WINE AND WISDOM (15/11/2007)
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BURGESS HODGSON UP FOR TOP INDUSTRY AWARD (25/09/2007)
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BURGESS HODGSON HITS ANOTHER WINNER (02/10/2007)
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CAUGHT OUT BY THE 3 YEAR RULE (SUMMER 2007)
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BURGESS HODGSON PROVIDES COHLINE A HELPING HAND
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BURGESS HODGSON IN THE PINK FOR CANCER RESEARCH  (18/06/2007)
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WATCH OUT FOR COMPANY FRAUDSTERS (25/02/2006)
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WHAT’S MY BUSINESS WORTH? (NOV/DEC 2005)
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TRAINING FOR SUCCESS (WINTER 2005)
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RED EAGLE SOARS WITH HELP FROM BURGESS HODGSON
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PRE BUDGET REPORT (OCT 2007)
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PLAN EARLY TO BEAT IHT BLUES (WINTER 2006/07)
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TAXING TIMES (JULY 2005)
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GETTING IN ON THE ACT (SPRING 2007)
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FLEXIBLE BENEFITS (AUTUMN 2006)
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AMNESTY OR AMMUNITION (SPRING 2007)
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HOLIDAY LETS (APRIL 2006)
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WHO’S WATCHING WHO? (SPRING 2006)
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WELCOME RELIEF (OCTOBER 2005)
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SUCCESSION PLANNING (AUGUST 2007)
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SHOCK TACTICS (AUGUST 2005)
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EXAM SUCCESS (16/10/2007)
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DEADLINE LOOMS FOR CGT CHANGE (30/1/2008)

Burgess Hodgson is expecting a flurry of activity after Chancellor Alistair Darling announced he would push ahead with his plans to scrap taper relief and introduce a single rate of 18 per cent for Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

The new flat rate – which is set to be introduced from April 6 this year – could see many large business deals pushed through before the deadline as owners of multi-million pound businesses and so-called ‘serial entrepreneurs’ look to take advantage of the existing low rate.

But it’s better news for smaller businesses, with the announcement of a 10 per cent rate on gains of up to £1m, which should help the owners of small firms who sell their businesses in the run up to retirement.

Some business groups have condemned the measures, particularly given the fact that big companies are expected to be the big losers. Taper relief currently allows some higher rate taxpayers to pay as little as 10 per cent CGT on profits from the sale of assets in any unlisted trading company or publicly-listed firm they work for, as long as they have held them for two years.

The new 18 per cent figure is expected to curb this activity, although as Ken Jones, partner at Burgess Hodgson points out, given the historical highs of CGT – as much as 40 per cent – the new figure is still relatively benign.

“The reality of the Chancellor’s new measures means that anyone thinking of selling a business or assets worth several million could still benefit from the 10% CGT figure – provided the deal is finalised before the April 6 deadline,” said Ken. “After that cut off, mid and large-sized firms will be paying a lot more tax!”

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ECO-OIL STRIKES GOLD WITH BURGESS HODGSON
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TIME TICKS FOR YEAR-END TAX PLANNING (Winter 07/08)

With April 5 just a month away, there is still time to put through a number of last minute tax saving plans.

This article is written in general terms, and if you feel any of these ideas may be appropriate for your circumstances, please get in touch with your usual contact at Burgess Hodgson.
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A BUDGET MESSAGE TO THE CHANCELLOR (12/03/08)

While commentators speculate on the effects of Alistair Darling's first full budget, in this article we look at some of the changes which we would have liked the Chancellor to make:
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BUDGET 2008 (12/03/08)

Alistair Darling delivered his first full budget today, with a focus on environmental issues, public spending and child poverty.

Although pulling few punches, there were some key points announced which will affect both the ordinary consumer and the businessman.

These include:

* Increase in thresholds and allowances

- personal allowance £5,435

- higher rate tax at taxable income more than £36,000

- Capital Gains Tax exemption £9,600

- VAT registration £67,000

* Fuel duty rise postponed until October

* Child tax credits increased

* New Capital Gains tax regime confirmed

* Small firms loan guarantee scheme to be extended

* Enterprise Investment Scheme limit increased to £500,000

* Employee Share Incentive Scheme limit increased to £120,000

* New non domicile regime confirmed but changes in the detailed rules – see our detailed analysis
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BUDGET ANALYSIS (12/03/08)
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SAY GOODBYE TO COMPANY SECRETARIES? (27/03/08)

Small businesses often complain they are burdened by increasing amounts of red tape. But, every now and then, they are thrown a lifeline, and the changes under the Companies Act 2006 are just that.
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TIME TO THINK GREEN ON COMPANY CARS? (10/04/08)

If you’re thinking of buying a plush new company car, think again: the tax cost of company cars has increased again from April 6 and now may be a good time to review your options.
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TEAMWORK PROVES WINNING COMBINATION (18/04/08)

At Burgess Hodgson, we pride ourselves in our teamwork, whether applying our expertise to complex business problems, or, as proved most recently, in our many sporting endeavours.
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TAXING TIMES (22/04/08)

This year is becoming a challenging one for most businesses. In this article, we look at the tax position following the recent Budget, how businesses and consumers might be affected and what can be done to reduce your tax burden
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CHANCELLOR SHOULD RETHINK TAX CHANGES (22/05/08)

Alistair Darling’s well-publicised amendments to income tax rates have been blasted as “a quick fix” by Canterbury-based accountants and business advisers, Burgess Hodgson, that will leave low income groups counting the cost.
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ARE YOU READY FOR THE CREDIT CRUNCH? (22/05/08)

2008 is becoming a challenging year for most businesses. In this article we look at the likely impact of the ‘credit crunch’, the recent Budget and other challenges for the year ahead
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WARNING OVER COMPANY IDENTITY THEFT (05/06/08)

Burgess Hodgson is warning businesses to be extra-vigilant following a spate of recent company identity frauds.
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LEGAL FIRMS NEED TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE (25/06/08)

Burgess Hodgson is urging solicitors’ practices to be more proactive in identifying business opportunities in light of a number of changes expected to have a big impact on the legal profession.
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GOLF DAY PROVES A WINNER (29/06/08)

Thursday 26 June saw a hugely successful 5th annual Burgess Hodgson Golf Day. Again organised by Colin Reid at his home course in Chestfield, 10 teams of four took part in a “Texas Scramble” format competition. The sun was shining, but gusting winds on the unsheltered holes provided an extra challenge for the players, made up of partners, staff and friends of Burgess Hodgson.
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BUDGET NOTES (20/03/08)
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CREDIT CRUNCH PROMPTS INTERNAL FRAUD WARNING (17/07/08)

Burgess Hodgson is warning managers and business owners to be extra vigilant after a rise in the number of businesses reporting cases of internal fraud.

The Canterbury-based firm of Chartered Accountants and business advisers, says recent research suggests the credit crunch is pushing up the levels of corporate fraud, of which internal infractions make up a large part of the overall picture.

Examples include sales personnel "upping" their business mileage, and therefore travel expenses, thinking that artificial increases in petrol costs will be disguised by the real increases at the pumps.

Other examples that Burgess Hodgson has witnessed involve simple pilfering of stock from company premises, or fraudulent invoices from imaginary suppliers for services such as ‘premises repairs’, ‘boiler service’ or ‘gardening. These are ‘settled’ by a cheque - which is made payable to the employee. One case involved over £250,000 - including a false employment tribune claim for a non-existent employee - the fraudster was reported to the police and eventually was taken to court.

“The most blatant invoices were false ones from the company's solicitors for ‘redundancy advice,” says Burgess Hodgson partner Ken Jones. “There were so many false invoices that if you added up all the staff who were to be made redundant there would have been none employed!

“Expense claims can sometimes be quite ‘colourful’,” says Ken, “although, when the economy is buoyant, the discrepancies tend to be fairly minor, and companies may take a more relaxed approach.

“However, when times get tough, some employees may cross the line and deliberately fabricate false claims in a bid to bolster their salaries. This is no longer ‘colourful’ but simply a case staff defrauding their employers.”

One solution could be to organise employee training sessions on fraud policy. “This immediately demonstrates to staff that you are being vigilant,” says Ken. “Employees, who for the most part are not ‘thieves’ but may be feeling the economic pinch, may be dissuaded from crossing the line.”

