A reminder of ways you can pay tax due

Last week we confirmed that as from 13 January 2018, HMRC will not accept personal credit cards for payment of tax or penalties. We have listed below the payment options you still have available to you:

  • Electronic payment. HMRC’s preferred method of payment is by electronic bank transfer using Faster Payments, CHAPS or BACS. In order to make a payment electronically you will need your 11-character payment reference when you pay. This reference is made up of your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) followed by the letter ‘K’. This should not be confused with your National Insurance number or other ID numbers as payments with the wrong reference number can be delayed. The correct number can be found on your HMRC online account. You can also pay by direct debit but you will need to make a separate payment each time to HMRC
  • Pay at your bank. This option is only possible if you still receive paper statements from HRMC and have the paying-in slip HMRC sent you. If you do you can pay by cash or cheque (including your reference number) at your bank or building society. HMRC will accept your payment on the date you make it, and not the date it reaches their account (as long as you pay from Monday to Friday).
  • Debit or credit card online. It is still possible to pay with a personal debit card online or to use a company credit card which must be linked to a business bank account. However, when it comes to making personal tax payments care should be taken where an employer pays a debt that an employee owes to a third party. 
  • Cheque payments. HMRC accepts cheques made payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’ followed by your UTR number. You should allow 3 working days for your payment to reach HMRC.
  • Budget payment plan. There is also an option to set up a budget payment plan if you prefer to make regular payments in advance.
  • Post office. HMRC removed the option of making a payment through a Post Office on 15 December 2017.

Planning note

Taxpayers that make payments on account should be aware that the first payment on account for 2017-18 is due on 31 January 2018 together with any balancing payments due for 2016-17. There are penalties for late payment of tax due and we would strongly advise all our clients to ensure they meet these payment deadlines and leave sufficient time for the payment to reach HMRC by the close of play on 31 January 2018.

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Case Studies

The Tax Man

Minimise the stress of an investigation and make use of our extensive experience in securing best outcome for our clients

Business Valuation in Distress

Take advantage of our impartial and rigorous due diligence procedures

FD in The Cupboard

Our innovative ideas are here to improve your business performance and secure appropriate and cost effective funding

Contact us

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Chandos House, School Lane Buckingham,
Buckinghamshire MK18 1HD

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01280 823904

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01280 822090

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info@tearlecarver.co.uk

The Tax Man

The Tax Man

A new client was introduced to us via a recommendation with whom we arranged to meet on a regular basis in order to determine a number of changes that we felt were needed to their business structure. The client was at the time operating as a husband and wife partnership. The business was flourishing and had a number of large contracts with big organisations.

At the start of the process they were still heavily immersed in their day to day operations so we can get a full flavour for their ambitions, aspirations and growth plans. We quickly recognised there were sufficient tax savings which can be achieved by changing the structure from a partnership to a corporate entity. We carried out a business valuation and disposed of the goodwill from the old to the new business. Unfortunately, as often is the case with efficient tax planning, HMRC got involved and disputed our valuation.

An HMRC investigation can be a very stressful time for any client, even for those best prepared. However, our client had minimal input in the HMRC communication as we dealt with this professionally behind the scene. As an added benefit, our client could rest on the security that all work was covered by insurance and therefore all costs and time in dealing with this enquiry were covered by the fee protection policy we had put in place.

The initial approach taken by HMRC was very aggressive and they tried to present an argument that there was no goodwill in the business. We challenged HMRC’s view that the goodwill was worthless. After lengthy correspondence and numerous telephone calls, HMRC agreed 100% with our original valuation, which preserved our original tax saving plan for the client. Tax savings on this case where in the region of £75K at the outset, with ongoing savings of £6,000 per annum. We are pleased to add another happy client to our portfolio.

Business Valuation in Distress

Business Valuation in Distress

Selling a business is never an easy process, but when disputes arise, the need for a reliable third party due diligence process is even greater.

Tearle & Carver have extensive understanding of the requirements for remaining objective when managing a potentially difficult company buyout. In one such case, we were approached by the courts to act as independent accountant for an acrimonious business sale in which one partner was exiting the business and selling shares to the other. Given the circumstances, both sides had totally polar views of what their business was worth.

After arranging an initial meeting with the company, we were thorough in ensuring we completed due diligence, validating the figures in the accounting records, carrying out adjustments where appropriate, and drafting a set of reliable management figures within the framework required by the court.

A draft version of the report detailing our findings and conclusions was submitted to both parties, giving them the opportunity to voice any queries or concerns and ensure all relevant factors had been taken into account.

Through this process, we were able to submit a final report to the courts that was both binding and acceptable to both parties, effectively resolving what could otherwise have been a time consuming and costly process for all sides.

FD in The Cupboard

FD in The Cupboard

For smaller companies, it is often not possible or cost effective to pay for a full-time Financial Director.
Many of our clients therefore make use of Tearle & Carver’s extensive expertise to provide the services of an FD as and when required.

In this case, we were approached by the management team of an organisation looking to acquire the existing business via an MBO (Management buy out). Their business plan had proved ineffective for securing funding, and what they needed was financial expertise from someone with a developed understanding of the company’s internal workings.

Tearle & Carver helped deliver the solution our clients were looking through utilising our bank contacts in order to make the MBO viable, while also building a robust business plan and preparing our client for the rigorous vetting process. To help with cash flow issues, we introduced factoring which led to improved cash flow management.

We advised on the appropriate business valuation and structure, and continued to prepare monthly accounts to track profgress once the management were fully in command of all the information they needed to move their business forward.

In order to best assist these clients through the crucial first year of ownership, we attended board meetings on a regular basis, a service that we continue to provide to date.

With our continually developing understanding of their business, this client is able to remain confident that Tearle & Carver can provide any financial support they may need, now and in the future.