The Office Concept

Payroll News

April 2012

Charities Complaining about the closing of tax loop-holes

How utterly ridiculous that genuine charities would complain that the super-rich won't be able to write-off their charitable giving against their tax liability. I think it is the tax-avoiders themselves making all the noise. Why should they get to decide where their money that should be going to the governments coffers ends up (usually their own charitable trusts). I would much rather they paid their taxes and maybe then we wouldn't need quite so many charities.

Pay-Day Loan Sharks

I am very worried about the recent change in the law allowing these unscrupulous companies to advertise on television, offering instant cash at outrageous interest rates. It conforms to the trend of the last 30 or so years to pay the proletariat less and lend them more. Where will it all end? If you have a story about borrowing from one of these companies, please do let me know about it. We need to educate people about the real cost of these loans and the vicious cycle of debt they lead people into.

March 2012:

April 2012 Changes - How will they affect your net pay?

The normal PAYE allowance has increased from £7,475 to £8,105, saving most people £126 a year (£2.42 a week). The 40% starting point is still the same at £42,475, as the 20% bracket has narrowed by the same amount as the allowance has increased. The National Insurance threshold has increased very slightly and the percentages have stayed the same.

The March 2012 Budget

What can I say that hasn't already been said? I think the best comment I read was "By billionaires, for billionaires". The Government has shown it's true colours. I despair. This was a budget for social unrest. What they have given the low-paid in an increased PAYE allowance, they've taken away with the tax credits changes. If you're lucky enough to be in the 50% bracket, you're probably quite happy!

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Child Benefit Changes

Is making child benefit means tested fair? Will it be state pensions next? One has to assume so, I think. How will the changes to child benefit be implemented? Is it another stick to beat the self-employed with? Is it fair that a household with one bread-winner on £42,475 (less than twice the national average income) will loose this benefit? How will it be policed? What if you don't know what your total income for the year will be, until the end of the year? Will there be penalties if you claim and then your income goes up in the middle of the tax year? Will the result be employees turning down pay rises and even asking to be paid less? In the case of unmarried couples, especially where they are both earners, how are HMRC going to work out which households are earning over the threshold? In 2013, employers will have to do their payroll in "Real Time" with HMRC, meaning that they will be constantly submitting their payroll data to HMRC, so they know who you are paying and how much and what your liabilities are, maybe this will help, but they would still have to cross-check it with who your partner and children are. It seems to me that the administration that will now be involved will diminish any savings to be made. Is it madness that we are talking about this at the same time as discussing dropping the 50p tax band? It would seem much more sensible, straight-forward, and cheaper to me to make these savings with the PAYE and National Insurance thresholds and rates. In that way, all children would still be entitled to this benefit, as they should be. What with childcare costs going up so much and the value of childcare vouchers going down, parents of young children particularly are really feeling the pinch.

December 2011:

We have moved:

We are now at our new address and would like to thank all the people who helped us move. We'd have been lost without Lynn, David, Megan Hannah and Pat - a big thank you to you all. We are going to miss living next door to our old neighbours and hope that they come and visit us frequently. Our removal men did a sterling job for a very reasonable price. Their web site is: www.direct-transport.co.uk - thanks again, Ian.

November 2011:

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