Late payments affect half of businesses

Late payments affect half of businesses

Almost half of small and medium-sized businesses have struggled with late payments in the last year, according to research by the Institute of Directors (IoD). Of the 787 business leaders surveyed, 48% have faced issues with late payments since April 2017. About 3 in...
Disincorporation relief set to expire

Disincorporation relief set to expire

Businesses will no longer be able to claim dis-incorporation relief from 31 March 2018. The relief is being withdrawn after fewer than 50 businesses attempted to access the scheme 3 years after its launch, despite more than 610,000 UK businesses being eligible....
Reduced dividend allowance edges closer

Reduced dividend allowance edges closer

From 6 April 2018, the tax-free allowance on dividends will be reduced from £5,000 to £2,000. Owner-directors have used the dividend allowance to extract profits from their business, but changes over recent years have seen the advantage of this tax-efficient strategy...
Home ownership falls for middle-income young adults

Home ownership falls for middle-income young adults

Young adults with middle incomes are considerably less likely to own their own home than those born 20 years earlier, new figures show. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found that from 1995/96, 65% of 25 to 34-year-olds with incomes in the middle 20%...
Firms face fines for failing to report gender pay gap

Firms face fines for failing to report gender pay gap

Employers could face unlimited fines if they fail to comply with gender pay gap reporting regulations, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned. After the deadlines pass – 30 March 2018 for public sector organisations and 4 April 2018 for businesses...
Freelancers drive self-employment growth

Freelancers drive self-employment growth

Freelancers in highly-skilled occupations have driven growth in the UK self-employment sector over the past decade, according to a report. Drawing on data from the Office for National Statistics, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed...