EIS is now an investment option for MBOs

Enhancements to the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is one of the most useful policies introduced in the 2011 Budget – for business owners and tax payers looking to shelter their income from the current 50% tax rate. In addition to the increase in income tax relief from 20 per cent to 30 per cent making it more valuable to higher rate tax payers, access to the EIS scheme has also been widened.

Now we know it’s not forever how can you avoid the 50% tax rate?

Now it has been confirmed the 50% tax rate will be lifted in the not too distant future, how might it be possible to avoid paying it al together? Taxtalk explores some relevant tax planning opportunities.

Osborne’s Budget 2011 gives very little to individual tax payers

There was nothing unduly generous for individuals in this Budget in spite of the increase to the personal allowance.

Key Budget 2011 Predictions – What will happen to tax?

We predict business and personal tax announcements in the coming Budget 2011. Overall whatever we get, business owners really need a ‘roadmap’ to understand how the tax system will develop over the coming years. Then they can start making planning decisions for their business. In particular having a long range view will help with longer term workforce planning, deciding whether to hire new staff, where to locate offices and important investment decisions.

Tax Planning for Entrepreneurs Selling Business Assets

One of the most significant changes announced in the Budget was the increase in the rate of capital gains tax and the extension of entrepreneurs’ relief. But the extension isn’t as generous as might first appear and will affect small and medium sized business owners if they aren’t aware of the tax planning opportunities available.

Britain gets its first decent Budget for business in years!

Yesterday’s Budget was the first decent budget for entrepreneurs and business owners for some time and it’s exactly what the country needs to help rebuild economic activity.

CGT shake up requires careful planning for investors

The weekend papers were full of news about the planned increases to capital gains tax (CGT) announced by the new government. Some commentators have argued that this change has been on the cards for some time, although during the Election campaigning it was only the Lib Dems that formally announced their intentions. Subsequently incorporated into the coalition’s policies, we can expect CGT rates for top earners to more than double for non business assets and the exemption threshold to be cut from £10,100 to between £1,000 and £2,000.

These changes will be painful, especially since for the past 2 years, the flat rate of 18% has been extremely generous. But given the poor state of the Treasury’s coffers, the disparity between income and capital tax rates cannot be sustainable.

Coalition tax policies unveiled mark the end of ‘E’ Relief

Last week, the new Conservative LibDem coalition government was announced amid a flurry of guarded excitement and scepticism. The coalition has been quick to stamp out suggestions that their political differences will be too marked to produce effective financial policy and so far, the speed with which agreements have been reached is impressive and very positive in terms of their quality.

Should tax be a cross party issue?

Tax has become very politically motivated, perhaps too much so. Policies are introduced which are ill-researched and potentially damaging. What can be done about this? Should an all-party committee be established to restore political independence to tax policy making? What options exist?

Local Business Owners React to the Pre-Budget Report

We predicted it would be a controversial pre-budget report and it lived up to expectations, with some headline measures that are clearly designed to win over the hearts and minds of Labour’s core supporters. But in spite of this, most observers would agree that overall, it was a pretty good result for Surrey’s business owners.