Frequently asked questions
Our experienced team of tax experts are always happy to answer any questions you may have. Please contact us, or follow these links for examples of the kind of issues our individual planning and business tax advisers can help you with.
Business
- My business has grown and I need to employ staff. How do I handle their tax and national insurance?
- If my business makes a loss in the early years, do I still have to pay tax?
- I am partially exempt from VAT. How do I maximise my VAT recovery?
- My company does business in countries other than the UK. Do I have to pay VAT?
- What’s the best way to acquire another business or sell part of my business?
- Should we incorporate?
- My company wants to acquire the business premises. What’s the best way to do this?
- We want employees to participate in profit distribution or share ownership. How do we do this?
- We want to use external funding. Can we use Enterprise Incentive Scheme (EIS) or Venture Capital Trust (VCT) tax breaks to attract funding?
- We want to list our shares on a Stock Exchange. How do we go about this?
- What is a limited liability partnership and how will it work for me?
- My company owns the rights to intellectual property (for example in software, medical, pharmaceutical, engineering). How do I value these and are there any tax planning points?
- How much is my company worth?
- What is the most tax efficient way of extracting profits from my company?
- When I sell my company I’ve promised my colleagues a share in the proceeds. Can we leave it until after I’ve sold the shares?
- I don’t want to lose my senior employees to my competitors. What benefits can I offer to tie them to the company?
- My friends do business offshore to avoid tax. Can I do this?
- My children work in the business and I want them to take over one day. How do I do this but protect my interests in the short term?
- How will the new dividend rules affect me?
Individual Planning
- I want to buy a holiday home/yacht/other expensive asset. What is the best way to do this?
- Our family home is our major asset. How do we keep it out of the inheritance tax net?
- My main asset is shares. Are they exempt from inheritance tax and what happens if I sell them?
- I want to invest in property. How should this be done?
- I keep hearing that people not born in the UK but living here can avoid tax (inheritance tax, capital gains tax and income tax). How does this work?
- I am just about to make a capital gain. Can I shelter it from capital gains tax?
- I want to help my daughter with financial assistance to buy her first flat. Are there any tax problems?
- I don’t want the spouses of my children to benefit from my estate. Is this possible?
- I intend retiring abroad. Are there any continuing UK tax issues?
- I am planning to buy a commercial property, but I am told I need to pay VAT. Can you explain please?
- How would a trust help me in my circumstances?