Articles & Insights (Index)

26th June 2023

HMRC extends the deadline for voluntary National Insurance contributions

HMRC has announced that taxpayers now have until 5 April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance record that may increase their State Pension.…

14th June 2023

Divorce – how to ease the tax burden

In March, HMRC announced a change to the transfer of assets rule which will impact spouses and civil partners who are in the process of…

13th June 2023

Simplifications for trusts and estates

Article written by Marc Brinklow, Trust Manager The Chancellor has brought in a number of changes for trusts and estates with the aim of simplifying…

31st May 2023

Byte the Book and The Economics of Publishing – our top 5 takeaways

We were delighted to join some of our clients and friends at a recent Byte the Book panel event, organised by the wonderful Justine Solomons,…

25th May 2023

Navigating VAT: guidance for fintech companies

We have all experienced the impact that financial technology (fintech) has had upon the delivery of financial services. The UK has emerged as one of…

19th May 2023

Inheritance Tax – HMRC and the 7-year rule

When it comes to Inheritance Tax (IHT), did you know that there isn’t any tax due on outright gifts if you survive for 7 years…

18th May 2023

Property investing and securing your financial future

We recently joined an expert webinar with The WealthiHer Network, focusing on the topic of property investment and securing your financial future. A line-up of…

27th April 2023

Small and specialist universities are vital to competition and innovation in higher education

The Higher Education Policy Institute has published the first holistic picture of small and special-focus universities in Size is Everything: What small, specialist and practice-based…

18th April 2023

Reminder: Act now to ensure State Pension eligibility before July deadline

An individual’s eligibility for the UK State Pension is based on the number of ‘qualifying years’ they have on their national insurance records. However, sometimes…

4th April 2023

UK to join Indo-Pacific trade bloc in biggest trade deal since Brexit

UK has been accepted into an Indo-Pacific trade bloc in what the government says is its biggest trade deal since Brexit. The Comprehensive and Progressive…

31st March 2023

Overseas Workdays Relief – Considerations for a new tax year

As a new tax year beckons, it is once again important to make internationally mobile employees aware of a highly valuable tax relief known as…

30th March 2023

Payments on Account – should you make a claim to reduce?

Many taxpayers who receive income gross (without the deduction of tax) are required to make payments on account towards their following year tax liabilities e.g.…

21st March 2023

Prepare for upcoming Corporation Tax changes in April

In the Spring Statement, the Chancellor confirmed that Corporation Tax will increase to 25% from 1 April 2023. This will raise around £18 billion a…

20th March 2023

HMRC nudge letters: advice to influencers 

This month, HMRC has written to thousands of influencers who it suspects have not paid the right taxes for money earned online – this is…

16th March 2023

Spring Statement 2023: Key takeaways

Jeremy Hunt delivered his first Spring Statement yesterday as Chancellor. As part of his ‘Budget for Growth’, he announced a number of key changes to…

9th March 2023

Spring Statement: 5 things the Chancellor should prioritise

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is preparing to deliver his spring budget next week, his second statement since taking the job. While few significant tax changes…

8th March 2023

International Women’s Day – striving to continue to grow and “be better”

The aim of this year’s International Women’s Day #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren’t enough.  At HW…

28th February 2023

Northern Ireland Trade Deal – 10 key changes to be aware of

Following the Prime Minister’s newly announced trade deal with Northern Ireland, Gerry Myton, Head of Indirect Tax at accountancy firm HW Fisher, shares a summary…

23rd February 2023

Webinar – Tax issues impacting the Not For Profit sector

We recently held a webinar on tax issues affecting the Not for Profit sector. This covered important issues on guidance and policy changes relating to…

22nd February 2023

Missed the tax return deadline? What happens next?