• For all business enquiries, telephone 01227 454627

• For editorial enquiries contact David Castle at the BH Press Office
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GETTING TO GRIPS WITH FORENSIC ACCOUNTING (31/07/08)

The high profile scandals of Enron and WorldCom have thrust the practice of forensic accounting into mainstream consciousness.
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FIRM HELPS EXPOSE EQUITABLE LIFE SHORTFALL (30/07/08)

Burgess Hodgson has been instrumental in helping the Parliamentary Ombudsman prepare her long-awaited report into the Equitable Life debacle.
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EXAM SUCCESS FOR TRAINEES (07/08/08)

Several trainee Chartered Accountants from Burgess Hodgson have recently passed industry exams, with three becoming part-qualified and one taking the top honours in the South East.
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TOUGH NEW PENALTIES FOR LATE FILING (03/09/08)

Burgess Hodgson is warning companies to make sure they’re aware of their filing deadlines for annual accounts – or risk falling foul of the new increased penalty payments for late submission.
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DON'T TAKE 'OSTRICH APPROACH' TO NEW PENALTY REGIME (15/09/08)

Burgess Hodgson is warning businesses to get their financial records in order – or risk falling foul of HMRC’s new penalty legislation.
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HELP AT HAND FOR HOUSEBUILDERS (06/10/08)

In the current credit crisis, with banks pulling hundreds of mortgage products and consumer confidence rocked by rising interest rates, some of the biggest casualties have been house builders who’ve been left with new build properties on their books – but a distinct shortage of prospective buyers.
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BURGESS HODGSON HELPS KEEP DAVE LEE SMILING (10/11/08)

Burgess Hodgson recently presented local celebrity and charity fundraiser Dave Lee, MBE, with a cheque for £1500.
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BASE, HOW LOW CAN IT REALLY GO? (13/11/08)

Only two things have kept the credit crunch out of the news in recent weeks – the media hype over the Lake District mountain race and the 1700 or so runners who were never lost, and the lewd ‘on air’ antics of Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross.
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TAX CUTS TO STEAL LIMELIGHT BUT BEWARE SMALLPRINT (23/11/08)

If, as Harold Wilson said, “a week is a long time in politics”, the year since Chancellor Alistair Darling’s first Pre Budget Report must feel like an eternity.
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FULL PRE-BUDGET REPORT DETAILS (25/11/08)
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HOW TO IMPLEMENT VAT CHANGES (26/11/08)

Getting to grips with the first change in the VAT rate since 1991 is going to prove quite a logistical challenge for businesses.
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GOVERNMENT THROWS BUSINESS A LIFELINE (15/12/08)

When Viv Nicholson won the modern equivalent of £5 million on the football pools in 1961, she declared that she would “spend, spend, spend”. Many would say that the Government has already won the pools many times over with huge tax receipts from the last few years’ economic boom, but has already spent the money, leaving little in reserve for the downturn.
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BASE, HOW LOW CAN IT REALLY GO? (PART 2) 18/12/08

Just over a month ago, the media was full of the story of Jonathan Ross, and the (then) amazing news that the Base Rate was being cut from 4.5% to 3%. Since we published our first article on the big base rate cuts on 13 November the Jonathan Ross story has largely been forgotten (although he will be back in January!) but there have been some major developments:
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HMRC WARNS OVER BOGUS EMAILS (08/01/09)

The government is warning people to be on the look out for fraudsters after a spate of bogus emails have been reported in the run-up to the self-assessment tax returns deadline..
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TAX DEADLINE LOOMS (16/01/09)
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CHARITIES CHALLENGED AS CREDIT CRUNCH BITES (26/01/09)

While the credit crunch, the euphemistic moniker used to describe the worst economic crisis the country has faced for nearly three decades, has contributed to the closure of several household-name businesses, its wide-reaching effects are being felt elsewhere, and none more so than in the charity sector.

Recent reports have made worrying reading, with news of cuts to jobs and services at many of the country’s charities, a result of falling donations from businesses - and the general public. With everyone looking at tightening their belts, inevitably charities – and charitable giving – are losing out.

The figures are concerning. One in three organisations expect to lay off staff within months, with smaller charities fearing for their survival. Money held by the sector has fallen by 13 per cent over the past year, while the Wellcome Trust, Britain’s biggest charity, which invests heavily in property and hedge funds, has seen the value of its investments fall from £15 billion to £13 billion.

And, while central government grants have not been affected, charities have seen their legacy incomes from wills cut by up to 50 per cent, while corporate donations have fallen by 20 per cent. There is one silver lining, however – charities with high street shops have experienced a surge in demand for their products, as cash-strapped consumers look for cheaper alternatives for everything from clothes to children’s toys, books to presents.

It’s a challenging time for the UK’s 170,000 or so registered charities, not only because of diminishing funds, but also because, under the Charities Act 2006, all charities now have to demonstrate they are established for public benefit – which may prove easier for some than others, particularly now that they have to be inclusive to people in poverty.

This is proving a particular concern to private schools that have, for many years, enjoyed unquestioned charitable status, affording them generous tax breaks. Private schools are now being told to provide more free places to children from poor homes - even if they claim to be full - or effectively face closure.

Guidance published recently by the Charity Commission also suggests schools could raise fees for existing parents as part of a "deliberate pricing strategy" to fund more places for deprived children.
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BH PARTNER SLAMS GOVERNMENT OVER EQUITABLE (13/02/09)
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STRUGGLING WITH TAX PAYMENTS? CALL US (25/02/09)
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IS IT TIME FOR BUSINESS TO THINK GREEN? (25/03/09)

The banking collapse may have relegated environmental matters to the back pages, but there are still benefits to be had from thinking green
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NEW TAX AMNESTY GETS THE GREEN LIGHT (02/04/09)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that it will be greenlighting a second Offshore Disclosure Facility (ODF) – or tax amnesty - which is likely to hit later this year.
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BUDGET 2009: CHANCELLOR'S 'DAY OF RECKONING' (20/04/09)

The weather may be better than the storms which preceded last November’s Pre-Budget Report, but the economic climate has not changed much in the last five months.
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BUDGET 2009 (22/04/09)

Chancellor Alistair Darling kicked off his second full Budget in bullish style by promising to help to get people into work, home-buying, sustaining the public finances and rebuilding financial services.

It was a confident start, against a background of what has been hailed as the worst recession since 1945. Not only was Mr Darling promising decisive action, he was also predicting a return to growth by the end of the year – contrary to most commentators, most of whom believe it will be at least the middle of 2010 before growth resumes.

“There are no quick fixes or overnight solutions to economic problems,” said Mr Darling, who admitted that the economy was forecast to shrink 3.5% in 2009 - the worst in modern times. The recovery by the year-end, however, would see growth pick up in 2010, expanding by 1.25%, with the economy to grow by 3.5% annually from 2011.

However, the figures could not hide the fact that Mr Darling admitted that Government borrowing would be £175bn this year, some 12.4% of GDP. Borrowing levels are predicted to rise by £173bn, £140bn, £118bn and £97bn in the subsequent four years.

The worst news was reserved for high earners as Mr Darling seemed to signal a return to old Labour’s ‘tax the rich’ policies. Pensions’ tax relief will be restricted for those earning more than £150,000 a year and a 50% income tax rate for those earning £150,000 or more a year will come in from April next year (up from the 45% announced in last year’s Pre-Budget report).
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BUDGET 2009: the smallprint (22/04/09)

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BUDGET NOTES 2009 (23/04/09)
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BUDGET UPS PRESSURE ON TAX COLLECTION (26/05/09)

Given time to digest its contents, reaction from the papers, commentators and financial experts to the Chancellor Alistair Darling’s second Budget was, on the whole, negative.
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BHFC SECURES LEAGUE TITLE (26/05/09)

Burgess Hodgson’s football team’s first season has ended in glory, with the side gaining promotion by winning the Canterbury and District League Division 2.

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MPs UNDER FIRE FOR MILKING THEIR EXPENSES (1/06/09)

As the MPs’ expenses scandal continues to rage, Ken Jones  looks at the issues involved and whether it’s ‘one rule for them and another rule for the rest of us’?

