Latest Blogs in Construction
Paul Jefferson
18th April 2024 Beware of VAT refund fraud

Beware of VAT refund fraud!   We have become aware of several recent cases where taxpayers’ bank account details have been amended on the HMRC portal, without their knowledge, so that VAT repayments have been fraudulently diverted to a third party.   It seems that HMRC have been acting on the basis of a fraudulent…

Ruth Pearson
4th April 2024 National Living Wage +10%

The National Minimum Wage increase from April 2024 will be welcomed by many employees. The rise will take place from 1 April for the next pay reference period post increase.   Perhaps the biggest change of all is the abolition of the 21–22-year-old band. Employees reaching the age of 21 will now enjoy a pay…

Sarah Lockhart-White
2nd April 2024 ATED Reminder – Deadline 30/4/24

Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) is an annual tax charge payable by companies, partnerships (with at least one corporate partner) and certain collective investment schemes that own UK Residential properties exceeding £500,000.   The annual chargeable period starts on 1 April each year and both a return should be submitted online to HMRC and…

Ian Piper
13th March 2024 £30k grants available for East Cambs SME’s

The Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority have announced a new grant initiative, which they have initially funded with £310k. Grants of between £5k and £30k are available to businesses that meet the following key criteria: Project criteria: Safeguard jobs Bring new products to market Invest in new technologies, processes or measures to improve productivity Eligible…

Mike Blackledge
6th March 2024 Spring Budget 2024: For Businesses

Spring Budget 2024, a Budget to lower taxes and achieve higher growth.   The Chancellor has announced that there is good news for the economy, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) confirming that inflation is currently at 4% and is likely to reduce below the Governments target of 2% in the next few months.…

Shamus Chaplin
15th February 2024 Double-cab pick-ups: End of the road?

*An update on this has since been posted. Click here to read the updated information.*     The tax treatment of double-cab pick-up trucks is set to change with effect from 1st July 2024, and will see the vehicles lose their status as ‘commercial vehicles’ when it comes to company car taxation. This could see…

Scott Bishop
12th September 2022 Property renovations: Potential VAT trap

VAT can be something of a minefield when it comes to construction, with the VAT rate depending on the specific circumstances. The applicable rate of VAT will vary depending on the project undertaken and should be considered from the outset to avoid potentially costly errors. The first sale of a newly built residential property will…

Elizabeth Prior
2nd September 2022 What is CIS?

The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) was first introduced in 1971 (named the Construction Industry Tax Deduction Scheme) in order to combat tax evasion in the construction industry. This is done by contractors deducting money from a subcontractor’s payments and passing it onto HM Revenue and Customs on their behalf. The deductions are then considered as…

Elizabeth Prior
21st July 2022 Construction apps for cloud software

If you run a construction company and would like some more feedback on:   How your company is doing? Which jobs are most profitable? Keeping track of your staffs location and working hours?   Then there are plenty of apps that can integrate with your accountancy package like Xero, Sage and QuickBooks which will make…

Mike Blackledge
6th April 2023 P11d’s, ATED & Form 42 Returns: Now due to HMRC

Although a business may have an accounting year which doesn’t end on 5 April each year, they will still be required to submit various returns to HMRC on a tax year basis. Compliance is now an extremely important aspect of any business, with deadlines, fines and indeed penalties being applied where dates are missed, or…