National Living and Minimum Wage
The National Living and Minimum Wage increased on 1 April 2024 for around 3 million workers in the UK. The new rates apply to everyone and are different based on your age, including whether you are in an apprenticeship role. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a full time, part time or […]
Strategy – choosing what not to do
The essence of a good business strategy is choosing what not to do. Resource allocation is a fundamental consideration in any business strategy. Businesses operate within finite constraints, such as time, finances, or human resources. Choosing what not to do enables a more focused allocation of resources towards activities that align with the overarching […]
The Budget and VAT
From 1 April 2024, the VAT registration threshold and deregistration thresholds each increased by £5,000 to £90,000 and £88,000 respectively. The thresholds had previously been frozen at £85,000 and £83,000 since 1 April 2017. According to the government, this will mean 28,000 businesses will no longer be VAT registered in 2024/25. In some […]
The value of teamwork
None of us is as smart as all of us. Way back in the 1920s the Hawthorne Studies, conducted by Elton Mayo, highlighted the importance of groups in affecting the behaviour of individuals at work. Fast forward to today and workplace design has evolved from solo workspaces and closed offices to open layouts that […]
High-Income Child Benefit Charge
Approximately 180,000 families are encouraged to reconsider claiming child benefit following changes to the high-income child benefit charge (HICBC), which apply from 6 April 2024, when the thresholds will be increased. You may have to pay the HICBC if you are considered to have ‘high income’ and child benefit is being paid in relation to […]
DUA Tax Newsletter – April 2024
Welcome to the April edition of our Tax newsletter. We hope that you find this informative. Please contact us if you wish to discuss in more detail any of the points highlighted. HAPPY NEW TAX YEAR In this April issue we highlight some of the key tax changes that take effect from the start of […]
Managing hybrid teams
As hybrid working has become more mainstream, managers have had to adapt. The emergence of hybrid teams – a blend of remote and in-office workers – has ushered in a new era of workplace dynamics. The challenge lies in effectively managing these diverse teams, balancing flexibility with structure and fostering collaboration amidst physical separation. […]
HMRC service issues
HMRC continues to come under fire for its service levels, and recent surveys rated this as poor, with 94% somewhat or extremely dissatisfied with them. These include long wait times to be connected to an adviser, and the webchat coming in for severe criticism too. The length of time taken to deal with correspondence is […]
Creating sustainable growth
We live in uncertain times, but it’s still possible to grow your business in a sustainable way. Globally, 2024 could be a year that is full of economic uncertainty. It’s an election year in the UK and the USA. Interest rates remain high, and inflation is still high too. Creating sustainable business growth during times […]
Leverage the power of apps with your accounting software
Although core accounting software has the basic functionality required, add-ons, or apps, can significantly enhance its capabilities in many areas. The following examples show how some of these apps can positively impact accounting software. Practically all businesses have to pay suppliers, and there is the ability to process these and make payments without […]