Tax Insider Newsletter Bundle

Capital Loss Relief on Loans to Your Own Business: What Are the Rules?

Business owners often lend money to their own business (e.g., to support it through cashflow difficulties). Unfortunately, the business may subsequently be unable to repay the individual’s loan, such that the debt becomes irrecoverable.

Mark McLaughlin looks at capital loss relief for ‘loans to traders’ and another dispute between a taxpayer and HMRC over the availability of the relief.

A little under a year ago, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced plans to remove the inheritance tax (IHT) relief on unused pension funds when a taxpayer died after the age of 75. Reeves said that the aim was to “restore the principle that pensions should not be a vehicle for the accumulation of capital sums for the purposes of inheritance, as was the case prior to the 2015 pension reforms”. 

Grandparents might consider using tax reliefs to help future generations, suggests Richard Curtis.

How to Avoid Paying VAT on a Tenanted Commercial Building

To recover the VAT on costs associated with their commercial properties, the owners of most commercial property rental businesses have opted to tax their portfolios of property and would therefore normally charge VAT on the sale of a commercial property. 

Andrew Needham looks at how to minimise any penalties due if a business is assessed by HM Revenue and Customs. 

How One Common Mistake Can Jeopardise Your BADR Claim

Business asset disposal relief (BADR) may now be a pale shadow of what it once was, but it remains a useful relief for small businesses. 

Ken Moody recalls a recent interaction with a client firm and recounts how a fundamental issue for business asset disposal relief can easily be confused. 

Employer’s NICs Are Changing: What You Need to Know in 2025

Three main changes to Employer’s National Insurance contributions (NICs) were announced in last October’s Autumn Statement, all of which came into effect from 6 April 2025: 
•    The rate of Employer’s NICs increased from 13.8% to 15%.
•    The threshold at which Employer’s NICs start to be due reduced from £9,100 to £5,000 per employee. 
•    The employment allowance (EA) went up from £5,000 to £10,500, with a removal of the £100,000 test which previously prohibited larger employers from claiming it. 

Tristan Noyes looks at recent changes to Employer’s National Insurance contributions and how they work.

Bad Debts and Tax: What Happens When Invoices Go Unpaid?

Bad debts pose a significant challenge for every business. Swoop Funding's 2025 UK business debt report (April 2025) revealed that the average debt per company stands at £365,375 – funds that could otherwise maintain healthy cashflow and financial stability for the business. Therefore, staying on top of non-payments is essential. 

Jennifer Adams considers the tax implications for a business if invoices are not paid.

Should You Incorporate? Key Tax Considerations for Small Businesses

The question as to whether a business should operate through a limited company is often dictated by the tax implications, though not always – insulation of the individual from commercial risks is often reason enough. 

Chris Thorpe considers some important tax issues when considering incorporation.

Q&As with Arthur Weller

Dividends or bonuses? We can work it out!

Consider the following scenario:

'On a wintry sunny morning, Alan was reviewing his company’s January 2024 management accounts. Alan was the sole director and 100% shareholder of Llandudno Hotels Ltd, which operated two large hotels in Llandudno. The business was on course to healthy pre-tax profit of around £650,000 for the year ended 31 March 2024. Alan had been planning to pay himself a substantial ‘bonus’ before the year-end'. 

What does Alan do?

Peter Rayney examines an owner-manager’s cash extraction following the numerous tax and National Insurance contributions changes.

Use them or lose them: 2023/24 tax allowances

As the tax year draws to a close, it is prudent to review one’s 2023/24 tax allowances and consider whether there is scope for utilising any unused allowances so they are not lost. 

Sarah Bradford explores options for using 2023/24 tax allowances so they are not wasted.

Record-keeping in a digital age

Lee Sharpe looks at taxpayers’ record-keeping obligations in light of HMRC’s inexorable march to digital everything (almost).

Historically, HMRC has been quite relaxed about whether original records must be maintained or digital facsimiles (scans, etc.). 

Trap for business owners seeking CGT incorporation relief

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) recently commenced a ‘One to Many’ campaign, targeting taxpayers who incorporated property businesses in the tax year 2017/18 but reported no capital gains tax (CGT) liability in their tax returns on the basis that ‘incorporation relief’ applied in full. 

Mark McLaughlin highlights a potential trap for business owners seeking capital gains tax incorporation relief.

Q&As with Arthur Weller