Finance

Since the credit crunch in 2008, the role and objectivity of auditors in annual accounts has been frequently questioned.

A number of small to medium businesses are due to be compensated after being mis sold complex financial products. Scores of small firms were targeted by the banks, including pubs, restaurants and vets.

Having cash allows a business to operate. So managing your cash resources and making sure you have enough to meet your needs, e.g. paying wages, buying supplies, meeting your personal financial requirements, is absolutely critical. In this context cash includes credit balances at the bank and unused loan and overdraft facilities.

The recession in the construction sector is old news. Work is difficult to secure and harder to make pay for many SMEs, because of the underlying fragility of the economy. Unfortunately, the present economic climate has exacerbated long- standing difficulties for contractors.

The economy is in the delicate, early stages of a recovery and small businesses and entrepreneurs are crucial in making that recovery a reality. While entrepreneurial spirit will be critical to stimulating future economic growth, it’s often sound financial management that underpins their ultimate success.

The taxman is to tax bonuses paid on funds with the financial services industry warning that it sets a precedent for supermarket and credit card cashback schemes to be targeted next.

Taking a case to court can be extremely costly. Some cases can stretch out for months and even years- that means there are a lot of fees to pay.

Actor Ray Winstone’s comments on radio about being “raped” by high taxes and seeing no returns on this money highlights two very different sides of the economic story. Carl Hasty, Director of Smart Currency Business discusses

Most of the time companies are likely to be making money, but if your customers are paying you late then it could have a negative effect on your cash flow.

Carl Elsby of Elsby & Co has some top tips to help business owners reduce their tax liability – legitimately.

Many businesses are still unaware of the changes in the audit thresholds of annual end accounts that allow more companies to qualify for audit exemption. With the end of the quarter fast approaching, and with it many fiscal year ends, now is the time to check that you are not paying for unnecessary audit services.

HMRC has announced that Britons concealing money in the Isle of Man have three years to own up and get their affairs in order.

iZettle, the social payments company,has launched a dedicated Chip & PIN reader, designed for businesses that demand fast, secure and hassle free card payments with maximum flexibility.

Emily Coltman ACA, Chief Accountant to FreeAgent – who provides an online accounting system for small businesses – gives her top tips for how to fall back in love with your business bookkeeping.

One of the headline concerns for many businesses throughout 2012 was access to credit. And according to the Forum of Private Business, it looks highly likely this trend will continue into the new year.

Whether you are a self-employed contractor or a small business owner, one of the most important aspects to being a success is planning a budget. Both careers do not receive a steady income, so budgeting is essential to ensure you have money aside for a rainy day.

We didn’t have to wait for George Osborne’s Autumn Statement to learn of the Government’s latest plans to “clamp down on tax dodgers.” An announcement on Monday that another £77m of funding would be found to enable HMRC to expand their anti-avoidance and evasion activity was swiftly followed by the publication of a document entitled “Closing in on tax evasion: HMRC’s approach”.

Saving for the future means knowing how to tackle the taxman, says Almary Green’s Carl Lamb. Here he looks at the different ways of minimising the tax burden.

Many businesses will find the new Pay As You Earn (PAYE) reporting system impossible according to the ICAEW. This is despite HMRC publishing proposals explaining when employers will be allowed extra time to send in information to HMRC.

A new initiative to unlock £1.5bn for local authorities over five years as well as shortening the payment process to SMEs has been officially announced.

The recession has taken its toll on businesses across the UK, with many casualties along the way. As with all economic cycles, when businesses fail it provides opportunities for others to capitalise. However, in order to take advantage of these opportunities, even the most well established, long term businesses have been struggling to finance what they need in order for the business to flourish.

The number of applications for freezing orders appears to be on the rise, perhaps due to an increase in insolvencies or simply more fraudsters operating in UK business today. Whatever the reason, the result is that it’s a pretty busy time for litigators.

A quarter of small businesses are completely unaware of changes they will have to make to the way they report tax deductions, research suggests.

Hundreds of SMEs will be able to benefit from up to £15 million allocated to Close Brothers under the government’s Regional Growth Fund.

According to recent research from Standard Life, over half of young British employees are keen to learn more about the Government’s new auto-enrolment initiative.