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Thinking about taking your pension benefits? Beware of the potential tax traps

Due to the potential complexities involved, it makes sense to be able to deal with a firm that offers both financial planning and tax advice under one roof and Armstrong Watson can help.

As our previous articles have highlighted, those aged 55 and over now have significantly greater flexibility when accessing their pension funds and according to recent press reports, have withdrawn in excess of £1bn from their pension savings since the freedoms were introduced in April.

A (Taxing) Summer in Provence

Many of our clients have French connections and if you have spent any time in France this summer and are considering investment there, or already own property there, here are some of the tax issues you might want to consider. 

Letting French Property 

We have a number of clients who live in the UK, but own and let property in France. 

Corporate debt – how does a business survive in the event of death or illness of a partner or director?

Many businesses have some form of borrowing in place; often loans to assist with capital projects such as the purchase of premises or plant and machinery, or overdrafts to assist with shorter term working capital. Many directors also make substantial financial commitments to their businesses via director’s loan accounts.

The only book you need to take to the beach this year

Over the last ten years I have helped many start-up businesses, along with more established businesses looking for growth. September/October is always a busy period for business start-ups and I’ve found that time off with the family creates the thinking time needed to make decisions about launching a new venture.

A coup for Armstrong Watson as new Director of Payroll Services takes up position

Armstrong Watson is delighted to announce the appointment of Karen Thomson who will be taking up the position of Director of Payroll Services from this week.

Karen, who is vastly influential in the world of Payroll, will be bringing her wealth of experience and knowledge to the role and will be taking up the position, utilising her skills and knowledge to drive Armstrong Watson’s payroll services forward with a national agenda. 

Karen has spent the past 13 years creating, influencing and directing Policy at the CIPP where she worked as Associate Director of Policy.

HMRC accessing bank accounts – should you be worried?

Once the Finance (No 2) Act 2015 receives Royal Assent (likely to be in late September or early October), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will gain powers to collect tax debts directly from taxpayers’ bank accounts.

The debts affected by this include any tax liability, penalties, interest, overpaid tax credits and amounts included in an Accelerated Payment Notice.

HMRC have said that these powers are aimed for those who won’t pay rather than those who can’t pay, and as such there are certain safeguards which have been put in place.

One of the most effective ways to boost law firm income – if implemented properly

I was recently asked to present a training session on cross-selling to a law firm client of mine. I’ve deliberately not used that terminology in the title of this article as I don’t think the term cross-selling helps lawyers at all, as I will explain shortly, but the concept should.

In order to generate work for the firm as a whole when clients instruct a particular fee earner or department, three things are required.

TeamSport races to acquire longest indoor karting track in Yorkshire

The Yorkshire Corporate Finance Team at Armstrong Watson has successfully led the disposal of the Pole Position Indoor Karting (“PPIK”) business to Teamsport, Europe’s largest indoor karting operator for an undisclosed sum.

Located in Hunslett, the venue will undergo a major re-brand and refurbishment and will take the company’s existing 13 tracks to 14 as part of its continuing UK expansion.

How important is price to clients?

Recent developments are pushing the legal sector towards the two Cs – Consolidation and Commoditisation.

Probate and estate administration

The time after losing someone close to you is always difficult.

There are a lot of administration requirements following a death, and it can be very confusing and painful to deal with when you are also grieving.

Many people are reassured by having someone they trust assisting them with these duties, in order to enable them to be able to focus on their family whilst knowing everything else is being taken care of.

Administration requirements following a death

The process involved in estate administration includes: