Research & Development relief: Are you an Innovator?

There is a variety of tax reliefs available to small companies which are advocated by HMRC and can be used to save tax through clear and authorised methods. One such scheme is Research and Development (R&D) tax relief. This is a government incentive designed to encourage innovation by UK businesses. R&D tax relief can be equivalent to up to 33p for every £1 spent on qualifying expenditure.

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Changes to tax on savings and dividends

From 6 April 2016, there have been a number of changes in the way that savings income, including interest and dividends, is taxed. As with all tax changes, there will be new opportunities for taxpayers to reduce their tax burden by ensuring that their affairs are structured efficiently. The changes have been billed as a simplification which would lift many taxpayers out of self-assessment. However, whilst the changes will bring simplification for some, they will also mean that others need to complete a tax return, where they did not before.

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Residential property income – tax changes are upon us

Buy to let landlords of UK residential properties have been bombarded with tax changes in the last year.

In the past, letting residential property (even by individuals) was treated as a ‘property business’ for the purposes of calculating the taxable profit. Therefore, on normal business tax rules, interest paid on a loan used to purchase a property which is let, was deducted from the rental income received in the property business. For individuals who are landlords, the Government has changed this longstanding rule.

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