COVID-19 Resources
Information and resources for business owners and individuals
This hub is designed to help you keep up-to-date with the latest government announcements and to provide useful information for business owners and individuals on how COVID-19 may affect you and your business.
More Firms Can Now Benefit from the Future Fund
More start-ups and innovative firms will be able to apply for investment from the government’s Future Fund from 30 June: • companies which have participated in accelerator programmes now eligible for the popular scheme; • more than 320 early-stage,...
National Insurance – what do the changes mean for you?
Changes to National Insurance contributions (NICs) limits and thresholds took effect from 6 April 2020. The Treasury says the ‘typical’ employee will pay around £104 less in NICs in 2020/21. Before the coronavirus crisis, there were plans to raise...
Businesses Need to Reinstate VAT Direct Debits
The deferral of VAT payments due to coronavirus comes to an end on 30 June and businesses need to take action to reinstate their direct debit mandates. The Institute of Chartered accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Tax Faculty has reminded its...
IR35 – Change on Hold
The IR35 rules had been set to take effect from 6 April 2020, however, they are now on hold until 6 April 2021. This is to help the business community cope with the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and the government emphasises that it is a...
Government Launches Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
Employers can now make claims through the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme. On 26 May 2020 the government announced a new online service for small and medium-sized employers to recover Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to...
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is Changing
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined changes to the furlough scheme during the daily press briefing (29 May 2020). The Chancellor stated that in June and July the furlough scheme will continue as before, but employers will be asked to cover National...
Covid19 – Time to Reflect and Plan Ahead
As we emerge slowly from lockdown, now is a good time to take stock of things and look ahead to how we can run our businesses with the “New Normal” environment we face. What is clear is that some form of social distancing will remain, and many...
Inheritance Tax Planning in 2020/21 – what to consider during lockdown
Coronavirus has many people reflecting on their own mortality. So if you have more time on your hands during the lockdown, planning your estate may be a wise way to spend it. Benjamin Franklin observed there are only two certainties in life: death...
Working from Home During the Coronavirus
Can employees reclaim any expenses? On Monday 16 March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the public to work from home where possible in an attempt to contain the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the UK. For more than 1.7 million people it was...
What we can do for you
Find out more about the full range of business and tax advisory services Horsfield & Smith offers to businesses and individuals across Greater Manchester and the North West of England and see how we can help you achieve your goals for growth.