Business news and opinion from Evans Weir

New rules are being introduced for claiming employment expenses. To help reduce ineligible claims and tax abuse employees now need to use a P87 form and provide supporting evidence. The new rules took effect on 14th October 2024. The new process to “check first, pay layer” follows feedback that more ineligible claims were being made. […]

With the Christmas period approaching you may be considering you might like to reward your employees. So what are the tax rules when it comes to Christmas gifts or extending festive bonuses to your team? This time of year can be a good opportunity to recognise hard work and commitment from your team. But ahead […]

With time to consider the detail of the Autumn Budget it’s useful to reflect on the main changes impacting SMEs. Small businesses will be affected by many of the changes announced, particularly with regards to National Insurance contributions, fuel duty, and business rates. Employer’s National Insurance Contributions The main impact of the Autumn Budget on […]

Following our at-a-glance review of the key budget announcements, here is your downloadable guide with more detailed analysis of the measures that formed the 2024 Autumn Budget.

In the first Labour Budget since 2010, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Autumn 2024 Budget. The speech focused on details of the Government’s planned spending on public services, and the ways in which much needed revenue will be raised. What was clear was that the new Chancellor was keen to start to address some of […]

With Cyber Security Awareness Month upon us it’s a useful time to consider how to stay secure online. Small businesses have suffered from increasingly sophisticated cybercrimes, including phishing, invoice fraud and malware attacks. So how can you protect your business? Recent research shows the enormous growth in cybercrime and fraud against new businesses. More than […]

The UK offers a variety of grant funding opportunities to support SMEs. These grants often aim to promote innovation, business growth, sustainability, or regional development. But it can be difficult to know where to start! Here are some of the main UK grants and funding programs currently available to SMEs: Innovate UK GrantsInnovate UK is […]

Choosing whether to register for self-assessment can be a difficult decision. Certain myths have also thrived, making the decision more complex. To help, HMRC has clarified some of the most common misconceptions surrounding self-assessment and when you’ll need to pay tax when you’re self-employed. With more people now working for themselves, HMRC has highlighted five […]

If you’re selling goods and services online, new tax rules could affect you. HMRC has recently issued an alert for online sellers achieving profits from buying or making goods, or selling services, to check whether they are considered a trader. In this situation tax on any earnings over £1,000 would need to be paid. The […]

SMEs are claimed to be responsible for £4.4 billion of unpaid tax as a result of tax evasion, according to a new report from the National Audit Office (NAO). Tax evasion is the practice of deliberately falsifying or omitting information to reduce a tax bill.   The research – which focused on the high street […]

HMRC has begun clamping down on new tax reporting rules covering cryptocurrency gains. As part of a steady push over the last 12 months it’s become clear that any crypto gains would see greater attention from the tax authorities. In 2024/25 it’s also likely that crypto assets will need to be fully declared for the […]

Introducing flexible working and condensed hours can be extremely beneficial for both business owners and employees. The 4 Day Week Campaign has picked up pace since the pandemic, based around the idea that a “9-to-5, five-day working week is outdated and no longer fit for purpose.” Reported benefits include increased productivity, higher employee satisfaction and […]