How would H M Revenue & Customs (HMRC) view expenses claims by an employee for cleaning a moat, a floating duck house, or a large plasma screen television? “Not very favourably” is the answer, and the most likely outcome would be an additional tax bill,  and interest  – along with some hefty penalities.However, after revelations in a national newspaper, all of the above items have been claimed by different MPs, together with a host of other costs - all paid for using taxpayers’ money.  The public has been quite justifiably outraged at some of the claims and, in light of the biggest political scandal of the last decade, MPs’ expenses rules will have to be completely rewritten.
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BURGESS HODGSON HELPS KEEP ISL AT THE CUTTING EDGE

Innovate or die, that’s the motto that Derek Ward, managing director of passive fire protection specialist Intumescent Systems Ltd lives by.
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BH PROVIDES SECURE FUTURE FOR WARD SECURITY
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CLOCK TICKING ON EU HOLIDAY LET CLAIMS (8/06/09)

Britons who let out their furnished European holiday homes could be entitled to a tax rebate under measures announced in April’s budget.
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IT'S ALL YELLOW (26/06/09)

Burgess Hodgson is ‘going yellow’ this summer to help raise funds for local charity Pilgrims Hospices.
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HOT COMPETITION AT BH GOLF DAY (3/07/09)

Burgess Hodgson recently hosted its sixth annual golf day at Chestfield Golf Club.

On a glorious June day, 11 teams comprising partners, associates and clients were treated to a ploughman’s lunch before teeing off in the competition.

The format for this year was a Texas scramble, where each team member tees off and the team then usually play the next shot from the best position. However, each team had to take at least three drives from each team member, which made for some interesting shot selections as the games – and the day – hotted up.

As always, this year’s event was a closely contested affair with several teams all in with a chance of winning over the last few holes. However, it was Kenton May’s team who took the victor’s spoils, ahead of Colin Reid’s team, with Mark Pearce’s team third. The longest drive of the day belonged to David Catford, while in the competitions for the ‘closest to the pin’ Jeremy Bye and Tony Abbott were the players with the most delicate touch.

After the day’s play had finished, everyone enjoyed a three-course meal at the clubhouse. There was also a raffle, where the money collected went towards the firm’s ongoing fundraising for Pilgrims Hospices, the chosen charity. The first prize of a three course meal for two at the Red Lion, Stodmarsh, kindly sponsored by innkeeper Robert Whigham, went to Paul Gatland’s team. The total raised by the event came to £525.

BELOW: The winning team
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TAXING TIMES (10/07/09)

Now that the MPs’ expenses scandal has at last settled down (although still looks some way from being resolved), the machinery of Government is getting back to normal day-to-day business. This includes implementing the tax changes from the Spring Budget, and in this article we look at how some of the provisions have been developed since then.
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ARE YOU MISSING OUT ON TAX CREDITS? (27/07/09)

Nine out of 10 families in the UK qualify for tax credits, according to HM Revenue & Customs.
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HMRC REVEALS DETAILS OF NDO (3/08/09)

HM Revenue & Customs has finally confirmed the much-awaited details of its new disclosure opportunity (NDO) designed to encourage taxpayers with unpaid taxes linked to offshore accounts or assets to voluntarily disclose – and be penalised at a favourable rate.
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UK SIGNS LIECHTENSTEIN TAX DEAL (17/08/09)

The UK government has unveiled details of a “groundbreaking” agreement to recover lost tax from Britons holding bank accounts in Liechtenstein.
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DENLY IMPRESSES ON ENGLAND DEBUT (27/08/09)
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DOES NEW MINIMUM WAGE STACK UP? (03/09/09)

Burgess Hodgson is reminding businesses that, from October 1 2009, the National Minimum Wage rates are due to rise.

But the rise may not be welcomed by businesses that are currently feeling the pinch in the tough economic climate.
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BURGESS HODGSON UP FOR TOP INDUSTRY AWARD (10/09/09)

Burgess Hodgson is celebrating after being shortlisted for a prestigious national award for excellence.
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DON'T BE HOOKED BY BOGUS EMAILS (16/09/09)

Burgess Hodgson is warning businesses to be extra vigilant after a dramatic increase in the number of scam emails offering bogus tax refunds.
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BH TEAM CONQUERS 3 PEAKS CHALLENGE FOR CHARITY (21/09/09)

A superb achievement saw a Burgess Hodgson team of 14 complete the gruelling Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge within the designated 12 hour time limit, as part of the firm's fundraising for the Pilgrims Hospices.
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EQUITABLE LIFE - WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? (23/09/09)

The shockwaves over the near-collapse of Equitable Life at the turn of the century were felt throughout the insurance industry. But, nearly ten years later, one accountant is still fighting for justice for the million or so policyholders left out of pocket

Colin Slater is a modest man. Quiet, earnest and unassuming, he goes about his work at Canterbury-based chartered accountants Burgess Hodgson diligently and effectively. But, talk to Slater about Equitable Life, and his whole demeanour changes. Hell hath no fury like an accountant scorned.
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BH BACKS A WINNER (07/10/09)

The going might have been good to soft, but the atmosphere was electric as Burgess Hodgson celebrated with clients and business partners at the Folkestone Races.
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EMAG WINS LANDMARK VICTORY (19/10/09)

Equitable Life policyholders have scored a substantial victory following a High Court ruling which means "hundreds of thousands" more people will become eligible for compensation.
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SPOTLIGHT ON IHT (21/10/09)
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HMRC ups the ante over tax payments (26/10/09)

The government is upping the ante in its bid to claw back unpaid tax. HM Customs and Revenue is increasingly adopting tougher stances with individuals who it believes are avoiding payment.
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BUSINESSES RISE TO CHALLENGE IN £1M AWARDS (30/10/09)

Burgess Hodgson was one of the key awards sponsors at the inaugural £1 Million Business Challenge Awards organised by countywide publishing group KOS Media.
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BASE RATE: WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE? (04/11/09)
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GET READY FOR VAT CHANGES (09/11/09)
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PRE-BUDGET REPORT DATE CONFIRMED (11/11/09)
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LAWYERS NEED TO RETHINK IN FACE OF CHANGES (16/11/09)

Solicitors are in the middle of a period of unprecedented change; not only are they having to cope with the fallout from the recession, but they’re also having to deal with a raft of regulatory changes imposed by the Legal Services Act 2007, which came into force in March of this year.
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BH SCOOPS FINALIST SPOT FOR SECOND TIME (23/11/09)
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WRAPPING UP THE CHANGES ON THE COMPANIES ACT (07/12/09)

The final changes from the Companies Act 2006 came into force from October 1, including the amendment that directors now only need to disclose their residential address to a select few

The final raft of changes from the Companies Act 2006 came into force on 1 October  2009. But, despite a flood of literature and publicity from Companies House, many business people may still not be aware of the scope of these changes – and how they and their businesses might be affected.
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COUNTDOWN TO PRE-BUDGET REPORT (07/12/09)

On December 9, Chancellor Alistair Darling will be making what could be his last pre-Budget Report.
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DARLING ADMITS RECESSION WORSE THAN PREDICTED (09/12/09)
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PRE-BUDGET REPORT NOTES 2009 (10/12/09)
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PAYE PENALTIES: ARE YOU READY? (18/12/09)

HMRC is cracking down on businesses who make their PAYE payments late with a series of penalties designed to clamp down on repeat offenders.
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DETAILED GUIDANCE ON VAT CHANGES (22/12/09)
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EXPENSES

If there’s one story that’s captured the public’s interest this year, it’s the furore surrounding MPs’ expenses. With everything from duck houses to a box of matches, wasps’ nest removal and mortgages on second homes seemingly having been claimed for, MPs are now having to be far more transparent over their claims – and pay back monies that could have been claimed over a significant time period. Most recently it was revealed that those who refuse to repay excessive or incorrect expenses claims could be forced to appear in public before a High Court judge to plead their case.
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NEW DISCLOSURE OPPORTUNITY

From 1st September 2009, UK residents with offshore assets, including offshore bank accounts and credit cards, will be provided with an incentive to declare any undisclosed
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PENALTIES FOR LATE PAYMENT OF PAYE FROM 2010–11

From the tax year 2010-11 HM Revenue and Customs will charge penalties if PAYE is paid late. This includes
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DENLY HITS THE BIG TIME (07/01/10)

PICS: Anthony Roberts

For the past two years, Burgess Hodgson has sponsored Kent opening batsmen and England international Joe Denly. It’s proved a winning partnership, with Joe’s selection this year for the full England one-day side and his inclusion in the one-day team in the recent series against South Africa.

