Are you about to become a higher rate tax payer?

The coalition Government, in an attempt to trim the UK’s deficit have taken bold steps to increase the money coming into the Treasury. The tax thresholds are altered annually in line with inflation and generally announced in autumn’s Pre Budget Report. With the proposed changes, the number of people who pay higher rate tax is estimated to rise by nearly three quarters of a million, from 3 million to almost 3.7 million.

Recent changes in the structure of the tax system have been the reason for this huge increase in higher rate taxpayers. When the Government increased the tax free allowance to drag a million low paid workers out of paying any tax at all, they simultaneously reduced the threshold at which top rate tax became payable in order that the middle classes did not benefit. This tax year (2010/11) all earnings above £43,875 are taxed at 40 per cent. However, from April 2011 this threshold will be lowered to £42,475, the Treasury has confirmed.

There is a double whammy because, in addition to the lowering of the tax threshold, National Insurance (NI) rates for higher rate taxpayers will also rise in April 2011. The rate of NI will rise from 11 per cent to 12 per cent.The result people earning between £40,000 to £50,000 and upwards will be significantly worse off than before, anyone earning £50,000 will be £747 worse off next year.If you have children you will face another blow in April 2013 as higher-rate taxpayers with children will lose out on child benefit, costing a family with two children an additional £1,750 per year.

Now is a good time to think about both your immediate tax calculations and long term tax planning, Henderson Morgan’s wealth management team can review your current situation and help you and your family grow and protect your wealth for the future.

2011-2012 HMRC Tax Rates

HM Revenue & Customs has published the Income Tax allowances, rates and thresholds, NIC rates, Tax Credit rates and thresholds, and the Individual Savings Account (ISA) subscription limit, to be used from 6 April 2011.

Details can be found at: HMRC Tables Confirming Tax and Tax Credit Rates and Thresholds for 2011-12

As expected, there's been a significant rise in the National Insurance Contributions threshold, (i.e., the earnings level at which NICs start to be due), broadly to match the rise in Income Tax Personal Allowance previously announced. However, the 1%rise in both Employees' and Employers' NICs will mean many will suffer from an overall reduction in net income, despite the increase in tax/NI-free thresholds.

If you need help with any aspect of UK Tax or tax planning to reduce your tax liability, please contact our wealth management team at advisor@henderson-morgan.com

Tax Advice for Small Businesses

For many small business owners, one of the largest overheads is their tax bill; however, many small businesses are paying more than they need too.
How often have you argued over whose shout it is at the bar; or that the check out person at your supermarket has short-changed you? Yet staggeringly, countless small business owners aren’t willing to set aside any time to understand how to slash their tax bill.
Time and time again, we see many people pay too much tax because of little information and fear of HMRC.
Tax laws changes regularly and all business owners should engage an accountant/tax specialist. Many small business owners try to organise their own tax returns and believe that they could save expert accounting & tax advisors fees, a good tax accountant/tax specialist will save you money.
Remember that you may be paying more tax than you need to!
For a free initial discussion contact the team at Henderson Morgan who can guide you through the complex web of tax regulations advisor@henderson-morgan.com.

31st January Tax Return Deadline is Looming

The tax year runs from 6th April to 5th April the next year, and under self-assessment it is up to the individual taxpayer to calculate their own tax liability and pay the tax due by the due date. Most UK residents are taxed under PAYE and do not have to complete a Self Assessment tax return.
However, the following people usually have to complete one…
• Anyone who is self-employed;
• A company director;
• A trustee;
• Pensioners with an annual income of £100,000 or more;
• Employees or pensioners with an annual income from savings or investments of £10,000 or more;
• An employee or pensioner with untaxed annual income of £2,500 or more;
• A landlord who rents out property or land.
If you are unsure whether you need to complete one, please advisor@henderson-morgan.com for advice as it is your responsibility to notify chargeability to tax to HMRC
If you are required to complete a return, they are normally issued to you at the beginning of April each year. The basic return is 10 pages, but many sources of income require supplementary pages to be completed as well. Some people receive a short tax return of only 4 pages.As well as your income it deals with the allowances and reliefs that you can claim.
Paper returns have to be filed by 31 October following the end of the tax year and HMRC will calculate your liability for you. For online returns you have until 31 January following the end of the tax year to file the return. If you file the tax return online through the HMRC website the software will calculate your tax liability for you.
If the return isn’t filed by the due date, there is an automatic fine of £100, which is reduced to the level of tax due if that is less. There is a further £100 fine if your return is still outstanding six months later.
The method of payment usually involves two payments on account of your tax liability as follows…
• one on 31 January during the tax year and
• another on 31 July following the tax year.
These are based on the net income tax and Class 4 NIC liability of the previous tax year .
A final payment (or repayment) is due on 31 January following the tax year.
Thereafter, there is a 5% surcharge on any taxes that remain unpaid after 28 February, and a further 5% on taxes not paid after 31 July.
The payments on account are not required if…
• income tax and NIC liability for the previous year (net of tax deducted at source) is below £500 (doubled to £1000 from 2009/10 with first payment affected being 31 January 2010) or
• more than 80% of the income tax and NIC liability for the previous year was tax deducted at source.
You can also apply to have the payments on account reduced if you expect your liability for a tax year to be less than the previous year.
HMRC can correct a self assessment return within nine months of the return being filed in order to correct any obvious errors or mistakes in the return and an individual can amend their self assessment at any time within 12 months of the filing date.
By law you must keep all records in support of the tax return for at least 22 months after the end of the tax year, but if you are self-employed or have rented property the records must be kept for five years and ten months after the end of the tax year.
You can be fined up to £3,000 if you fail to maintain or retain adequate records to back the return.
Henderson Morgan can assist you with the completion of your self-assessment return, advise on payment of liabilities and deal with any enquiries into your return, and assist you to plan for tax more efficiently in the future. Please contact us at advisor@henderson-morgan.com for a free initial consultation.