Johnson Murkett & Hurst

• ADVISORY FUEL RATES
  To reflect the increases in fuel prices, HMRC have issued new advisory fuel rates for employees driving employer provided cars. These take effect for all journeys undertaken from 1 July 2008 so employers wishing to use the new rates should advise affected employees and update any expense forms as soon as possible................read more
• HMRC WARNING ON SCAMS
  HMRC have updated their guidance on scams. HMRC have become aware of a new ruse to persuade unsuspecting taxpayers to complete a form detailing their bank or credit card details. The form implies that a tax refund may be due and that this will be paid straight into their bank account.............read more
• ILLEGAL WORKING
  For many years, there have been requirements for employers to verify the identity of their workers in order to prevent illegal working. Penalties under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 were increased from 29 February 2008 and the Home Office UK Border Agency website has been updated to show a list of employers fined since................read more
• EMPLOYEES' MILEAGE PAYMENTS
  As you may be aware there is a statutory system of tax and NIC free mileage rates for business journeys in an employee’s own vehicle. These mileage payments are known as ‘Authorised Mileage Allowance Payments’ (AMAP). The statutory rates for the current tax year are..............read more
• TAX FREEDOM DAY
  This year ‘Tax Freedom Day’ fell on June 2. The statistics make interesting reading in that the average UK taxpayer spends more than five months of the year working for the government as opposed to working for themselves. According to the Adam Smith Institute, which pulls together the statistics, government spending is set to reach £600 billion...............read more
• NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE AND TIPS
  An Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled in HMRC’s favour in the case of Annabel’s Restaurant and Nightclub.  The case concerned the payment of tips through a ‘tronc’, which is an arrangement which sometimes operates in the restaurant industry. The ‘tronc’ which operates as a separate independent payroll.............read more
• SURFING AT WORK
  According to the CBI the average UK office worker spends 95 minutes of their working week surfing the web for personal use. This they estimate costs the economy £10.6 billion a year. The research showed that many employers are supportive, in principal, of staff visiting non-work related websites. Employers regard it as employee motivator or a modern............read more
• TAX CREDITS RENEWAL
  Tax credits are state benefits which are generally available to lower income families. However, entitlement to the credits is significantly increased where individuals pay for childcare or have a dip in normal levels of income perhaps due to incurring trading losses. Individuals who have already claimed tax credits for 2007/08...............read more
• INCREASE IN PERSONAL ALLOWANCES
  Tucked away in a recent issue of  ‘Notes for payroll software developers’ is a  bit more information on the timescale for the increase in the current year’s personal allowance from £5,435 to £6,035 and the reduction in the higher rate point from £36,000 to £34,800. These changes mean that basic rate taxpayers will benefit..............read more

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