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Capital Allowances on Fixtures

There are a number of capital allowance claims firms targeting businesses which have recently bought or sold commercial property. These ‘experts’ suggest the business needs to pay for a special survey to claim all the capital allowances they are entitled to, and this must be done quickly in order to claim all the allowances due.

In most cases a special survey is not needed. However, it is true that for commercial building sales made since 1 April 2012 the vendor and purchaser must take formal steps (usually an election) to agree the value of fixtures included in that building. This value must be agreed within two years of the transfer of ownership. If agreement cannot be reached the two parties can go to the tax tribunal where the judge will make a decision.

The agreed value for fixtures is brought into the capital allowance pool as the disposal value for the vendor and is added to the capital allowance pool for the purchaser.

There is another change on its way for transfers of commercial buildings from April 2014. The value of fixtures and fittings must be claimed as part of a capital allowances pool by the vendor in an accounting period prior to the sale of the building. If the vendor does not make this claim, the purchaser is barred from claiming any capital allowances for the fixtures it acquires.

http://www.cloudbookkeeper.co.uk/530/

Plans are underway to allow bank customers to pay cheques into their account by taking photos on their smartphones. Rather than going to the bank in person, customers will be able to photograph the cheque and then send it electronically. Currently, the law states that a bank must demand to physically see the cheque before they honour it.

Compared to many other European countries, the UK has a sluggish cheque clearing process. At the moment, it can take up to six days, whereas on the Continent, it normally takes two. This new system will bring us in line with our cousins across the Channel.

Businesses accounted for more than 370m cheque transactions in 2012. A total of 25 per cent of payments made by small businesses in 2012 were made by cheque.
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John Allan, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Many of our members, and their customers, still rely on cheques so will be pleased with the investment and innovation to ensure their continued use. Speeding up cheque payments into business accounts is to be welcomed as many find the current process frustratingly slow. Using smartphones is an interesting idea which should allow some firms in areas, particularly where bank branches are closing, to be able to accept cheques as a method of payment.”

Sliced Gallery Post with Two Images

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QuickBooks Online Accountant — work easily with your clients

Intuits new cloud bookkeeping software looks like its set to be a winner with bookkeepers, accountants and small businesses

Powerfully simple, completely intuitive and lightning fast

QuickBooks Online is easier, faster and better organised than ever. The streamlined design makes it easy for you and your clients to find information and get work done in fewer steps.

Wherever. Whenever. And always in real time.

Your office becomes wherever. Your hours become whenever.
And you can always work with clients in real time.

Improved Collaboration

Improved collaboration
When you share data with clients
in the cloud, you get fewer mistakes
and better insights.

Ditch The Desk

Ditch the desk
Anywhere access means you don’t
have to be at your desk to work.

Uncover More Insights

Uncover more insights
With up to date, reliable data,
you can discover and harness
powerful business insights.

The power of the cloud

By storing your data in the cloud instead of your computer, your work is always accessible,
up to date and secure. That means you can save time, rest easy and rest more often.

Always Up-To-Date

Always up to date
QuickBooks Online keeps itself updated to the latest version, so you get new features automatically.

Always Secure

Always secure
The cloud uses the same encryption as leading online banks, keeping your data safe and sound.

Always Backed Up

Always backed up
Your data is backed up for you, so if your computer crashes
your work stays safe.

Always Accessible

Always accessible2
You can sign in from any location, giving you flexibility in when and how you work.

Used and trusted by companies around the world
QuickBooks Online has over 450,000 small business users around the world.3

A cloud full of features

QuickBooks Online Accountant will help you save time, so you can get more out of business. More satisfied clients. More growth opportunities. More time to develop your accountancy practice.

“Navigating through QuickBooks Online creates a seamless and intuitive
experience, delivering almost immediate results.”
CPA Practice Advisor: It’s “Game On” for Intuit, August 27, 2013.

Access the cloud

So you’re ready to join the cloud. But is your computer? Odds are the answer is yes, but check below
to ensure that you’ll be able to use QuickBooks Online Accountant.

