Author: Glenn

The number of people classed as economically inactive has spiraled to 9.4 million.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows the percentage of people employed has fallen to 74.4%, while a near record 2.8 million people are now out of work due to long-term sickness.

The figures come a week after the Secretary of State set out how the Government’s plan to get Britain working will tackle economic inactivity and drive growth in every corner of the country.

 Alongside action to make work pay, overhaul skills and address the root causes of worklessness, including poor physical and mental health, the plan will deliver:

• A new national jobs and career service to help get more people into work, and on in their work.
• New work, health and skills plans for the economically inactive, led by Mayors and local areas.
• A youth guarantee for all young people aged 18 to 21.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall MP said:

“Spiralling economic inactivity, rising unemployment and the UK standing alone as the only G7 country where the employment rate is still not back to pre-pandemic levels. This is a truly dire inheritance which the Government is determined to tackle.

Behind these statistics are real people, who have for too long been ignored and denied the support they need to get into work and get on at work.

It’s time for change – in every corner of the country. That is why we are taking immediate actions to deliver on our growth mission, and spread jobs, prosperity, and opportunity to everyone, wherever they live.

Our Plan to Get Britain Working again will overhaul jobcentres, deliver a youth guarantee, and give local areas the power they need to tackle economic inactivity and break down barriers to a brighter future.”

1 September 2024 – Due date for corporation tax due for the year ended 30 November 2022.

19 September 2024 – PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 September 2024. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 September 2024)

19 September 2024 – Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 September 2024.

19 September 2024 – CIS tax deducted for the month ended 5 September 2024 is payable by today.

1 October 2024 – Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 December 2023.

19 October 2024 – PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 October 2024. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 October 2024.)

19 October 2024 – Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 October 2024.

19 October 2024 – CIS tax deducted for the month ended 5 October 2024 is payable by today.

31 October 2024 – Latest date you can file a paper version of your 2023-24 self-assessment tax return.

The Let Property Campaign provides landlords who have undeclared income from residential property lettings in the UK or abroad with an opportunity to regularise their affairs by disclosing any outstanding liabilities whether due to misunderstanding the tax rules or because of deliberate tax evasion. Participation in the campaign is open to all residential property landlords with undisclosed taxes. The campaign is not suitable for those letting out non-residential properties.

Landlords who do not avail of the opportunity and are targeted by HMRC can face penalties of up to 100% of the tax due together with possible criminal prosecution. Taxpayers that come forward will benefit from better terms and lower penalties for making a disclosure. Landlords that make an accurate voluntary disclosure are likely to face a maximum penalty of 0%, 10% or 20% depending on the circumstance on top of the tax and interest due. There are higher penalties for offshore liabilities.

There are three main stages to taking part in the campaign, notifying HMRC that you wish to take part, preparing an actual disclosure and making a formal offer together with payment. The campaign is open to all individual landlords renting out residential property. This includes, amongst others, landlords with multiple properties and specialist landlords with student or workforce rentals. Once HMRC have been notified of the wish to take part in the campaign, landlords usually have 90 days to calculate and pay any tax owed.

The Corporation Tax Main Rate applies to companies with profits in excess of £250,000. The applicable rate is currently 25%. A Small Profit Rate (SPR) of 19% applies to companies with profits of up to £50,000.

Where a company has profits between £50,000 and £250,000 a marginal rate of Corporation Tax applies that bridges the gap between the lower and upper limits. The lower and upper limits are proportionately reduced for short accounting periods of less than 12 months and where there are associated companies.

The effect of marginal relief is that the effective rate of Corporation Tax gradually increases from 19% where profits exceed £50,000 to 25% where profits are more than £250,000.

The amount of Corporation Tax to pay will be found by multiplying your profits by the main rate of 25% and deducting marginal relief. For the current 2024 fiscal year, the marginal relief fraction is 3/200. HMRC also has an online calculator that can be used to calculate marginal relief on Corporation Tax profits. The calculator can be found at www.tax.service.gov.uk/marginal-relief-calculator

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is normally charged at a simple flat rate of 20% and this applies to most chargeable gains made by individuals. If taxpayers only pay basic rate tax and make a small capital gain, they may only be subject to a reduced rate of 10%. Once the total of taxable income and gains exceed the higher rate threshold, the excess will be subject to 20% CGT.

A higher rate of CGT applies to gains on the disposal of residential property (apart from a principal private residence). The rates are 18% for basic rate taxpayers (2023-24: 18%) and 24% (2023-24: 28%) for higher rate or additional rate taxpayers. Again, if the gain pushes a taxpayer into the higher rate, then CGT will be payable at both rates.

The 18% basic rate and 28% higher or additional rate of CGT that applies to gains in respect of carried interest (the share of profits or gains that is paid to asset managers) remain unchanged in the current tax year.

The usual due date for paying any CGT owed to HMRC is the 31 January following the end of the tax year in which the capital gain was made. However, since 27 October 2021 any CGT due on the sale of a residential property needs to be paid within 60 days. In practice, this change only applies to the sale of any residential property that does not qualify for Private Residence Relief (PRR).

There is also an annual CGT exemption for individuals that is currently £3,000 (2023-24: £6,000). A husband and wife each have a separate exemption. Same-sex couples who acquire a legal status as civil partners are treated in the same way as married couples for CGT purposes.