More than 11.7m taxpayers filed their tax returns before the 31st January 2023. However HMRC has revealed that more than 600,000 taxpayers missed the deadline.…

13th February 2023

HW Fisher propose potential tax savings ahead of Valentine’s Day

It’s Valentine’s Day this week and HW Fisher outlines what Marriage Tax Allowance is, how it works and how you can claim it, plus other…

7th February 2023

National Apprenticeship Week – Q&A series with Harry Lane and Lisa Matthews

For National Apprenticeship Week, we’re celebrating the achievement of our apprentices’ past and present and the positive impact they make to our firm. Our well-respected…

13th January 2023

What you need to know from four recent VAT cases in the UK courts

Gerry Myton, Tax Partner, discusses the most recent VAT cases to go through UK courts and what we can learn from them. Mainpay Ltd v…

13th January 2023

HMRC updates: a new VAT Penalty Regime, changing policy for museums and galleries and new legislation to energy support schemes

In this month’s VAT Update Gerry Myton, Tax Partner, shares three key VAT updates from HMRC to pay attention to as we head into 2023.…

13th January 2023

3 customs duty updates you need to be aware of

As you may be aware, the shutdown of the CHIEF system was due to be finalised in the first quarter of 2023. However, recent updates…

11th January 2023

Less than a month to go until the Self-Assessment tax return deadline – Avoid these common mistakes

According to HMRC, nearly 5.7 million customers still need to file their self-assessment tax return for the tax year ended 5 April 2022. The deadline…

6th December 2022

HW Fisher announces two Director promotions to bolster senior leadership team

HW Fisher, a UK top 30 audit and advisory firm, announces that it has appointed two new Directors to support the firm’s continued growth. As part…

1st December 2022

Home is where the money is – Five tax considerations to be aware of

With the cost-of-living crisis hitting home for everyone, more people are looking for new ways to generate income. From taking in lodgers to renting parking…

21st November 2022

Overseas entities: registration at Companies House

HM Land Registry Letter to Overseas Entities:What you need to know about the Notice of Entry of a Restriction The month of October saw HM…

18th November 2022

The Autumn Statement: tax changes to be aware of

The Chancellor has announced the Autumn Statement – and there are some milestone tax changes to be aware of. Today was always going to be…

16th November 2022

UK businesses crave certainty ahead of Autumn Statement

The chancellor Jeremy Hunt is planning a series of stealth tax rises, among other tax rises and spending cuts, that will force small businesses to pay…

16th November 2022

Autumn Statement predictions from HW Fisher

Many predict that the Chancellor will shake up tax rules on dividend payments. Tim Walford-Fitzgerald comments on the predictions: “Fiscal drag is a term that…

14th November 2022

Customs Declaration Service – The new CHIEF

HMRC is replacing Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system with the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). The shutdown of CHIEF will be done…

11th November 2022

‘Tis the season to be tax savvy – 5 Christmas party tax breaks you need to know 

With the festive season fast approaching, it’s time to start planning your Christmas celebrations. Last year the pandemic forced many businesses to cancel their Christmas…

4th November 2022

Charity Trustees Roundtable write up – the view of the Regulator

We were delighted to be joined by Will Lifford, Board Member at the Charity Commission, at our recent Charity Trustee Roundtable where the group discussion…

4th November 2022

Trust registration service – what you need to know following the 1 September deadline

Article written by Marc Brinklow, Trust Manager As a quick recap, the Trust Registration Service (“TRS”) is an online system managed by HMRC, which requires…

27th October 2022

What you need to know about the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

On 28 February 2022, two months after signing the UK-Australia free trade agreement, the UK signed a free trade agreement with New Zealand, aiming to…

18th October 2022

Director’s loans: what you should know about potential tax liabilities

Borrowing money is often attached to a host of financial complexities, and there are various questions you should be asking before entering a loan agreement.…

18th October 2022

Six areas for Finance Directors to consider at the start of a new academic year

As we start a new university academic year, finance directors and senior management teams will have a lot on their minds in an ever-changing and…

17th October 2022

Mini-budget measures reversed – summary of changes

The Chancellor has reversed almost all measures announced in September’s “mini budget”. Summary of changes: The basic rate of income tax will remain at 20p…