Browser Windows Mac OS X
Google Chrome Any version Any version
Firefox Version 7 or later Version 4 or later
Safari 4 Version 4.1.1 or later
Safari 5 Version 5.0.1 or later Version 5.0.1 or later
Internet Explorer Version 10 or later
Software requirements
You or your client must have a subscription to QuickBooks Online in order to create or work on a company file.
QuickBooks Online Accountant provides accounting tools which you can use with your clients’ QuickBooks Online data.
Network connection
We recommend a high-speed internet connection, such as an ADSL broadband or fibre connection. You can use a slower
connection, but it will take longer to get things done.

Tax Treatment of the Office Christmas Party

Christmas Party Tax implications

It’s about that time of the year when your clients start planning their annual Christmas parties! The great news is that the cost of a staff party or other annual entertainment may be allowed as a deduction for tax purposes.

As an employer you can pay for an annual event, and there are no personal tax implications if the total does not exceed £150 per head.  This doesn’t need to be one Christmas event either, just ‘annual’.  So you  could have a Christmas party and a Summer party, and both would be allowable for tax purposes provided the total of both does not exceed the £150 per head limit.  If you spend just £1 over the £150 limit, then the whole amount becomes a benefit in kind.  Here are the rules:

  • the event must be open to all employees
  • the cost is only tax deductible for employees and directors of a limited company, but not for sole traders
  • an annual event offered to staff is not taxable on those attending provided that the cost per head does not exceed £150
  • all costs must be taken into account including VAT, costs of travel to and from the event and accommodation provided.  If the limit is exceeded then individuals will be taxed on the full cost per head.  And there will be no taxable deduction for the company.

You can also provide a small gift to the employees as an employer, they are allowed to provide each team members with a gift, such as a bottle of wine or box of chocolates.  These gifts are considered to be trivial and as such are not taxable.

To read the HMRC guidance please use the link below:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/eim21690.htm

Gallery Post with Horizontal Sliding Images

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Sliced Gallery Post with Four Images

Etiam ultricies viverra dolor, eu convallis metus ullamcorper non. Maecenas suscipit gravida metus a venenatis. Duis vestibulum nulla at elit tristique, id porttitor justo rutrum. Maecenas libero lacus, molestie mattis nibh id, vestibulum rhoncus tortor. Proin dictum aliquam nisi sed suscipit. Donec est turpis, sodales quis felis vitae, ultricies consequat odio. Etiam mollis risus sit amet libero tristique volutpat.

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Sliced Gallery Post with Five Images

Etiam ultricies viverra dolor, eu convallis metus ullamcorper non. Maecenas suscipit gravida metus a venenatis. Duis vestibulum nulla at elit tristique, id porttitor justo rutrum. Maecenas libero lacus, molestie mattis nibh id, vestibulum rhoncus tortor. Proin dictum aliquam nisi sed suscipit. Donec est turpis, sodales quis felis vitae, ultricies consequat odio. Etiam mollis risus sit amet libero tristique volutpat.

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Sage One – Cloud Accounting Software

Sage One Accounts

Sage One is an online accounting service that helps accountants to work with their micro or small business clients.

You can view all of your Sage One clients in one place, making it easy to manage and access.

Sage One Accounts – Features

Say goodbye to late nights in the office

Online accounting software gives you the freedom to work when and where you want. Your data is secure and backed up so you never need to worry about losing your accounts data.

No software to install – ever

Get started easily – no need to ever download updates and get more out of your accountant by inviting your accountant to work with you.

With Sage One Accounts, you can invite your accountant to work securely on your business finances. Less time spent in meetings means more time that your accountant can spend helping you keep your business on the right track.

Affordable monthly subscription

Spread the cost of your accounting software, paying a small amount each month means you can spread the cost of your accounting software.

Use Sage One Accounts as much as you like

No transactions or invoice limits, Sage One Accounts has no limits on how many transactions you can process each month.

Will it work on my computer?

Access Sage One Accounts from anywhere at any time

You can access Sage One Accounts from anywhere at any time, using an internet connection. Sage One Accounts is an online accounting service; it’s web browser-based so you don’t need to download or install any software. Just go online and head to this website. We simply recommend that you use the latest browser to access Sage One Accounts.

 

YouTube Video Post

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