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HMRC HITS MEDICAL PROFESSION IN NEW TAX 'AMNESTY' (12/01/10)

Doctors, dentists and other medical professionals are being targeted by HM Revenue & Customs in a new ‘amnesty’ designed to recoup unpaid taxes.
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CLOCK TICKING ON JANUARY 31 DEADLINE (18/01/10)

There is now less than a fortnight left before the self-assessment deadline by which almost nine million people – including high earners, the self-employed and those with income from more than one source – must file a tax return or face an automatic £100 penalty.
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THE TALE OF TWO BUDGETS (25/01/10)
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BURGESS HODGSON IS ONE TO WATCH (01/02/10)

Burgess Hodgson has achieved a ‘Ones to Watch’ status in the prestigious 2010 Best Companies Accreditation, the ‘Michelin stars’ of the business world.
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HMRC WARNING OVER BOGUS EMAILS (08/02/10)

HMRC is warning individuals to be increasingly vigilant after a new spate of email scams.
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TAX CODES PUZZLE FOR EMPLOYEES (16/02/10)

Burgess Hodgson is warning that PAYE employees in Kent could face higher tax bills after an HM Revenue & Customs tax code blunder.
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HMRC UPS ANTE AGAINST TAX EXILES (22/02/10)

Formula One star Lewis Hamilton, the Barclay brothers, owners of The Telegraph newspaper and retail tycoon Philip Green are among dozens of the country's wealthiest business figures and celebrities who could feel the pressure as part of an HM Revenue & Customs crackdown on Britain's super-rich tax exiles.
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ROBINSONS BUCKS THE TREND WITH HELP FROM BH

Practicality and expertise are the watchwords from Robinsons Solicitors to describe the Canterbury-based legal practice’s relationship with its accountants, Burgess Hodgson.
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GOVERNMENT REVAMPS CHILDCARE TAX TREATMENT (04/03/10)

Higher rate tax payers will feel the pinch from the Government’s plans to restrict the tax relief on childcare provided by employers to basic rate tax only.
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STRUGGLING WITH TAX PAYMENTS? DON'T RELY ON BPSS (11/03/10)

Burgess Hodgson is warning companies and individuals who might be struggling to find their tax payments not to rely on the Business Payment Support Service (BPSS).
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TAX HEALTH PLAN

What is it?
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WANT TO SAVE MORE TAX? (11/03/10)

• 17 tax planning tips to consider

Having just passed the deadline for filing Tax Returns for the last tax year (2008/09) we are now approaching the new tax year which starts on 6 April 2010.  As most people are aware the Government has announced that the top rate of income tax will increase to 50% for those with incomes greater than £150,000.  Additionally, the tax free personal allowance is gradually removed for those earning over £100,000 and for some people this will create a marginal rate of tax of 60%. In addition to this, the tax relief on pension contributions is to be restricted for the highest earners.
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NEW LAW NAMES AND SHAMES TAX CHEATS (17/03/10)

Taxpayers and companies who deliberately evade taxes will be publically named and shamed when new legislation kicks in on April 1.

From this date, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will be able to publish names and details of individuals and companies who are caught dodging their taxes.

It is planned that names will be published on HMRC’s website. Because this measure will only be applied for periods starting from 1 April 2010, it is not expected that any names will be published before the first half of 2011.

Taxpayers who may be named are those who have deliberately evaded tax of more than £25,000 in total. However, HMRC says that if they make a full disclosure of any tax wrongs without delay they can avoid having their name and details published.
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SPRING BUDGET COVERAGE (22/03/10)

The Spring Budget takes place this Wednesday, March 24. Although the Chancellor will set out his proposals for the coming year, only the most basic will become law before Parliament is dissolved in the run up to the General Election. The incoming Government, of whatever colour, will propose another Budget soon after the Election.
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CHANCELLOR DELIVERS PRE-ELECTION BUDGET (24/03/10)

Chancellor Alistair Darling delivered a highly ‘political’ Budget – his last before a General Election in six weeks time.

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BUDGET 2010 - DETAILED SUMMARY (25/03/10)

Chancellor Alistair Darling delivered his last Budget before the General Election yesterday. The raising of the stamp duty threshold to £250,000 has been the headline in the popular press, together with the improvement in the public borrowing forecast from a deficit of £178 billion to £167 billion.
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TAX CODES: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR (30/03/10)

Problems with your tax coding notices could potentially lead to HMRC deducting hundreds of pounds of tax that is not due so it is important to ensure that these notices are correct.

Here senior accountant Tom Saltmer identifies some of the common errors important things to look out for with tax codes.
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A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO TAX CODES
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HMRC REMINDER ABOUT COMPLIANCE CRACKDOWN (08/04/10)

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reminding businesses and individuals about new penalties now in force for anyone who fails to comply with its toughened regime.
read more

PLANS TO SHAKE-UP IR 35 RULES WELCOMED (14/04/10)

With a general election looming, all of the main parties have been trying to score points with proposals to change the taxation system.
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DRAGONS, TAX BREAKS AND NON-DOMS (21/04/10)

Even multi-millionaires, it seems, want equality when it comes to paying tax. After the Conservative party donor Lord Ashcroft was forced to reveal that he was ‘non-domiciled’ in the UK for tax purposes (most of his business operates from Belize), two of the stars of the BBC’s Dragons Den are reportedly now feuding over ‘non-dom’ tax status.
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BURGESS HODGSON APPOINTS NEW PARTNER (29/04/10)

Burgess Hodgson has promoted Matthew Sutton from associate to partner with effect from 1 April 2010.
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NEW GOVERNMENT HINTS AT SWINGEING TAX PLANS (12/05/10)

With David Cameron now in the prime minister’s hot seat, early indications from the new coalition government are that a number of tax policies could be revealed in an emergency Budget within 50 days.
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EQUITABLE LIFE VICTIMS IN NEW COMPENSATION DEAL (13/05/10)

“A long time coming” was how Equitable Life campaigners described the new compensation announced by the newly-formed coalition government – a deal which will compensate more than a million policyholders who lost pension savings when the insurer nearly collapsed in 2000.
read more

TIME TO SELL? (14/05/10)

Senior accountant Tom Saltmer looks at the potential changes to Capital Gains Tax on the horizon
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DATE FOR EMERGENCY BUDGET UNVEILED (17/05/10)

The coalition government will hold its first Budget on Tuesday 22 June, Chancellor George Osborne has revealed.

The Conservatives pledged before the election to hold a Budget within 50 days of coming to power to show their intention to get to grips with the country's deficit.

Labour's last Budget was held at the end of March, weeks before the start of the general election (click here for our report).

Mr Osborne refused to be drawn on the details of next month's statement but said the "bulk" of his deficit-reduction measures would take the form of spending cuts rather than tax rises.

Burgess Hodgson will be following all the action throughout the day, and posting a story on the headline points within hours of Mr Osborne standing to deliver his speech.

The new Chancellor's announcment followed a frenetic week in politics, in which the new coalition government started to outline their tax and spending proposals.
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HELPING HI-WAY SERVICES WITH BUSINESS GROWTH
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WOULD YOU PAY YOUR TAX BILL BY DIRECT DEBIT? (24/05/10)

HM Revenue and Customs considers direct debit 'budget payment plans' for self-assessment tax

Most people are used to paying things such as their gas, electricity or phone bills by monthly Direct Debits but will people consider paying their tax bills in this way?
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THE SKY(LINE) NO LIMIT FOR BH TEAM (28/05/10)

This month has seen another superb achievement by the BH team walking the 22-mile Edale Skyline, in the Peak District - finishing five minutes inside the target time of 11 hours.
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WHAT NOW FOR THE ANNUAL INVESTMENT ALLOWANCE? (02/06/10)
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DON'T BE LATE WITH PAYE PAYMENTS (07/06/10)

With HMRC’s new penalty scheme for late PAYE payments now in force, Burgess Hodgson is reminding businesses to make sure they pay on time – or risk a surcharge up to 4% of the payment due.
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POTENTIAL CGT RISE TO BE WATERED DOWN? (10/06/10)

We have previously discussed the potential increase to CGT announced by the Conservative/Liberal coalition in our article here.

However, since this article was published, there has been some strong resistance to these changes and it looks as though these proposals could be ‘watered down’ before the Budget on 22 June.
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NEW GOVERNMENT'S FIRST BUDGET (15/06/10)

The second Budget of 2010 will be next Tuesday, 22 June.

We will be providing our usual coverage including:
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OSBORNE UPS VAT IN 'UNAVOIDABLE' BUDGET (22/06/10)
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EMERGENCY BUDGET - DETAILED SUMMARY (23/06/10)

Chancellor George Osborne increased VAT from 17.5% to 20% and cut welfare spending as he moved "decisively" to tackle Britain's record debts.

Unveiling his first Budget to MPs, Mr Osborne said "tough but fair" action on debt was "unavoidable".