11th October 2022

Building a Partnership Approach to Greening the NHS

A guest article from Dean Rogers, Executive Director of Industrial Strategy and Member Relations, The Society of Radiographers. Some problems look insurmountable, but we can’t…

23rd September 2022

“Mini” Budget + Milestone Tax changes to be aware of [UPDATED]

The Chancellor has announced his “mini” Budget – 6 months on since the March Budget and there are some milestone tax changes to be aware…

23rd September 2022

Mini Budget – Initial reactions and commentary from HW Fisher’s Partners

The new Chancellor has announced his ‘mini-budget’, setting out the Government’s economic policy to combat the cost of living crisis and recession affecting business and…

22nd September 2022

Government mini budget – Expectations from HW Fisher

Commentary on National Insurance from Stevie Heafford “As predicted, the new Chancellor has reversed the 1.25% rise in National Insurance Contributions originally introduced by Rishi…

14th September 2022

Tackling inflation from a personal tax perspective

Article written by Daniel Tomassen, Senior Manager of the Private Client Department.  The Office for National Statistics put the rate of inflation in the UK…

14th September 2022

What are the tax implications of the Covid pandemic?

Whilst international travel has now resumed to a level of normality, the various travel restrictions implemented during the Covid pandemic will have a long-lasting effect.…

13th September 2022

What you need to know about the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement

In December 2021, the UK and Australia signed a Free Trade Agreement. The first ‘new’ trade deal signed since Brexit has been badged as world-class…

8th September 2022

HW Fisher calls for tax reforms to alleviate the ‘cost of giving’ crisis on UK charities

Charities in the UK are facing a growing number of pressures in response to the cost of living crisis. Not only are they starting to…

6th September 2022

How can universities play a strong role in positively sculpting the climate agenda?

At our recent University Chair of Audit Committee roundtable, we were joined by Professor Susan Lea, former Vice Chancellor at the University of Hull where…

5th September 2022

HMRC’s extended use of ‘nudge’ letters

HMRC’s ‘nudge letters’ are specifically worded letters to prompt a response from the recipient.  In a previous article, we outlined what you need to know…

30th August 2022

Trust Registration Service – what you need to know ahead of September 2022 deadline

(UPDATED AUGUST 2022) In September, the Trust Registration Service (TRS) finally opened for the registration of non-taxable trusts. As a quick recap, the regulations were…

26th August 2022

Outlook on the UK property market for overseas investors

The UK property market has seen significant changes since the start of the calendar year with new regulations and macroeconomic factors bringing a variety of…

22nd August 2022

Changes to VAT assessments for overseas online marketplace traders

Coming into effect from September 2022, HMRC have announced that they will be changing the way they carry out VAT assessments for overseas traders who…

18th August 2022

The Register of Overseas Entities: what you need to know

There is less than 6 months until the deadline for the Register of Overseas Entities On the 1 August 2022 the UK’s Register of Overseas…

17th August 2022

Crypto – all is not lost

During the pandemic years, the world of cryptocurrencies and digital investments reached dizzying new heights in both popularity and monetary value. Everyone from serial entrepreneurs…

12th August 2022

Hosting on Airbnb – The tax implications you need to consider in 2022

The travel industry has faced turmoil this summer, with baggage claims flooding airports, strikes, and miles-long lines at the port of Dover with people making…

12th August 2022

What you need to know when running a Furnished Holiday Let

The prime month for summer holidays has arrived, so if you own and run a Furnished Holiday Let (FHL), or you are looking to start…

2nd August 2022

Money is good, love is wealth: Finance tips for influencers

Monday night’s Love Island finale introduces a host of new influencers to the social scene – Here’s what they need to know about managing their…

28th July 2022

National Insurance payments have changed – 5 things you need to know

In April, National Insurance (NI) endured an increase of 1.25% – from 12% to 13.25%. This decision was partly made to ensure that enough money…

