The advice goes on to say that anyone receiving such an email should not visit the website contained within the email or disclose any personal or payment information.
Internet Link:
HMRC fraud attempts
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( 0 / 0 )In a move to help the property market and first time buyers, Alistair Darling has introduced a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) exemption or holiday for purchases of residential property from 3 September 2008 to 2 September 2009 (inclusive). The exemption effectively raises the current nil rate band of £125,000 (£150,000 in disadvantaged areas) to £175,000 for the period of one year only.
The effect of this increase is that where residential property is bought or leased (for in excess of 21 years) costing not more than £175,000, no SDLT will be payable. SDLT continues to be payable at 1% on property from £175,000 to £250,000 before the percentage rises.
The transaction must still be reported using the relevant return form SDLT1 even though no SDLT is payable.
Internet Link:
HMRC guidance SDLT and SDLT calculator
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( 0 / 0 )A CBI forecast has predicted a ‘shallow recession’ during the final part of 2008 and that growth in the economy in 2009 will be the lowest since 1992.
The CBI’s latest economic forecast has revised its growth predictions for 2008 and 2009 due to the sharper than expected slowdown over the first half of this year. Their forecast takes into account the impact of weak consumer demand, high energy and commodity prices and the effects of the credit crunch.
Richard Lambert, CBI Director-General, said:
"Over the past year our forecasts for economic growth have been shaved lower and lower as the UK economy continues to struggle with the twin impact of higher energy and commodity prices and the credit crunch. Growth in 2009 will be feeble at best.
Having experienced a rapid loss of momentum in the economy over the first half of 2008, the UK may have entered a mild recession that will hopefully prove short lived. This is not a return to the 1990s, when job cuts and a slump in demand were far more prolonged.
The squeeze on household incomes and company profit margins from higher costs will begin to ease as the price of oil moves downwards and, although the credit crunch will be with us for some time, conditions are set to improve later in 2009.”
Ian McCafferty, CBI Chief Economic Adviser, said:
"We now appear to be in a mild recession which will run to early next year. The outlook remains very uncertain, but we do not expect the falls in output to be prolonged, and should start to see signs of a recovery in the second half of 2009.”
Internet Link:
CBI press release
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( 0 / 0 )Specialist accountants Danbro have set a new record for the number of contractor, freelance and temporary worker clients joining the firm in a single month.
Danbro – ranked 30th in the most recent Sunday Times Fast Track 100 league table of the UK’s fastest-growing private companies – has bucked the downbeat trend for many businesses in the wake of the credit crunch by achieving the record number of new clients for its accounting and payroll services in July, building on steady monthly growth.
The new record continues a highly successful 12 months for Danbro. As well as the firm’s Fast Track ranking, Danbro was rated in the top six in the best accountancy firm and best umbrella service categories by voters in a poll on the Contractor UK website.
That reflected the positive feedback of a recent customer service survey, which found that 94.7 per cent of clients were extremely satisfied or satisfied with Danbro’s general advice while its speedy processing of contracts, invoicing and payment received ratings of between 84 per cent and 95 per cent.
Its high quality support was also recognised in an independent compliance audit by Professional Passport, which described Danbro as providing “compliant solutions combined with excellent customer service”. Clients also have the reassurance of a successful December 2007 HM Revenue & Customs compliance visit and ongoing regulation of the firm by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Danbro managing partner Damian Broughton said: “We are delighted that more and more contractors are recognising the benefits of working with Danbro and the fact that we have set a new record for more clients gained is particularly pleasing because it comes during very challenging economic conditions.
“We believe that our excellent customer service, and the confidence our clients can have that our solutions are completely compliant, are key factors in our success. We look forward to continuing to develop our services for the benefit of our existing and future clients.”
Danbro’s growth was underlined by a move in May to larger offices in Blackpool and the opening of a new London office in July.
For more information, contact Danbro at their Head office on 01253 600140 or their London office on 0207 836 8400 or visit www.danbro.co.uk
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( 0 / 0 )Under the new careless driving laws, which came into effect from 18 August 2008, motorists who kill whilst avoidably distracted at the wheel will face prison.
The new offences will allow courts to imprison drivers for up to five years who cause deaths by not paying due care to the road, or to other road users.
The type of ‘avoidable distractions’ covered by the new law include:
using a mobile phone (calling or texting)
drinking and eating
applying make-up
anything else which takes their attention away from the road and which a court judges to have been an avoidable distraction.
Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:
"The Government is committed to continually improving safety on Britain's roads. Under the Road Safety Act we have already brought in tougher penalties for drivers who use hand-held mobile phones at the wheel and the introduction of these new offences today is the latest step to tackle bad driving and further improve safety on our roads.
Last year the number of people killed fell below 3,000 for the first time since records began in 1926 but eight people are still dying on the roads each day. Where carelessness - or an uninsured, disqualified or unlicensed driver - causes a death it is right that the driver should face tough penalties."
Internet Link:
News release
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