How To Reduce Your Tax Liability
Can you believe we’re almost at the end of another tax year?! It certainly doesn’t feel like twelve months ago that we were preparing for the changes that came into effect for the 21/22 tax year.
As always, we think March is a really important month to sit down and make sure you’re maximising any of those tax allowances that might be relevant to your own individual tax position. Below are our top suggestions for ways to reduce your tax liability for the 21/22 tax year.
Pension Contributions
You may be aware that you receive an annual allowance of up to £40,000 per year for pension contributions if your Limited Company makes contributions for you. Making a contribution will not only utilise any available allowances but will also attract tax relief from a Corporation Tax perspective in your Limited Company.
If you make personal pension contributions before 5 April 2022, you will reduce your relevant earnings for income tax purposes. This is particularly pertinent for people earning between £100,000 and £125,140 as it could mean the reinstatement of some of your personal allowance.
We would always recommend that you have a conversation with your Financial Adviser over anything concerning pensions.
Capital Gains Tax
Each person is entitled to £12,300 of tax free Capital Gains every tax year. It’s therefore recommended if you are likely to incur a capital gain in the near future, that you realise that gain prior to 5 April 2022 as you will lose that year’s exemption after that date. It’s also worth considering that your spouse may also have unutilised allowances, which could double the impact of any tax saved by crystallising gains this tax year.
Planning for Remuneration
You may be aware that from 6 April 2022, there is to be an increase to national insurance and dividend tax rates of 1.25%. Whilst the impact is not huge (an additional £10,000 dividend after 6 April would incur £125 in extra personal tax when compared with 21/22), any additional income declared prior to 6 April would ultimately save at least some tax.
Dividend Allowance
Anyone who owns shares in a company is entitled to £2,000 of tax free dividends each year. If you’ve not already been voted a dividend in the tax year to date, it’s worth considering voting a dividend before 5 April 22. A £2,000 dividend would save £150 of tax.
Capital Allowances for Sole Traders
If you’re looking to reduce your sole trade profits in the tax year, you might want to consider replacing your van or some plant and machinery you hold in your business. The rate of the capital allowance depends upon the category of expenditure, however, in most instances you will see some amendments to your taxable profits by making a capital purchase. Our specialist business advice team will be able to help you plan for the future of your business.
We really hope that the above has given you something to think about ahead of the end of the tax year.
If you’re unsure of your next steps, please feel free to get in contact with our friendly, knowledgeable team. If you want to learn more about Kirkwood Wilson? Head to our about us page!
130% Capital Allowances with Super Deduction Scheme
On Wednesday 3rd March 2021, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced the 2021 budget. This budget brought with it record-breaking changes to the way that businesses pay their taxes, such as the introduction of the 130% super deduction scheme on any plant and machinery new investments until March 2023. Read on to find out more about super deductions and how you can benefit.
Super-deductions
Perhaps the biggest announcement to have come out of the 2021 Budget, announced in March 2021, is the impressive increase in the super-deduction on taxable allowances. This means that for expenditure business owners make between 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2023, companies can claim 130% capital allowances on qualifying plant and machinery investments.
Under the super-deduction scheme, for every pound spent or invested by a company in their own resources, their taxes are then cut up to 25p.
Rishi Sunak announced this change to the way in which tax works for businesses in order to make the UK’s capital allowance regime much more internationally competitive.
Why has the Government introduced Super-Deductions?
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, business investments have fallen dramatically by 11.6^ between Q3 2019 and Q3 2020. This means that a large portion of UK based businesses have opted to not invest in new machinery or transportation resources during the pandemic. By working to make capital allowances, the Government hopes that this will work to stimulate business investment, which will promote economic growth and counter business cycles.
Super-Deductions will give companies a strong incentive to make additional investments and bring planned investments forward.
What are capital allowances?
Capital allowances allow tax paying businesses to write off the cost of certain capital assets against taxable income. The 130% Super-Deduction and 50% first-year allowance are generous ways for businesses to benefit from capital tax allowances for investments into plant and machinery assets.
Investing in new plant and machinery assets, tax paying businesses will be able to lower their corporation tax bills.
What is classified as plant and machinery?
Most tangible assets used in the course of a businesses lifespan are considered plant and machinery for the purposes of claiming capital allowances. So, whilst there is not an exhaustive and explicit definition of plant and machinery investment, these assets can generally be defined as:
- Solar panels
- Computer equipment and servers
- Tractors, lorries and vans
- Laddies, drills and cranes
- Office chairs, desks and office furniture
- Electric vehicle charging points
- Refrigeration units,
- Air compressors,
- Foundry equipment.
How does the Super-Deduction work?
As one example, say your business invests £100,000 in shiny new Mercedes Sprinter Vans. By investing £100,000 in new plant and machinery assets for your business, you will now be able to deduct £130,000. This means, your accounting team can deduct 130% of your initial investment (£100,000) when computing your businesses taxable profits. This will, in turn, save your business money on your corporate tax bill.
Other big changes to come from the 2021 budget
The Chancellor confirmed on March 3rd 2021 that they are committed to continuing investment in the UK and UK businesses. They are doing this by placing new incentives in capital expenditure and allowing accelerated relief for any losses incurred by previously profitable businesses following the effects of COVID-19 on British businesses.
Changes to corporation tax
One of the biggest changes to business is that corporate tax rates for company profits over £250,000 will now stand at 25%. Companies with profits under £50,000 will continue to be taxed at 19%. Profits in between these limits will be taxed at a varied and tapered rate. This change will not come into effect until the new financial year in April 2023.
Changes to loss relief
The Chancellor has confirmed a temporary change to loss relief who are weathering the economic impact of COVID-19. This means that the Government will extend the carry back of trading losses for corporation tax made in accounting periods between 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2022.
2021 Budget announcements for businesses
During the 2021 Budget, Rishi Sunak announced a number of other changes. These include:
- Extension of the £1,000,000 Annual Investment Allowance limit
- Increase in the rate of Diverted Profits Tax
- Extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (also known as the furlough scheme)
- Additional support for the self-employed as a result of COVID-19
- PAYE cap for SMEs claiming R&D relief
Speak to a Kirkwood Wilson accountant to learn more
Interested in learning more about how your business can take advantage of the Super-Deduction scheme? Why not speak to one of our knowledgeable tax accountancy team here at Kirkwood Wilson? Call us on +44 (0)1704 546 000 or visit our contact page to send us a message.
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