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November Questions and Answers
Newsletter issue - November 2023
Q. In June 2023, you said that it wasn't free of tax if the employer reimbursed an employee when recharging their electric car from home - but it is if we allow them to recharge at the workplace. We have a workplace EV charger and reimburse the employees who use their own at home. Have HMRC thought again on why the tax treatment differs?
A: Thankfully, HMRC have recognised (at last) they need to bring their guidance into line and make both charging at the workplace and at home free of tax. They have updated their Employment Income Manual (page 23900) to say this and there is a nice flowchart which confirms there is no tax due where an employer reimburses the employee for the cost of electricity to charge their company car at home. The same applies with National Insurance. Do make sure you keep records to demonstrate to HMRC you have only reimbursed for the charging of a company electric vehicle.
Q. We are a new company and looking to use the VAT Flat Rate Scheme from December 2023. Is this better than the 'normal' VAT for record keeping and VAT returns?
A: The Flat Rate Scheme is a simpler method of working out your VAT because you will be calculating a net tax amount without reference to output tax and input tax. In that regard, the Scheme is simpler for you.
But there are eligibility conditions and you need to apply to HMRC to use the Scheme and you can't operate it until after you have approval. It is not right for all businesses and we recommend speaking to you accountant, especially if you are in your first year as the flat rate percentage can be reduced by 1%.
Q. The Chancellor announced that the National Living Wage would rise to £11 per hour in 2024. Do we know all the other rates yet so we can plan?
A: Jeremy Hunt made the announcement at the Conservative Party Conference in October 2023 that the National Living Wage would increase to 'at least £11 an hour' from April 2024. This is not the exact value and you should not take any action. The rates are advised to the Government by the Low Pay Commission which the Government comments on at the Autumn Statement (in November 2023).
We don't have the full story yet I'm afraid but will bring it to you when we know.
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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