Mr Osborne vowed to balance Britain's books within five years, with the bulk of the savings to come from cuts to benefits and public services rather than tax increases.
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HOT COMPETITION AT 7th ANNUAL GOLF DAY (29/06/10)

Burgess Hodgson recently hosted its seventh annual golf day at Chestfield Golf Club.
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HMRC UPS REVIEWS OF SECOND HOME SALES (30/06/10)

Tax payers are being warned that HM Revenue & Customs is continually reviewing property sales and looking to identify where the sale of second homes or buy to let properties are not being disclosed on an individual’s tax return.
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CHARITIES MAY BE BIG LOSERS WITH VAT HIKE (09/07/10)

Probably the biggest story from the recent ‘Emergency Budget’ was the surprise increase in the VAT rate from 17.5% to 20% from January next year.
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LIGHTNING BOLT STRIKES OUT AT LONDON GRAND PRIX (17/07/10)

‘Will he, won’t he?’ was the question surrounding triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt and his likely – or rather unlikely – appearance at the UK’s premier athletics event, the Aviva London Grand Prix.
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BH HELPS WEST ONE TO WINNING WAYS (20/07/10)

One of the marks of a good accountant is client retention. Mike Boorman, managing director of West One UK Ltd is a perfect example: he’s been a client of Burgess Hodgson for more than 20 years, the last four of which have been with his current business – and he’s not in any hurry to move!
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SMALL BUSINESSES URGED TO CONSIDER THE FLAT RATE SCHEME FOR VAT (27/07/10)

With the increase in the standard rate of VAT to 20% announced in the recent Budget, VAT has increasingly been in the spotlight.

While the increase in the VAT rate will generally impact on consumers rather than businesses, Burgess Hodgson is advising its clients to take this opportunity to review their VAT affairs.
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BURGESS HODGSON NUMBERS ADD UP IN EQUITABLE LOSS (04/08/10)

Burgess Hodgson’s investigations into the Equitable Life debacle - and its estimate of the compensation owed to policyholders - have been vindicated by the recent government announcement of compensation payouts.
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HMRC AUDIT REVEALS SCOPE OF TAX CODE ERRORS (31/08/10)

We have previously reported on the tax code errors that have arisen since the introduction of the new HMRC computer system (click here ) - and many of our clients have experienced problems with their tax codes. However an audit of the HMRC accounts has revealed the scale of the problem.
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TRAINEES TAKES TOP HONOURS (13/09/10)

Several trainees from Burgess Hodgson have recently passed professional exams to qualify as Chartered Accountants, with one taking the top honours in the South East.
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BURGESS HODGSON HELPS STEER GARDNER MARINE DIESELS TO SUCCESS (16/09/10)

Last year, Michael Harrison, the entrepreneurial managing director of Gardner Marine Diesels, the Canterbury-based business that builds and service Gardner engines in marine applications, attended to vessels in eight different countries on four continents. To say that business is thriving for Gardner Marine Diesels would be an understatement.
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ONE IN TEN ACCOUNTS REJECTED BY COMPANIES HOUSE (20/09/10)

Companies House has revealed that 10% of accounts submitted to it are rejected – mainly due to relatively minor technical breaches.
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HOW TO DEAL WITH A TAX DEMAND (05/10/10)

What should you do if HM Revenue & Customs ask for more tax as a result of a coding error?

The issue of incorrect tax codes and tax demands has been in the press over the last month or so and we have previously discussed the problems on our website (click here).
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IS YOUR SOFTWARE GIVING YOU A HEADACHE?

- then join the Burgess Hodgson SaaS

At Burgess Hodgson, we’re always thinking of ways to make our clients’ lives easier.
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TAX CODES - AND BEYOND (11/10/10)

After the tax codes disaster, what now for the PAYE system?

The tax coding problems experienced by HMRC have generated huge publicity in recent months and we have discussed this on our website (click here).
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BH STAFF SPORT GREAT TEAM SPIRIT (17/10/10)

It’s been a busy sporting summer, with the usual rollercoaster of emotions that follows the England football team, Andy Murray’s Wimbledon challenge and the Ryder Cup.
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HMRC LOSES IMPORTANT 'INCOME SHIFTING' CASE (24/10/10)

The recent case, involving a Mr and Mrs Patmore, was heard in front of a tax tribunal and once again HMRC lost an important ‘income shifting’ case – following on from the widely publicised Arctic Systems case.
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CHANCELLOR SETS 2011 BUDGET DATE (04/11/10)
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DRAFT GUIDANCE COULD IMPACT ON RMC'S ACCOUNTS (10/11/10)

The ICAEW and AMRA have issued a consultation document with proposed changes on how resident management companies (RMCs) prepare their accounts
read more

BH ACCOUNTANTS HONOURED IN SOUTH EAST AWARDS (15/11/10)

Two chartered accountants from Canterbury-based Burgess Hodgson were among only a handful of high flyers honoured at the recent South East Society of Chartered Accountants’ (SESCA) Annual Dinner.
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CHANGES TO PENSION CONTRIBUTION RULES WELCOMED (22/11/10)

Like many areas of tax, there have been substantial changes to the rules regarding tax relief on pension contributions in recent years with new rules introduced by the-then Labour government being repealed by the coalition government.
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BH HOSTS CHARITY MASKED BALL 

Canterbury-based Chartered Accountants and business advisers Burgess Hodgson recently hosted a masquerade ball to raise funds for charity.
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BH PRESENTS FUNDRAISING CHEQUE TO PILGRIMS HOSPICES (16/12/10)

Burgess Hodgson presented a cheque to Pilgrims Hospices this week for nearly £9,000, the result of 18 months of fundraising on behalf of the Kent-based charity.
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NEW YEAR, NEW 20% VAT RATE (21/12/10)

We've already reported on Chancellor George Osborne's decision to increase the rate of VAT from January 4, 2011 (click here).
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BH UNVEILS NEW SECURE FILE TRANSFER FACILITY (18/01/11)

Burgess Hodgson has launched a new secure electronic drop-box facility that enables clients to transfer large files containing sensitive information.
read more

TAXMAN TARGETS 50% RATE TAXPAYERS (25/01/11)

HMRC is writing to 50% rate taxpayers to explain how it will deal with their underpayment of tax following its inability to introduce new codes in time to deal with the new rate.
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BURGESS HODGSON 'TWEETS' TO THE WORLD (30/01/11)

As part of its work to raise its online profile, Burgess Hodgson has introduced a new ‘twitter’ feed where it plans to post both practice and industry news.
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CHARITIES: WHY IT PAYS TO HAVE GOOD GOVERNANCE (01/02/11)

Governance is a term often used, but perhaps not widely understood. In essence, it’s about ensuring that your organisation runs effectively and follows good practice. The private and public sectors have their own governance codes; there is also a code for the Voluntary and Community Sector, including charities.
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BH IMPROVES BEST COMPANIES STATUS TO ONE STAR (03/02/11)

Burgess Hodgson has improved its performance from last year in the prestigious Best Companies Accreditation by gaining a One Star Accreditation
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SPOTLIGHT ON FARMING (08/02/11)
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THINK WISELY ABOUT SAGE UPDATES (18/02/11)

Microsoft founder Bill Gates is one of the world’s richest men. Why? One of the answers is ‘versions’. By constantly updating, tweaking and revising applications, software giants like Microsoft, and, in the financial world, Sage, are able to turn tidy profits: in the first half of 2010, for example, Sage reported pre-tax profits of £177.5m – an increase of 11%.
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PLUMBERS OFFERED TAX AMNESTY (01/03/11)

Dentists, doctors, health professionals and anyone with offshore bank accounts have already been targeted. Now plumbers are the next group to be hit by HM Revenue & Customs’ latest tax disclosure agreement.
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BUDGET COULD SPELL END FOR TAX LOOPHOLE (13/03/11)

The government has hinted that in next week’s Budget it will close a tax loophole currently costing it £130m in lost revenue, levelling the playing field for high street retailers.
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POWELL PRINT HAS ALL THE RIGHT CARDS

For most of us, the festive season only comes once a year but for Powell Print Limited, it’s Christmas every day.
read more

 BUDGET REVEALS 'BRITAIN OPEN FOR BUSINESS' (23/03/11)

“Britain is open for business” was the key message from Chancellor George Osborne, as he revealed a number of measures to help UK companies – as well as encourage international enterprises into the country.

Top of the list was the announcement that Corporation Tax will be reduced by 2% from April 2011, rather than 1% as previously intended, and fall by 1% in the next three years, to reach 23%.

Mr Osborne also said that he was looking to boost enterprise and exports, as part of a Budget "for making things". He said he also wanted the UK to be the best place to establish a company.

