on apprenticeship schemes are not being paid the National Minimum Wage (NMW), while apprenticeships themselves have fallen in number. The figures in the Apprenticeship Pay Survey from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) show the strange anomaly that correct levels of […]
Independent taxation: Jersey women no longer left behind
It may be hard to believe that there is still a part of the UK where wives must ask permission from their husbands to file independent tax returns. Welcome to Jersey. The Jersey States Assembly agreed to abolish the archaic rule in early February, reversing a situation whereby only one person in a couple is […]
Intestacy rule change favours spouses
The intestacy rules for England and Wales have been amended. The intestacy rules automatically apply to the distribution of estates where there is no will. There are three different sets of rules in the UK: one for England and Wales, a similar set for Northern Ireland and a wholly different set for Scotland. The rules […]
‘Time to pay’ arrangements get easier
For taxpayers who have trouble affording their tax bills, HRMC has updated its process for setting up time to pay arrangements. If you have missed the self-assessment filing deadline of 31 January, and are struggling to cover your tax payments, you can now set up a time to pay arrangement online with HMRC. The online […]
A Budget Day… at last
In early January the Chancellor announced a new Budget date: 11 March 2020. This could be a significant Budget. Traditionally, the first Budget of a new Parliament is when the Chancellor delivers the medicine of tax increases and/or unpopular reforms. To borrow from Macbeth: ‘If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it […]
Ward Goodman supporting Blandford Rugby Club
Ward Goodman are proud to support the local community. Recently, we were match sponsors for a game at Blandford Rugby Club. On Saturday 1st February Blandford Welcomed Puddletown to Larksmead, following a closely fought draw in the corresponding away fixture before Christmas. Blandford started brightly, with a successful penalty goal from fly half Boardwell Miller […]
Life is full of uncertainties
If the worst were to happen, would your bills still get paid? Everyone should consider protection, even those who don’t have a family or a mortgage! Unless they have substantial savings or inherited wealth, most people rely on their salary to pay for everything. Over the years, you may have taken out a number of […]
Call you back – new HMRC guidance on taxing mobiles
If you’ve received a new mobile phone from your employer for the new year, new guidance from HMRC on the taxation of the device may be useful. As increasing numbers of employees are using phones provided by their workplace, differentiating between business and personal use can become tricky. Where more than one device is used, […]
New year, new government
How will the new government affect your financial planning? December’s general election delivered a Conservative government with the sort of majority which consigns the knife-edge parliamentary battles of recent years to the past. So, what will the new government do, apart from “get Brexit done”? A look at the Conservative manifesto, easily the shortest […]
