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Budget 2021: key points in brief

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak’s Budget set out the government’s plans for fixing the “acute damage” to public finances caused by the pandemic. These include new measures to help businesses and jobs through the months ahead and several tax-raising plans to rebalance the public purse. Rishi Sunak opened his Budget by saying he would […]

Stamp duty holiday expected to be extended until June in next week’s Budget

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reported to have decided on a three-month extension of the current stamp duty holiday until the end of June 2021. After months of lobbying from the property industry, Rishi Sunak is expected to announce in next Wednesday’s Budget that the stamp duty holiday due to end on 31 March will be […]

How will Brexit affect Britons buying or selling second homes in France?

In this article, Jill Springbett considers the impact Brexit will have on Britons buying or selling a property in France now that the UK has left the European Union. France is one the most popular places in the world for Britons to own a second home, with estimates of the number of people owning properties […]

No late filing penalty for 2019-20 Self Assessment returns

HMRC have announced that Self Assessment tax payers will not receive a penalty if they file their 2019-20 tax return late, as long as they file it online by 28 February. However, HMRC say that they encourage those tax payers who are able, to file their return by 31 January. You still must pay your Self Assessment […]

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Extended

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he will extend the furlough scheme across the UK until the end of March 2021, to provide businesses with certainty throughout the winter. The government is extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to support individuals and businesses who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. The CJRS will remain open until 31 […]

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant Extension

Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has confirmed he has extended the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) from 1 November 2020 to 30 April 2021. The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant Extension will provide support to the self-employed in the form of two grants, each available for three-month periods covering November 2020 to January 2021, and February 2021 […]

The Kickstart Scheme

To help the economic recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new Kickstart Scheme, which launches today. The Kickstart Scheme is specifically aimed at reducing youth unemployment. The scheme is backed by a £2billion fund and will pay for six-month work placements (covering overheads and wages) for 16 to 24-year-olds at […]

Reverse VAT charge for construction postponed to 2021

Following on from our blog on the 17th September 2019, the government have announced a further five-month delay to the introduction of the domestic reverse VAT charge for construction services due to the impact of Coronavirus. HMRC confirmed that the anti-fraud measure is now being postponed until 1 March 2021 in light of the Coronavirus […]

£20 million in new grants available to small businesses to boost recovery

The government has announced a £20m package of funding to help smaller businesses recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Small and medium-sized businesses can access a small business grant of between £1,000 and £5,000 to pay for the expertise, equipment and technology they need to recover and rebuild following the coronavirus pandemic. The […]

The government has announced a £1.57bn Cultural Recovery Fund to support the country’s cultural, arts and heritage organisations following the lockdown. In this article, we examine how to apply for a Cultural Recovery Fund grant from the Arts Council. The Arts Council can make grants to organisations that were financially viable before the Covid-19 crisis […]

Making Tax Digital to be extended to create a 21st-century tax system

The government has announced plans to create a fully modernised digital tax system to boost national productivity, make it easier to pay tax, and reduce errors and fraud. In this article, we look at HMRC’s plans to extend its Making Tax Digital programme.  The government says avoidable mistakes cost the Treasury around £8.5bn a year. […]

Chancellor’s Summer Statement is a “plan for jobs” focusing on consumers and property

The Chancellor’s Summer Statement on Wednesday 8 July amounted to a £30bn mini-budget aimed at preventing mass unemployment by boosting sectors most affected by the lockdown such as hospitality, tourism and property. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak launched his Summer Statement on Wednesday with some sobering statistics about the state of the economy. He […]

SEISS scheme extended but claims for the first grant must be made on or before 13 July 2020

The government has announced that the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is being extended and that the closing date for making a claim for the first grant under the scheme must be made on or before 13 July 2020. As we wrote about in a previous article, if you are self-employed or a member of a […]

What the government is doing to encourage the take up of electric vehicles

In the Budget 2020, the government confirmed its commitment to having a net zero emissions economy by 2050. As part of this, the Budget introduced measures to encourage the take up of electric vehicles. In this article, we examine these measures and consider recent reports that the government is considering bringing in a new scrappage […]

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme available for SMEs from 26 May

Small and medium-sized businesses will be able to recover up to two weeks’ Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments made to their employees due to coronavirus. In this article, we look at who is eligible and how to apply. The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme is being launched by the government on 26 May. Under […]

Furlough scheme extended until the end of October – can your business claim?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that the UK furlough scheme (the Coronavirus Retention Scheme) is to be extended until the end of October. In this article, we explain how the scheme works, who is eligible to claim and how you go about making a claim. The Coronavirus Retention Scheme allows businesses that cannot maintain their […]

Can you claim under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)?

If you are self-employed or a member of a trading partnership and have been adversely affected by Coronavirus (Covid-19), you may be able to claim a grant under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). In this article, we explain who can claim, how to claim and how much you can receive under the scheme.   Overview […]

Covid-19 update: Bounce Back Loans available for SMEs from 4 May

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new fast-track finance scheme for SMEs called the Bounce Back Loan scheme. The scheme launches on 4 May and applications will be made via a simple online application.  What is the Bounce Back Loan scheme? Small and medium-sized businesses will be able to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and […]

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) – Are you eligible and how do you apply?

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is a government scheme to provide financial support to UK SMEs that are losing revenue and suffering cash flow disruption as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. In this article, we explain how the scheme works, who is eligible for it and how to apply. The CBILS scheme […]

mgr partner Paul Simnock gives presentation to young journalists at the BBC

Paul Simnock, mgr’s media and entertainment specialist, presented a masterclass for young journalists at the BBC’s Broadcasting House in Portland Place on Saturday 8 February 2020. The event was hosted in conjunction with the John Schofield Trust, a charity made up of mentors who run mentoring schemes for journalists at the start of their career. Paul’s presentation, entitled Don’t give […]