Incorporating a buy-to-let property LLP into a company
A limited liability partnership (LLP) is treated like an ‘ordinary’ partnership in many respects. However, an important distinction arises where a business incorporates into a company. Separate legal entities Like a company, an LLP is a separate legal entity. When (for example) a business carried on by an ordinary partnership of individuals is incorporated into […]
Selling your company? How dare you!
A targeted anti-avoidance rule (TAAR) was introduced (from 6 April 2016) to prevent ‘phoenixism’. In broad terms, this practice involves company owners winding up their ‘old’ companies and extracting profit reserves as capital (instead of income) and repeating the exercise in one or more successive businesses. The effect of the TAAR applying is that an […]
Overdrawn director’s loan accounts: A penalty problem
There are statutory time limits for notifying chargeability to various taxes, including the tax charge that can arise when a company director shareholder’s loan account becomes overdrawn. Don’t be late! The general time limit for a company to notify chargeability to tax (where HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has not given a notice to file […]
Sale of goodwill: income or capital?
It is common in many occupations and professions (e.g. law, medicine) for individuals to be engaged as self-employed consultants. Some consultants will build up their own practices before eventually selling them. From a tax perspective, the question arises how the practice disposal proceeds should be treated. For example, is it an income or capital receipt? […]
No suspicion needed!
Where a taxpayer is unfortunate enough to be subjected to an enquiry into their tax return, it is not uncommon for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to issue a formal notice requiring the taxpayer to provide information or produce documents which HMRC considers is ‘reasonably required’ to check the return (FA 2008, Sch 36, para […]
It’s the quality not the quantity!
A change in personal circumstances can have tax implications, such as affecting the availability of capital gains tax principal private residence (PPR) relief. For example, a house might be occupied for only a short time before sale, due to a change of plans following a relationship breakdown. ‘Safe’ occupation? A common question asked by house […]
Penalties: Don’t take too long!
The penalty regime for errors in tax returns etc. (FA 2007, Sch 24) provides an escape from penalties if an error has arisen despite ‘reasonable care’ having been taken. Otherwise, the maximum penalty (i.e. 30% to 100% of ‘potential lost revenue’; or possibly higher if the error involves an offshore matter) depends on the type […]