April Questions and Answers

Newsletter issue – April 2023

Q. In his Spring Budget, the Chancellor said 'full expensing' would apply to plant and machinery. Does this mean I can write off the balance brought forward in my plant and machinery pool, which was previously written down at 18% on the reducing balance method?

A: The new 'full expensing' rules announced in the Spring Budget on 15 March 2023, only apply to new (not second-hand) assets purchased on and after 1 April 2023.

If the brought-forward balance in your plant and machinery pool is now no more than £1,000, you can write off that amount under the current rules, otherwise, you must carry it forward reducing it by 18% each year until it reaches £1000.

Q. I've been receiving text messages from tax.service.gov.uk advising of new PAYE codes for 2023/24. However, when I log into the HMRC website, it says that no new PAYE codes have been issued. This has been going on for weeks, is it a scam or genuine contact from HMRC?

A: These messages are genuine, but there is a fault with the HMRC system that it is sending out these text messages when no PAYE code changes have been issued.

Q. I want to top up my NIC record by paying to complete seven tax years. To pay online I need an 18-digit reference number which is only available by calling HMRC, but the HMRC telephone line is never answered. How can I make the payment?

A: It is difficult to get through to HMRC by phone, and that is why the deadline for making voluntary NIC payments has been extended to 31 July 2023, as we explained above.

You can pay the NIC due by cheque made out to "HM Revenue and Customs only". But be sure to write your name and National Insurance number on the back of the cheque, and don't fold the cheque. Also include a cover letter which details:

  • your name, address, and phone number
  • your National Insurance number
  • how much you are paying
  • the period you are paying for

Send this letter and cheque to:

HM Revenue and Customs

National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office

BX9 1AN

What our clients say about us...

  • "Paul has provided accountancy services to my company for 2 years now. I can recommend Paul very highly; his skills as an accountant are highly detailed and professional and he is always available to provide advice. One aspect of the way Paul works that I greatly appreciate is a preference to meet face to face when there is a detailed conversation to be had. I personally find this more productive and is a benefit of working with a small accountancy firm that you wouldn't get with the large faceless providers."

    ALISTAIR FAIRWEATHER - PROGRAMME & PROJECT MANAGER, DELIVERING/RESCUING I.T. 7 BUSINESS CHANGE WITH BUDGETS UPTO £50M INC SUPPIER MANAGEMENT

  • "I couldn't ask for more from Paul as an Accountant. Paul has been accountant to Work Relief Charity Recruitment for just over a year now and is proving an invaluable asset. Accurate, knowledgeable, flexible with an emphasis on service delivery, I would recommend Paul's services to any organisation looking for an accounts professional."

    Neil Price - Managing Director at Work Relief Charity Recruitment

  • "Paul was a referral from a family member when I started my business 2 years ago. As this was the first time I had ever run my own company I was totally clueless over the financial side of matters and was worried that I may have made mistakes in any of my accounting. I needn't have worried as after enaging Paul for a set monthly fee he was always there on the end of the phone for all sorts of questions I had and no matter how trivial they were Paul gave me all the information I required and more and did an excellent and painless job at the end of my first year! Couldn't ask for any better to be honest. Just two words - hire him!!!"

    Lee Westrap MBCS - Director - Bulldog IT Services

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Booth & Co  |   The Hermitage  |   15a Shenfield Road  |   Brentwood  |   Essex  |   CM15 8AG        Telephone: 01277 224666    |   Email: info@boothandco.co.uk