As part of that there will be 21 new Enterprise Zones created across the UK. "We have to compete to create jobs and growth," he said.

Mr Osborne said he wanted to encourage a number of sectors, including creative and green industries, and life sciences.

“This is not a tax-raising budget, this is a budget built on sound money, based on robust figures and for making things not making things up,” he said, adding that the country’s fiscal plans have been strongly endorsed. 

Although average quarterly growth was higher than forecast, the annual forecast will be revised down in 2011 from 2.1% 1.7%. Figures for 2012 are expected to fall from 2.6% to 2.5%; 2.9% in 2013, 2.9% in 2014 and 2.8% in 2015.

Meanwhile, the Entrepreneurs Relief scheme - which gives some capital gains tax relief to small and medium-sized business owners, especially of family companies - would be doubled to £10m from early April. 

There was a renewed focus on environmental measures. Mr Osborne said green taxes will increase as a proportion of total tax revenue and he commits an extra £2bn to the Green Investment Bank, which will start work earlier than planned, in 2012. Meanwhile, the UK will become the first country in the world to introduce a carbon price floor for the power sector.

On pensions, Mr Osborne said he accepted Labour minister John Hutton’s report findings and revealed that he thought similar changes should be made to MPs' pensions. He said he wants a "single-tier pension" so people know what to expect, although it won't apply to current pensioners.

Several tax avoidance loopholes would be closed down. Mr Osborne said three forms of stamp duty land tax avoidance will be shut down, among other measures, which he says will raise £1bn a year.

The chancellor confirmed there would be a rise in the personal tax allowance, which had been widely mooted, and said 1.1m lower paid people have now been taken out of income tax altogether. And, he added, no one else would be pulled into the higher rate tax bracket as a result of the Budget.

The key points of Chancellor George Osborne's Budget

FUEL, CIGARETTE AND ALCOHOL DUTIES
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BUDGET 2011 - DETAILED SUMMARY (24/03/11)

Chancellor George Osborne delivered the 2011 Budget with a clear message: bring business back to Britain.

With a raft of measures to encourage foreign investment - and a number to buoy UK companies - Mr Osborne signalled that "Britain was open for business".

Other headlines included the increase in Entrepreneur's Allowance from £5m to £10m, the increase in EIS relief from 20 to 30%, and changes to non-domicile rules, increasing the levy to £50,000 for those in the UK for more than 12 years, but removing the charge on funds brought into the UK for investment.

Our full Budget Report summary, including the "small print" which does not make the headlines, is available to download here
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TAX CODE WARNING AFTER DOCUMENT CHANGE (28/03/11)

HM Revenue and Customs' cost-cutting decision to withdraw agents’ copies of some self assessment and PAYE notices could leave individuals with a nasty surprise – should they suddenly get hit with a tax bill for underpayment.
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D-DAY FOR CORPORATION TAX FILING CHANGES (30/03/11)

Burgess Hodgson is reminding companies of important changes to Corporation Tax filing and payment that come into effect this week.
read more

GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS FHL RULES (06/04/11)
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HOW COULD YOU BENEFIT FROM THE LEGAL SERVICES ACT? (20/04/11)

In a difficult economy, arguably the introduction of the Legal Services Act will provide some businesses with an opportunity to diversify and explore different business and finance models, while individuals and client companies should have the chance to save money by obtaining multiple services from one provider.
read more

TEN TOP ACCOUNTING TIPS FOR SAGE 50 (01/05/11)
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TAX BREAKS FOR FLAT MANAGEMENT COMPANIES (09/05/2011)

Associate Simon Bailey explains the tax position for flat management companies

What are they?
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HMRC IN TAX CRACKDOWN ON RESTAURANTS (16/05/11)

London restaurants will be the first to face the heat of a new HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) investigation into the tax affairs of restaurant businesses.
read more

MAKING THE MOST OF PPR RELIEF (24/05/11)

Most people are aware that a Capital Gains Tax relief exists to exempt a gain made on their Principal Private Residence (PPR), subject to certain exceptions.
read more

TAX AGENTS COULD FACE REGISTRATION PROCESS (06/06/11)

A registration process for tax agents could be in place by 2015 according to new proposals by HM Revenue & Customs.
read more

ABDO SETS SIGHTS ON GLOBAL EXPANSION (13/06/11)

This year, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) celebrates its silver jubilee, having been formed 25 years ago when its two predecessors, The Association of Dispensing Opticians and the Faculty of Dispensing Opticians, were merged following the Health and Social Security Act of 1984.
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TEN DAY LIMIT SET FOR NON-RESIDENCY (21/06/11)

The Government is looking to simplify the rules that determine tax residence for individuals.
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AYLESHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD PROJECT (23/06/11)

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HMRC WARNS ABOUT NEW 'PHISHING' SURGE (27/06/11)

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is alerting taxpayers to a surge of fake ‘phishing’ emails sent out by fraudsters in the run-up to the tax credits renewal deadline.
read more

HRMC CRACKS DOWN ON VAT CHEATS (08/07/11)

More than 40,000 small businesses and individuals that have failed to register to pay VAT are being targeted in an HM Revenue & Customs crackdown.
read more

TAXMAN TARGETS FAST FOOD OUTLETS (14/11/07)

Tax-dodging fast food restaurants in London can expect a visit from the taxman.
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TAXMAN UPS ANTE TO CLAW BACK TAX (Summer 2011)

“You can run, but you can’t hide.” This is the clear message from HM Revenue & Customs, which continues to up the ante in its fight to bring tax avoiders to justice - and bolster the Government’s coffers.
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NOT SUCH AN EQUITABLE LIFE (Spring 2011)

The shockwaves over the near-collapse of Equitable Life at the turn of the century were felt throughout the insurance industry. Burgess Hodgson partner, and former director of the Equitable Members Action Group, Colin Slater, recalls his tireless campaign for justice for the million or so policyholders left out of pocket
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EQUITABLE LIFE COMPENSATION PAYMENTS "TAX FREE" (04/08/11)

Payments made under the Equitable Life Payment Scheme (ELPA) are to be free of tax and disregarded for tax credits purposes.
read more

'GHOST' PLUMBERS ARRESTED IN TAX RAIDS (21/08/11)

Five plumbers have been arrested and around 600 are under civil investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for failing to pay the right amount of tax.
read more

HMRC CONTINUES TAX AVOIDANCE CRACKDOWN (25/08/11)

HMRC is highlighting the pitfalls of new tax avoidance schemes that seek to avoid Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
read more

SECRET SWISS STASHES SETTLEMENT (30/08/11)

A landmark agreement has been reached between UK tax authorities and the Swiss government and banks that could see £5bn a year being handed to HMRC by the Swiss authorities.
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ECONOMISTS URGE CHANCELLOR TO CUT 50p TAX RATE (08/09/11)

A group of influential economists have called upon Chancellor George Osborne to cut the 50p top rate of tax.
read more

HMRC REMINDER OVER LATE PAYMENTS (20/09/11)

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reminding individuals and businesses about new Self Assessment penalties for late returns and late payments, which come into effect this autumn.
read more

CHURCH REPAIRS FUND FACES CUTBACK (28/09/11)

The Government is scaling back a little-known scheme that allows the VAT element for repairs to listed church buildings and other places of worship to be reclaimed.
read more

TUTORS AND COACHES TARGETED IN NEW TAX CAMPAIGN (10/10/11)

The Government is cracking down on private tutors and coaches who have undeclared tax liabilities.
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HMRC TARGETS HSBC SWISS ACCOUNTS (18/10/11)

The UK tax authority is targeting 6,000 UK-based Swiss bank account holders who may not have declared all their income and gains.
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DON'T BE LATE!
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HMRC TARGETS HOLIDAY HAVENS OF WEALTHY TAX CHEATS (01/11/11)

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is cracking down on wealthy tax cheats with overseas property.

A new 200-strong team of investigators and specialists has already started work, bringing together experts from across the department who will use new and innovative risk assessment techniques to identify areas where wealthy individuals are avoiding and evading taxes and duties.
read more

FRESH 'PHISHING' WARNING FROM HMRC (04/11/11)

Email fraudsters are continuing to masquerade as official HM Revenue & Customs soucres in a bid to steal sensitive financial data.
read more

IS A COMPANY CAR THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL?  (15/11/11)

The majority of people are aware that should a company provide an employee with a company car, there will be tax implications for both the employee and the employer.
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TAXMAN LAUNCHES NEW OFFSHORE UNIT (25/11/11)

Offshore tax cheats beware: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched a new specialist unit to target individuals who hide money in overseas accounts.

