Author: Glenn

The UK is making significant strides in promoting gender equality within its top companies. According to the latest FTSE Women Leaders Review, women now occupy nearly 43% of board positions across FTSE 350 companies, totalling 1,275 roles. Additionally, women hold 35% of leadership roles, equating to 6,743 positions.

This progress indicates that the voluntary target of 40% women's representation by the end of this year is within reach for many businesses. Over 60% of FTSE 350 companies are close to achieving this goal, reflecting ongoing efforts to dismantle barriers and foster inclusive leadership.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves emphasised the importance of this momentum, stating that while the UK leads in gender equality in boardrooms, continuous efforts are necessary to eliminate obstacles preventing women from ascending to decision-making roles.

Minister for Investment Baroness Gustafsson OBE highlighted the positive impact of female leadership, noting that strong female voices inspire change and add value throughout organisations.

Despite these advancements, challenges persist, particularly in increasing the number of women in top executive positions such as Chairs and CEOs. The government remains committed to collaborating with businesses to ensure equal opportunities for all, aiming to unlock economic growth and enhance living standards across the nation.

This concerted effort underscores the UK's dedication to fostering a diverse and dynamic business environment, recognising that inclusive leadership is key to driving innovation and economic success.

A complex celebrity case arose recently in which the First-tier Tax Tribunal (FTT) was asked to consider the application of the intermediaries’ legislation (IR35), otherwise known as off-payroll working, to payments made by Manchester United Football Club (MUFC) to Bryan Robson Ltd.

This appeal was in relation to determinations of income tax made under Reg. 80 of the PAYE Regulations and s31 of the Taxes Management Act (TMA) 1970  for personal appearances provided to MUFC by Bryan Robson Ltd. as a ‘global ambassador’ from 2015/16 to 2020/21. Those agreements included a licence for MUFC to exploit Mr. Robson’s “image rights” and required the former England star to make 35 personal appearances per year at MUFC’s request for a fixed sum. Although the image rights were not subject to the IR35 legislation and were left to be decided separately, and the additional tax due under the IR35 rules is to be determined.

This technical tax case highlights the intricate factors that determine employment status under IR35 and anyone providing such personal services, including freelancers, content creators, and contractors, has to demonstrate a high level of autonomy to be considered truly self-employed and present watertight contracts to the HMRC. 

HMRC together with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have launched a new consultation on e-invoicing to encourage its broader adoption among UK businesses and government departments. The consultation will run for 12-weeks and aims to cut paperwork for businesses and help improve productivity.

This is the first time that UK businesses have been invited to have their say on the government’s electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) proposals.

E-invoicing is the digital exchange of invoice information directly between buyers and suppliers. It could help businesses get their tax right first time, reduce invoicing and data errors, improve the accuracy of VAT returns, help close the tax gap and save time and money. It usually results in faster business to business payments, leading to improved cash flow and less paperwork.

HMRC provided the following example of where e-invoicing has improved cash flow. A UK NHS trust where e-invoices are ready for processing within 24 hours, compared to 10 days under paper invoicing. Their e-invoices are typically paid almost twice as quickly than paper invoices, with supplier queries reduced by an average of 15%.

Topics that the government is interested in exploring as part of the consultation include:

• different models of e-invoicing;
• whether to take a mandated or voluntary approach to e-invoicing, and what scope of mandate might be most appropriate in the UK and for businesses; and
• whether e-invoicing should be complemented by real time digital reporting.

With potential benefits like faster payments and fewer errors, e-invoicing could help UK businesses save time and money. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts, the consultation is open until 7 May 2025.

Employees working from home may be eligible to claim a tax deduction for certain job-related expenses. If your employer does not cover these costs or allowances, you have the option to claim tax relief directly from HMRC.

You may qualify for tax relief if you are required to work from home. This could apply if your job necessitates living far from the office or if your employer does not have an office. However, tax relief is generally not available if you opt to work from home, even if your employment contract permits it or if your office is occasionally full.

You can claim tax relief for £6 per week (or £26 per month if paid monthly) to cover additional costs associated with working from home, without the need to maintain specific records. The amount of tax relief you receive depends on your highest tax rate. For example, if you pay the basic rate of 20% tax, you will receive £1.20 per week in tax relief (20% of £6). Alternatively, you can claim the actual amount of additional costs incurred, but you must provide evidence to HMRC. HMRC accepts backdated claims for up to four tax years.

You may also be entitled to claim tax relief for using your personal vehicle, whether it is a car, van, motorcycle, or bike. Generally, tax relief is not available for regular commuting to and from your usual workplace. However, the rules are different for temporary workplaces, where such expenses are usually allowable, or if you use your vehicle for other business-related travel. Additionally, you may be able to claim tax relief on equipment purchased for work, such as a laptop, chair, or mobile phone.

Should your employer not cover these expenses or allowances, you can claim tax relief directly from HMRC.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ), together with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and the Minister for Courts and Legal Services, has announced significant improvements in probate waiting times. Probate is a legal process through which a deceased person’s will is validated and is the starting point for the distribution of funds to beneficiaries.

According to newly published data, the average waiting time for probate in December 2024 was just over four weeks. This represents a sharp reduction from 12 weeks at the close of 2023 and more than eight weeks at the end of June 2024. This achievement is part of a plan to address the backlog of cases that accumulated as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic by recruiting additional staff.

Approximately 80% of grant applications are now processed online, with digital submissions typically taking just over two weeks to complete. For applicants who submit their documents without complications, probate can often be granted in under a week. Meanwhile, the processing time for paper applications has been reduced from more than 22 weeks to just under 15 weeks.

The Minister for Courts and Legal Services remarked:

'We know that handling probate can be tough for families at a difficult period in their lives. That is why so we’ve worked hard to reduce delays and make the process easier. 

By cutting wait times and going digital, we’re ensuring people receive the support they need quickly at what can be a challenging time.

We’re getting public services back on their feet again as part of this Government’s Plan for Change.'