28th July 2022

No gain/ No loss: divorce rule changes

Divorcing couples are now given more time to transfer assets under “No Gain/ No Loss” rules The Government have recently announced proposals to change the…

28th July 2022

Cost of living crisis: 3 alternative options to a pay rise

Cost of living crisis: 3 alternative options to a pay rise Rising inflation in the UK is creating a situation in which the cost of…

27th July 2022

The impacts of rising inflation: the effect on financial statements

Financial statements look at historical information, thus rising inflation can quickly make the information contained in them increasingly irrelevant. It is, therefore, even more important…

26th July 2022

Calling all property investors – lessons learnt from the Haymarket Media Group Limited v HMRC [2022] case

Calling all property investors – lessons learnt from the Haymarket Media Group Limited v HMRC [2022] case Calling all property investors/developers – the recent First…

26th July 2022

The second ‘payments on account’ deadline is this week – What self-employed taxpayers need to know

The second ‘payments on account’ deadline is this week – What self-employed taxpayers need to know London, 26th July 2022 – The second ‘payments on…

12th July 2022

Top reasons to invest in the UK

Top reasons to invest in the UK According to the World Bank’s “Doing Business Guide 2020”, the UK ranked number 8 globally for the ease…

5th July 2022

Charity VAT Alert: Update to business v’s non business activities for VAT purposes

On 1 June 2022, HMRC published Revenue and Customs Brief 10 (2022) outlining their change of policy when determining whether an activity is a business…

30th June 2022

Changes to National Insurance Contributions – will you be better off?

National insurance (NI) is a tax which contributes towards benefits and pensions, covering everything from job seekers allowance to maternity leave payments. The amount you pay depends upon…

30th June 2022

Developing a coaching culture in the workplace

First published in Charities Management on June 28th 2022   “We know that truly diverse organisations have increased innovation and they have higher levels of retention. We…

30th June 2022

Powering the UK: HW Fisher calls on the Government to do more to maintain the UK as an attractive place for international investment

Inward investment makes a significant contribution to the UK economy – beyond job creation and wages through to productivity gains and fostering innovation, research and…

30th June 2022

Celebrating the UK’s first Social Mobility Awareness Day

First published in Accountancy Today on June 24th 2022   Last week saw the UK’s first Social Mobility Awareness Day, a day designed to improve…

22nd June 2022

Not For Profit Sector: Month in Review

Carol Rudge, Partner & Head of Not for Profit (NFP) at HW Fisher, provides an update on some of the top reports, news, and events…

31st May 2022

Meet the team – Tanya Craft

Tanya Craft has recently been promoted to Director, Corporate Finance. Tanya first joined HW Fisher’s audit department back in 2011 as part of a three-year…

20th May 2022

Divorce – make sure your tax affairs are in order

From April 2022, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 has reformed the divorce process to remove the concept of fault. Couples are now able…

20th May 2022

Reminder: Annual tax on enveloped dwellings – calculate the value of your property

Annual tax on enveloped dwellings (ATED) is an annual tax payable mainly by companies that own UK residential property valued at more than £500,000. The…

18th May 2022

HW Fisher announces latest round of promotions as part of continued growth

HW Fisher, a UK top 30 audit and advisory firm, today announces the latest expansion of its senior leadership team to support the firm’s continued growth.…

10th May 2022

HMRC’s use of ‘nudge’ letters – what do you need to know

HMRC has begun issuing further batches of nudge letters to taxpayers.  HMRC has used what has become known as ‘nudge’ letters since 2017 , designed…

5th May 2022

Charity Trustee Roundtable – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

“I was reading an article which was talking about belonging and that diversity and inclusion aren’t what matter anymore, but belonging is what counts. And…

3rd May 2022

How can Not for Profit organisations best manage their contracts and royalty agreements?