The Offshore Co-Ordination Unit (OCU) combines offshore analysts, technical tax experts and experienced investigators, who will oversee and co-ordinate HMRC’s compliance work to identify and pursue those who hide income and capital in offshore accounts to avoid UK tax and duties.

The unit will look to fully exploit the increasing amount of offshore information at HMRC’s disposal, including bank account data. They will then use this intelligence to develop innovative new ways of tackling offshore tax evasion.

The OCU will continue to build on the success of HMRC’s Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility (LDF) and co-ordinate the recently announced activity in relation to HSBC Geneva account holders. It will also implement the operational aspects of the recently signed tax agreement between Switzerland and the UK, which is expected to raise billions of pounds for the UK.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, said: “The days when untaxed income or capital could be safely salted away offshore, beyond the reaches of the taxman, are long gone.

“The launch of this specialist unit, together with the other valuable work the department is driving forward in an effort to tackle offshore evasion, underlines the fact that offshore tax cheats are fast running out of places to hide.”
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BUDGET STATEMENT SIGNALS HELP FOR SMEs (01/12/11)

Among the doom and gloom of economic forecasts, a series of measures aimed at helping UK businesses and the wider economy were announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement.
read more

VAT CHEATS HAVE ONE MONTH TO COME CLEAN (05/12/11)

VAT rule-breakers have until 31 December to complete the VAT registration process under a time-limited HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) campaign.
read more

HMRC TARGETS FASHION HOUSES EXPLOITING INTERNS

Fashion houses are the latest targets of an HM Revenue & Customs campaign aimed at ending the exploitation of interns.
read more

BEWARE OF GIVING FREE ADVICE! (09/01/12)

There’s an old American proverb that ‘the best things in life are free’: this is true to a point. But when it comes to giving free advice, all professionals need to be wary – give the wrong advice and you could open yourself up to legal action, no matter what spirit the advice was given in.
read more

LEYDON LETTINGS CELEBERATES MILESTONE
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FILE TAX ON TIME - AND WIN £100K! (23/01/12)

The message to self-assessment filers from HRMC has always been 'file your tax on time'.

Now, according to recent newspaper reports, the Government agency has upped the ante and may offer a £100,000 prize for sticking to deadlines under current proposals.

Anyone who files two months early could have a chance at a £100,000 prize under suggestions made by David Cameron's Behavioural Insight Team – which he set up in an attempt to solve problems by incentivising people to change their behaviour.

The incentive is a measure to ease congestion on IT systems in the run up to the 31 January deadline.

Similar schemes have been undertaken by some London local authorities which created a £25,000 prize draw for people who paid their council tax via direct debit. It is estimated the local authorities have managed to save about £345,000 annually due to the scheme.

The tax office said that "options are still being considered" on whether the draw is a good idea, and that no decision had been taken as yet.

An HMRC spokesman said: "This is a very interesting contribution to how we maximise self assessment filing. The new penalties mean late filers could now face penalties of up to £1600 across the year and be excluded from a potential £100,000 prize draw. It pays to file on time."

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HMRC EXTENDS SELF ASSESSMENT DEADLINE TO FEB 2 (27/1//12)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced that it will extend the deadline for filing self assessment tax returns until February 2nd as some of its staff plan to strike on 31st January, deadline day.
read more

HMRC UNVEILS NEW TAX OFFENSIVES (11/02/12)

Electricians and e-traders beware - HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has further upped the ante against tax cheats with two new offensives.
read more

NUMBERS UP ON HMRC 'SMARTPHONE' TAX (22/02/12)

Employees who are given smartphones by their employers will no longer have to pay tax or national insurance contributions (NICs) for them, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has said in new guidance.
read more

COMPLIANCE REFORMS HELP TAXMAN BOOST COFFERS (01/03/12)

Changes to the way HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigates tax evasion have yielded £4.3bn of "additional" tax yield between 2006 and 2011, a review by the National Audit Office (NAO) has found.
read more

TAX RULING BOOSTS UK HOLIDAY LET OWNERS (09/03/12)

Owners of holiday property can now claim inheritance tax for Business Property Relief (BPR), following a court decision.
read more

BUDGET COVERAGE - 2012

The Spring Budget will take place at 12.30 On Wednesday 21st, and we will be providing our usual coverage including:
read more

BUDGET TO "EARN BRITAIN OUT OF TROUBLE" (21/03/12)

Chancellor springs surprises in 2012 Budget
read more

BUDGET 2012 - DETAILED SUMMARY (22/03/11)

Chancellor George Osborne delivered the 2012 Budget with a clear message: this is a budget to "earn Britain out of trouble".

In what was one of the most widely leaked Budgets in recent years, there were still a few surprises. One of the biggest headlines was that the 50p top rate of income tax will be cut to 45p from April 2013.

The Chancellor has also taken “aggressive measures” on Stamp Duty avoidance for homes worth over £2m.

Our full Budget Report summary, including the "small print" which does not make the headlines, is available to download here.
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HMRC CRACKS DOWN ON ELECTRICAL TRADE (28/03/12)

Anyone working in the electrical industry with outstanding tax liabilities beware – you could be receiving a letter from HM Revenue and Customs (if you haven’t already done so).
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TWO NEW PARTNERS AT BURGESS HODGSON (05/04/12)

Burgess Hodgson has announced that it has promoted Robert Field and Martin West from associate to partner with effect from April 1, 2012.
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BURGESS HODGSON ADDS XERO TO ITS SERVICES (16/04/12)

Burgess Hodgson has recently expanded its range of services by becoming a partner and certified advisor with online accounting software provider, Xero.
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IS COMPANY CAR TAX DRIVING YOU CRAZY? (08/05/12)
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IR35 TEST DETAILS REVEALED (23/05/12)

• Business premises test  - Does the business own or rent business premises separately from the contractor’s home or end client’s premises? (10 points if yes)
• PII test - Does the contractor need professional indemnity insurance? (2 points if yes)
• Efficiency test - Has the business had the opportunity in the past two years to increase its revenue by working more efficiently? (10 points if yes)
• Assistance test - Does the business employ any workers who bring in at least 25% of the yearly turnover? (35 points if yes)
• Advertising test - Has the business spent over £1,200 on advertising in the past year; entertainment does not count as advertising (2 points if yes)
• Previous PAYE test - During the past year, has the end client engaged you with no major changes to your working arrangements (Minus 15 points if yes)
• Business plan test - Does your business have a business plan with a regularly updated cash flow forecast, and does it have a business bank account, identified by the bank as such and separate from your personal account? (1 point if yes to both parts of the question)
• Repair at own expense test - Would the business have to bear the cost of rectifying any mistakes? (4 points if yes)
• Client risk test - During the past two years, has the business been unable to recover payment amounting to more than 10% of yearly turnover? (10 points if yes)
• Billing test - Does the business invoice for work carried out before being paid and negotiate payment terms? (2 points if yes)
• Right of substitution test - Does the business have the right to send a substitute? (2 points if yes)
• Actual substitution test - Has the business hired anyone in the previous two years to do the work it has taken on? (20 points if yes)

HMRC LAUNCHES THREE NEW TAX TASKFORCES (31/05/12)

HM Revenue & Customs is upping the ante against tax evaders with a trio of new taskforces targeting market traders, tax firms and property transactions.

Taskforces are specialist teams that undertake intensive bursts of activity in specific high-risk trade sectors and locations in the UK. The teams will visit traders to examine their records and carry out other investigations.
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UK AND LIECHTENSTEIN UPDATE TAX DEAL (15/06/12)

More than 2,400 people have registered to disclose unpaid tax under the Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility (LDF) with £363 million already paid in tax bills, HM Revenue and Customs has unveiled.
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BH SPONSORS EMPLOYABILITY POINTS SCHEME (21/06/12)

Burgess Hodgson is pleased to announce that it will be a sponsor of the University of Kent’s Employability Points Scheme (EPS) for 2012.
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BANKS FOUND GUILTY OF MIS-SELLING to SMES (01/07/12)

Four of the UK’s largest banks face hefty fines after the financial watchdog found them guilty of mis-selling specialist insurance to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
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HMRC TARGETS HIGHER RATE TAXPAYERS IN NEW CAMPAIGN (04/07/12)

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has unveiled the latest campaign to crackdown on tax offenders. In its latest initiative, higher rate taxpayers who have failed to submit tax returns are being offered the opportunity to come forward and pay up in a three-month window.
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HMRC EXTENDS CRACKDOWN ON TAX DODGERS (16/07/12)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has launched a host of new taskforces in an attempt to recover over £30 million in unpaid tax.

