Post-election comment

The recent election result has certainly thrown the cat amongst the pigeons.

There are already indications that the Queen’s speech and the start of Brexit negotiations may be delayed, this mainly due to extended negotiations to agree support for the Conservatives with minority groups, at present the DUP.

Manifesto pledges that may be removed from the Queen’s speech includes:

  • cancelling plans to remove the triple lock on pensions
  • the means testing of winter fuel payments
  • the introduction of new grammar schools, and possibly
  • a softening of the approach to Brexit negotiations

Philip Hammond has kept his job at number 11 Downing Street and this will add some continuity to any other tax changes that may be forthcoming. A stripped-down version of Finance Bill 2017 was fast-tracked through the last Parliament and received Royal Assent before Parliament was dissolved. To achieve this, the government deleted 72 out of 135 clauses and 18 out of 29 schedules from the original Bill. This included the legislation for the introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) which was expected to be introduced in April 2018. Other measures that were removed from the Bill include corporate loss relief and interest deductibility, VAT in relation to fulfilment houses and penalties for enablers of defeated tax avoidance schemes.

We are also expecting the first ever Autumn Budget later this year as the changes to the Budget cycle take effect. By then, we should have a better idea of the direction this new Parliament is taking and what effect the Brexit negotiations are having.

This, of course, all depends on Mrs May’s efforts to maintain her minority government.

Planning note:

The major tax item that is still not fully implemented, and that will affect all businesses in future years, is HMRC’s progress towards their digitisation of tax payer records – the so-called Making Tax Digital program.

At present, we are told that the self-employed with turnover above the current VAT registration limit will need to be in a position to upload summarised accounts information via their approved accounts software, from April 2018. Other businesses will be required to comply in future years. It should be noted that legislation is still outstanding to formalise this arrangement.

However, taking the first step, by choosing the authorised accounts software you should use, will not only provide you with a solution to upload data to HMRC in due course, it will also provide you better access to your financial information. If you are still undecided which software to use, we can advise. We realise that this is a difficult "first step" for many smaller business owners, who have been used to less complex recording systems in the past, and don’t forget that businesses include property landlords. Please call so that we can discuss your needs in more detail.

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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

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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.