Author: Glenn

Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) provides a reduced Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rate on the sale of a business, shares in a trading company, or an individual's interest in a trading partnership. This relief can still provide substantial tax savings for business owners exiting their businesses.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget measures, the CGT rate for BADR gains will increase from 6 April 2025. The new CGT rate is 14% (from 10%) for disposals made on or after that date. Furthermore, the rate is set to increase again to 18% for disposals made on or after 6 April 2026.

Where BADR applies to a disposal made on or after 6 April 2025 but before 6 April 2026, all or part of it is charged to CGT at a rate of 14%. Where BADR applies to disposals falling on or after 6 April 2026, the rate applying is 18%. There are anti-forestalling rules that apply to the changing rates.

The lifetime limit for claiming BADR is currently £1 million, allowing business owners to possibly qualify for the relief multiple times. In contrast, the lifetime limit for Investors’ Relief was reduced from £10 million to £1 million for qualifying disposals made on or after 30 October 2024. The CGT rates for Investors' Relief align with those of BADR.

If you're facing financial difficulties and owe tax, HMRC’s Time to Pay service may offer breathing space. From self-assessment to PAYE and VAT, eligible individuals and businesses can spread payments and avoid immediate enforcement.

Businesses and self-employed individuals experiencing financial challenges and with outstanding tax liabilities may qualify for support through HMRC's Time to Pay service. This service helps with unpaid taxes, duties, penalties, or surcharges that cannot currently be paid.

Self-assessment taxpayers with liabilities of up to £30,000 can use the online Time to Pay service to arrange instalment payments for their tax bills. This service is available without needing to speak directly to an HMRC advisor and can be accessed within 60 days of the payment deadline.

To be eligible for the online service, taxpayers must meet the following conditions:

• No outstanding tax returns
• No other unpaid tax debts
• No existing HMRC payment plans

The self-serve option is also available for qualifying PAYE and VAT debts up to £100,000. For taxpayers who don’t qualify for the online option, alternative payment plans can be arranged, typically tailored to the individual’s or business's specific situation and liabilities. These plans allow for debt repayment in instalments over an agreed period.

HMRC generally provides extended payment terms if they believe the taxpayer cannot pay in full immediately but will be able to do so in the future. If HMRC determines that additional time won’t resolve the issue, they may require immediate payment and begin enforcement actions if the debt remains unpaid.

In March 2025, the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) wrote to all pub-owning businesses to reinforce the importance of complying with Regulation 46 of the Pubs Code. This regulation focuses on how premises insurance is handled and, crucially, the tied tenant’s right to seek a price match on insurance premiums.

Under Regulation 46, pub companies must give tenants full information about the premises insurance arrangements when the tenant is expected to pay the cost. This includes explaining how premiums are calculated and giving tenants the chance to shop around for a policy that offers similar cover at a lower price. If a tenant finds such a policy and it meets the standard of being “suitable and comparable,” the pub company must either take out that policy or agree in writing not to charge the tenant the difference.

The PCA’s action follows a compliance review in 2024 involving Star Pubs & Bars, which led to improvements in how Star explains insurance charges to tenants. Building on that, the PCA contacted all pub companies in October 2024 to encourage similar improvements, especially where self-insurance schemes are in place.

More recently, the PCA expressed concern that many pub companies may not be properly honouring the price match right. A key issue is clarity. Some companies appear to reject tenant-proposed policies on the basis that they aren’t “equivalent” or “better” than the company’s own. The PCA has reminded businesses that this isn’t the correct test. The law only requires a policy to be “suitable and comparable,” not identical.

Worryingly, the PCA’s 2024 Annual Tied Tenant Survey revealed that just 56% of tenants knew they had the right to challenge insurance costs through price matching. This lack of awareness could mean many tenants are paying more than they need to.

In its latest communication, the PCA has urged all pub companies to double-check their compliance with Regulation 46 and ensure that communications with tenants clearly explain the price match right. Businesses should avoid technical or vague language and give tenants confidence to use their rights without hassle or delay.

The PCA is also encouraging tied tenants and other stakeholders to share their experiences. Feedback helps the regulator assess whether the rules are being followed fairly and consistently across the industry.

By promoting awareness and pushing for fair treatment, the PCA is aiming to create a more transparent and balanced environment for tied pubs across England and Wales.

​As of 31 March 2025, new regulations have come into effect in England, requiring workplaces to adopt simplified recycling practices. These measures aim to eliminate confusion over waste sorting, enhance recycling rates, and reduce waste sent to landfills or incineration. ​

Key Requirements for Workplaces:

• Separation of Waste Streams: Workplaces with 10 or more employees must arrange for the collection of:
  • Dry recyclable materials, including plastic, metal, glass, paper, and card.​
  • Food waste.​
  • Residual (non-recyclable) waste.​

Paper and card should be separated from other dry recyclables unless the waste collector permits combined collection. ​

• Flexibility in Collection: Businesses can determine the size of containers, and the frequency of collections based on their waste production volume. ​

These regulations apply to various non-domestic premises, including offices, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, care homes, charities, places of worship, and public meeting venues. ​

Support and Compliance:

The Environment Agency now oversees the regulation of Simpler Recycling, offering guidance to businesses and waste collectors to ensure compliance. Non-compliance may result in enforcement actions, including compliance notices. ​

By streamlining recycling practices, these new rules aim to increase the quality and quantity of recycled materials, supporting the transition to a more sustainable, circular economy in England.

If your employee is called for jury service, you must allow them time off—but you're not required to pay them. Here’s a clear look at your responsibilities, options, and how to handle disruptions and pay during their absence.

If your staff members are called to serve on a jury, you are required to grant them the necessary time off for jury service. If their absence would significantly disrupt your business, you may ask them to request a postponement of their jury service. The employee must agree to this request and provide written justification for the delay. A postponement can only be requested once within a 12-month period, and the employee must specify on the jury summons when they will be available.

While employers are obligated to allow time off for jury service, there is no legal requirement to pay employees during their absence. However, employers may choose to continue paying employees as usual. If this occurs, the employer cannot reclaim the wages paid to the employee or the business losses incurred during the jury service.

If the employer does not provide pay, the employee can claim a loss of earnings allowance from the court. To do so, the employer must issue a certificate of loss of earnings, which is provided along with the jury service letter. Employers may also opt to supplement the loss of earnings allowance by reducing the court allowance from the employee’s regular take-home pay.