These specialist teams will undertake intensive bursts of activity in specific high risk trade sectors and locations across the UK. The teams will visit traders to examine their records and carry out other investigations.

Four new taskforces will target: Scottish pubs and nightclubs; hair and beauty businesses in Northern Ireland; the motor trade in South Wales, the South West, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East; and restaurants in South Wales and the South West. 

HMRC launched 12 taskforces in 2011/12, with another thirty to follow in 2012/13. HMRC is on target to collect more than £50m as a result of the taskforces launched in 2011/12.

HMRC’s Mike Eland, Director General Enforcement and Compliance, said: “Everyone needs to pay the taxes they owe in full – these new taskforces will help us crack down on the minority who have chosen to break the rules. If you have paid all your taxes you have nothing to worry about. But deliberately evading tax you should be paying can land you with not only a heavy fine but possibly a criminal prosecution as well.
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BH PLAYS KEY ROLE IN £46m PROPERTY DEAL (27/07/12)

Burgess Hodgson has proved its mettle with a key role in one of Canterbury’s biggest ever property deals, which last week took up the whole of the front page of the local newspaper, the Kentish Gazette.
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BOLT CRITICAL OF UK TAX REGIME (15/08/12)

When Usain Bolt crossed the line after setting a world record – and winning a third gold medal – at the London 2012 Olympics, BBC reporter Phil Jones asked him the million dollar question: “Will we see you in Britain again?” With his trademark grin Bolt said it was unlikely “as it costs too much money!”
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NEW TAX RETURN PENALTIES SENT TO NON-FILERS (28/08/12)

Around half a million people who still haven’t sent their 2010/11 tax returns to HM Revenue & Customs are starting to receive additional penalty letters.
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HMRC DEADLINE ON TAX 'AMNESTY' LOOMS (04/09/12)

Thousands of higher rate taxpayers who have failed to submit tax returns will receive letters from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) this month, reminding them that they have only one month left to take up a special opportunity being offered by the tax authority.
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NEW HMRC TASKFORCES TACKLE TAX DODGERS (25/09/12)

HM Revenue & Customs is stepping up its campaign to tackle tax dodgers with a raft of new taskforces to bring offenders to task.
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BH TO HOST SEMINAR ON SAGE 50 2013

Burgess Hodgson is pleased to announce that its Management Accounts and Bookkeeping department has achieved Sage Accountant Partner Accreditation. This means it is able to provide clients with detailed assistance and support for their Sage software.
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MINIMUM WAGE AND VAT CHANGES TAKE EFFECT (01/10/12)

From today, hairdressers, sandwich shops, athletes and self-storage providers could all be worse off as new VAT rules come into force.
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MCLAREN WINS TAX VERDICT IN 'SPYGATE' (12/10/12)

The McLaren Formula One team have successfully argued in Britain that a record 32 million pound fine they paid after a 2007 spying controversy should be tax deductible.
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INCREASED TAX BURDEN ON GAMES MACHINES (23/10/12)

Pubs, clubs, casinos and amusement arcades are just some of the businesses that will be hit by the increased tax burden placed on them by the new Machine Games Duty.
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'FRESH APPROACH' TO BUSINESS RECORDS CHECKS (06/11/12)

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will begin targeting businesses across the country later this month as it rolls out a what it says is a "fresh approach" to Business Records Checks (BRC) visits.
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BURGESS HODGSON PLAYS KEY ROLE IN ABIRD SALE (15/11/12)

Burgess Hodgson have been instrumental in the sale of a long-standing Kent business to HSS, a leading national supplier of tools.
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ABIRD PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

“Burgess Hodgson have been magnificent.” So says John Bird, former owner of long-standing Kent firm the Abird Group for whom Burgess Hodgson acted in the sale of his (and his family’s) shareholding in the business to HSS, a leading national supplier of tools.
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SOUTH EAST RENTAL SECTOR LATEST TAX TARGET (28/11/12)

CHANCELLOR EXTENDS AUSTERITY MEASURES (5/12/12)
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HMRC TARGETS LATE VAT PAYERS (10/01/13)

As many as 50,000 businesses that have failed to submit VAT returns will be targeted by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) this month with warnings that their tax affairs will be closely scrutinised.
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MEDICAL RESEARCH TAX AVOIDANCE SCHEME REJECTED (18/01/13)

A tax avoidance scheme, designed to abuse rules set up to encourage genuine medical research, has been successfully challenged by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in court.
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HMRC CRACKS DOWN ON DIRECT SELLERS (28/01/13)

It started with Tupperware, but now includes anything from candles to beauty products, kitchen utensils to clothes: direct selling, either from a catalogue, in-home party or door-to-door is now a big business – and the latest to feel the force of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)’s tax crackdown.
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CHARITIES: RISK AND FRAUD (31/01/13)

The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, has published its response to a report from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which identified key areas where more work needs to be done to help the sector manage financial risk. The ICAEW and the Charity Commission teamed up to give 25 charities with income less than £5 million the opportunity to participate in a free review of financial controls and risk awareness.
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CHILD BENEFIT: IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO OPT OUT (08/02/13)

More than a million better-off families will lose some or all of their child benefit, under rules now in force.
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ONE-OFF TAX BREAK COULD SEE BOLT IN BRITAIN (13/02/13)

Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt and other overseas athletes will be able to compete tax-free in this year's London Diamond League event at the Olympic Stadium after the Chancellor agreed to a "one-off" exemption.
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HMRC NAMES AND SHAMES TAX CHEATS (25/02/13)

This is part of HMRC’s approach to combating tax evasion and non-compliance by ensuring everyone pays their fair share, creating a level playing field for honest people and businesses, and cracking down on the minority who seek to evade tax.
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HIGHER EARNERS GET CHILD BENEFIT REMINDER 08/03/13

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding people with an income over £60,000 whose family is still receiving Child Benefit to opt out before 28 March if they wish to avoid filling in a tax return and repaying the benefit for the 2013/14 tax year.
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SIX NEW ASSOCIATES FOR BURGESS HODGSON (13/03/13)

Burgess Hodgson has strengthened its Canterbury practice with the appointment of six new associates with immediate effect.
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BUDGET COVERAGE - 2013 (13/03/13)
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BUDGET FOR AN ASPIRATION NATION

Chancellor George Osborne has vowed to 'light the fires of ambition in our nation' by unveiling a major package of tax cuts and investment for business in his fourth Budget.
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BUDGET 2013 - DETAILED SUMMARY (21/03/13)

Chancellor George Osborne has vowed to 'light the fires of ambition in our nation' by unveiling a major package of tax cuts and investment for business in his fourth Budget.

Mr Osborne said that, despite the progress the government has made, there is work to do. "It's taking longer than anyone hoped." But he stressed: "We will get there. There are difficult economic circumstances to deal with. But we aim to set free the aspirations of this nation.”
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HMRC KEEPS UP THE PRESSURE ON TAX CHEATS (27/03/13)

Tax cheats who become insolvent to dodge their companies’ tax obligations face up to five years scrutiny from HMRC.
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SHAKE UP OF PAYE BEGINS (04/04/13)

The biggest shake up of the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system in nearly 70 years - Real Time Information - starts from April 6.
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RUGBY CLUB SUCCESS (11/04/13)

Canterbury Rugby Club has been delighted with the support of Burgess Hodgson Partner Ken Jones in recent weeks, with regards to its application for permanent planning consent for the mini rugby training area on the Merton Lane site.
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TAX CREDIT WARNING FOR RENEWALS (22/04/13)

Tax Credit customers are being reminded by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that they must renew claims by 31 July – or their payments might stop.
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BH FOOTBALL TEAM SCORES TREBLE WINNER (03/05/13)

Burgess Hodgson’s football team is enjoying a treble celebration after winning the Canterbury Charity Cup, the Faversham Charity Cup final and gaining promotion by securing the Canterbury and District League Division 3 title – with five games in hand.
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CHARITIES WARNED OVER FRAUDULENT COLLECTIONS (03/05/13)

Safer giving alert for charities and public on fundraising collections
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HMRC CLAMPS DOWN ON 'TRAIL COMMISSIONS' 13/05/13

The insurance industry is set to start deducting tax from so-called ‘trail commissions’ charged to investors or their financial advisers after HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) rules that the payments are taxable.
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