KEW team | KEW Accountants in Telford

September 17, 2020

Reverse VAT for construction firms delayed until March

construction worker using a drill building a house

The start of a new scheme for the way construction firms handle their VAT for certain kinds of services has been pushed back from October 2020 until March 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The VAT Domestic Reverse Charge for Building and Construction Services means contractors will be required to pay the VAT directly to HMRC on the construction services provided by their sub-contractors.

It’s an important change and one which businesses need to be fully aware of. It will make the process more complicated for firms employing sub-contractors but easier for the sub-contractor.

The deferment of the scheme, which is basically an extension of the current Construction Industry Scheme, will give companies additional time to understand and comply.

What does it mean?

The scheme will apply to transactions between VAT-registered contractors and their sub-contractors, with those providing construction services no longer being responsible for the VAT – that responsibility switches to the contractor.

It’s basically a major overhaul of the way VAT is paid on construction and building invoices and is seen as an important move to cut down on fraud in the industry. So, in simple terms, it’s the customer receiving the service who will need to pay the VAT directly to HMRC from March instead of paying the supplier, if they report under the Construction Industry Scheme.

Exclusion rules

There is an exception which is worth knowing about but, in order to comply, businesses must inform sub-contractors in writing that they are intermediary suppliers or end users in order to fulfill the requirement of being excluded from the reverse VAT charge scheme.

This brings clarity and certainty in ensuring that both parties are left in no doubt whether or not the supply is excluded from the reverse charge.

Providing businesses follow this procedure and register their status, they will have the reassurance of knowing that they have headed off any potential challenge from HMRC.

HMRC says it is committed to identifying and tackling construction supply chain fraud and is providing support and guidance on the changes before they come in next March. It is hoped that by raising awareness now, everyone affected by the VAT Domestic Reverse Charge will fully understand what is required and not be caught out.

Clear as mud??

If you have any concerns or questions about the reverse charge, please give us a call on 01952 216872 or email us at info@kewaccountants.co.uk

September 10, 2020

by KEW team

Record-breaking rise in business start-ups a cause for optimism?

News business start-ups, start-ups, starting a new business

We love working with new businesses – and it’s been really encouraging to see such a growth in new business start-ups in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Indeed, according to the Centre for Entrepreneurs think tank, the West Midlands is leading the way with a record-breaking 60% rise in business formations in June 2020.

Our own experience here at KEW Accountants is that there has been a clear surge in people setting up their own businesses since the lockdown.

Should I set up a business now?

It’s a natural question to ask, and from speaking to our range of new clients there does seem to be some common themes about why the coronavirus lockdown has led to a big growth in new businesses being established.

Firstly, it’s a sad fact that there have been some redundancies over the past few months. Redundancy can be viewed quite differently by different people – for some it’s a disaster, but for others it can be a release and a chance for a fresh start.

It certainly seems to be the case that a lot of people have seen it as the chance to make that leap and set up on their own.

The other recurring theme amongst our new clients is that the lockdown gave them a chance to take some time out and take stock. Was their job fulfilling? Was it what they wanted to be doing for the rest of their working life?

For those who were furloughed, having an extended period of time away from work really made them evaluate their priorities – and for a lot of people that meant stepping away from their jobs and starting their own business.

A trend across the UK?

According to figures compiled by the Centre for Entrepreneurs, using Companies House data, the growth in new businesses has been seen all over England, but less so in Wales and Scotland.

Despite a drop from March to May, a record-breaking number of registrations in June was a clear indication of recovery.

Business formations dropped year-on-year by 19% in March, 29% in April, and 3% in May, before growing 47% in June. The whole of the UK saw growth in June, with the West Midlands and London leading with 60% increases.

The devolved nations experienced the sharpest fall in formations during lockdown and the slowest recovery in June. Scotland and Northern Ireland are down nearly 20% year-on-year, while Wales is down 11%.

Despite these major drops, overall startup figures between March and June are down by only 3%, and London actually emerged from lockdown with 6% more new businesses than the same period last year.

Need help setting up a business?

We specialise in helping new businesses – whether it’s setting up your finances or deciding whether to be a sole trader, partnership or limited company, it’s vital to get everything right at the outset.

Get in touch for a friendly chat and we’ll go from there! Give us a call on 01952 216872 or email info@kewaccountants.co.uk

June 25, 2020

by KEW team

Should I become a Limited Company?

News Limited Company, SMEs, sole traders

It can be a difficult decision, we know, and coming to the right one about when to become a Limited Company is something that requires serious thought – because the correct move can be extremely beneficial while the wrong one could prove very costly.

It’s all about timing and circumstances and, as with anything financial, it’s always a good idea to seek sound professional advice in helping you reach that all-important decision.

Being a Limited Company ensures a layer of separation between you and your business but there are many things to consider before making the decision. If you become Limited before you need to, then it could be expensive.

What you need to think about:

Tax

If you are at the point of tipping into the 40% tax bracket and are making more profit than you need to live on, a Limited Company is likely to be beneficial to you. If, however, you need to take out all of the profit for living expenses, then a Limited Company is likely to cost you in terms of both tax and compliance costs, so think carefully before going down that route.

Limited Liability

By running a business through a Limited Company, your personal assets are protected in most cases from your business creditors. But if the only creditors you have are the bank, lease or HP companies, then they are likely to ask for a personal guarantee anyway, meaning Limited Liability is of no advantage to you. In terms of staff, if you start to employ people, you may decide that it would be a good idea to have Limited Liability.

Your customers

You may have no choice but to form a Limited Company if you operate in some industries as your customers may refuse to trade with you as a Sole Trader or Partnership.

Making losses

Many businesses make losses in their first year because of start-up costs. As a Sole Trader or Partnership, losses are much more flexible and you could end up with a tax refund at a time when you need it most.

Compliance

A Sole Trader or Partnership is very simple to set up and operate.

Research and Development

If you are carrying out research and development then you have to be a Limited Company in order to claim the tax relief. This can be worth a lot of money to a small business.

IR35

If your Limited Company consists of only you offering your services, you may fall foul of the IR35 legislation – which is very expensive. Do not make the mistake of believing people when they tell you it won’t apply until next year. The IR35 legislation has been with us for years and the only thing that is changing is who is responsible for the implementation.

For more information and advice on how we can help you, call us on 01952 216872 or email info@kewaccountants.co.uk

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