Many Not for Profit organisations are increasingly working with third parties to fulfil their organisational needs and services. For example, areas such as catering, branded…

26th April 2022

HW Fisher’s reaction to Labour’s pledge to replace ‘non-dom’ tax rules

Tim Walford-Fitzgerald, Partner, shares his thoughts about the announcement from the Labour Party to replace ‘non-dom’ tax rules. The practical impact of the changes are…

20th April 2022

VAT Update from HW Fisher

Gerry Myton and Mike Block explain the latest updates and rulings affecting VAT.  Read more on the latest news from HMRC, key takeaways from recent…

12th April 2022

Tax Implications of the Covid Pandemic

While international travel has now started to open up, the various travel restrictions put in place during the COVID pandemic mean that some individuals found…

11th April 2022

Insights from our Higher Education Chair of Audit Committee Roundtable

Higher Education Chair of Audit Roundtable – February 2022 – the current HE landscape At our recent Chair of Audit Committee roundtable, we were joined…

6th April 2022

Not for Profit sector: A month in review

Carol Rudge, Partner & Head of Not for Profit (NFP) at HW Fisher provides an update on some of the top reports, news, and events…

6th April 2022

Tips for elevating positive impact

Charities are mission-driven by definition: delivering on their charitable objectives is embedded into their DNA.  We all know that charities do incredible game changing work. …

6th April 2022

VAT update on charities that provide accommodation

The recent tribunal hearing in the case of City YMCA London v HMRC could have important implications for charities that provide accommodation. If you provide…

6th April 2022

What do unions need to be thinking about in 2022?

Unions 21 is a forum for unions to come together to explore our shared challenges and to look at practical projects and ideas to build…

5th April 2022

New tax year: 10 changes that could impact your personal finances

As the 2021-22 tax year draws to a close, a lot of people have been wondering exactly when the current tax year ends and the…

24th March 2022

Spring Statement: 5 key takeaways

The Chancellor has announced his ‘mini-budget’ – here are our five key takeaways and initial thoughts so far. 1. Income tax Key takeaway: Basic rate…

22nd March 2022

If I were Chancellor for a day…

HW Fisher outlines some quick wins for The Chancellor to consider ahead of the Spring Statement this week… Reduce fuel duty costs “The proportion of…

11th March 2022

VAT Update from HW Fisher

In this month’s VAT Update Gerry Myton and Mike Block bring the latest updates from the world of VAT! Read on for more updates, information…

8th March 2022

How our partners are working to #BreakTheBias against women in the workplace

This International Women’s Day, we asked our partners how they’re working to break the bias for women in the workplace. From small changes to make…

16th February 2022

Building your own Grand Design? VAT implications you must be aware of

The DIY House Builders VAT scheme allows people who build their own homes to reclaim the VAT incurred on their building costs, but not professional…

27th January 2022

VAT Update from HW Fisher

In this month’s VAT Update Gerry Myton and Mike Block bring the latest updates from HMRC including the summary of responses from HMRC’s call to…

27th January 2022

Plastic Packaging Tax: What you need to know

A new tax, Plastic Packaging Tax (“PPT”), is being introduced in the UK with effect from 01 April 2022 aimed at reducing single use plastic…

21st January 2022

Hosting on Airbnb: tax tips on the house

The Airbnb market in the UK is booming. Before the pandemic there was over 223 thousand active listings on Airbnb in the UK. If you’re…

22nd December 2021

Property market 2022: changing tax legislation to be aware of

This year has been one of the busiest for the housing market in more than a decade. According to Zoopla, estimates show that there will…

21st December 2021

Making Disclosures to HMRC

HMRC believes that taxpayers want to pay the right amount of tax and wants to help those taxpayers that are not paying the correct amount…

14th December 2021

Tax Issues Affecting the Not-For-Profit Sector – HW Fisher Expert Webinar

We recently held a webinar on tax matters for Finance Directors and Finance Teams at Not for Profit organisations. Specifically we focussed on: • A…

13th December 2021

Opportunities and Challenges in 2022

As we enter 2022, we continue to adapt to the new reality that is emerging in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. There are both…