Information has been added to guidance with information about when to use an ‘XI’ prefix in UK VAT numbers in the ‘paying VAT’ section. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/trading-and-moving-goods-in-and-out-of-northern-ireland
Apply for a grant to help small and medium-sized businesses new to importing or exporting.
You can now apply for the SME Brexit Support Fund. Smaller businesses can get up to £2,000 to pay for practical support, including training or professional advice to adjust to new customs, rules of origin and VAT rules when trading with the EU.
You can apply and find more information on eligibility here.
As part of #StressAwarenessMonth the CICV Forum has produced a guide to mental wellbeing, with a comprehensive overview of leading charities and support networks and advice on where to find essential services. #COVID19 #InThisTogether
A copy of the guide, Where to find a helping hand, can be downloaded at https://t.co/JkakMFBe9c https://t.co/NWA8Mp7dqN
To help protect the country from coronavirus (COVID-19), there are testing regimes in place for those who travel regularly across UK borders. If you are an employer that fulfils the following definition, then you must take reasonable steps to facilitate the taking of tests by your employees:
As an employer your ‘reasonable steps’ to facilitate the taking of tests might be:
Remember: A key consideration for any policy is that if you get a positive lateral flow test (LFT) which is confirmed by a positive PCR test, LFT testing will not be effective for 90 days after you have tested positive so you must not use the tests during this period.
For more information on defining “reasonable steps” click here
BuildUK has set up a guide to help set up and run a workplace testing site
BuildUK has also produced a helpful flow-chart around what to do if a worker needs to self isolate
Companies that deferred VAT payments between 20 March and 30 June 2020 and have monies outstanding need to take action and join the VAT deferral new payment scheme by 21 June 2021. Those who do not join the scheme or settle the account before 30th June could be charged a 5 per cent penalty or interest on what they owe.
If businesses join by 21 April, they will pay their deferred VAT in 10 instalments, rather than nine or eight instalments if they wait until closer to the deadline. To join the scheme, a company must have:
Companies must pay the first instalment upon joining the scheme and make subsequent payments via Direct Debit.
For more information on the VAT Deferral Payment Scheme, click here
You can access the FIS Business and Taxation Toolkit here
If loading out a site and in wake of shortages and potentially taking larger orders of product than would ordinarily be the case, remember to check insurance implications and to survey the area carefully to ensure that any loading limitations on the floor/storage area are adhered to and have factored in risk to protect from environmental (cleanliness, humidity or temperature issues), stacking (adherence to storage instructions) or construction related damage. Also pay particular attention to safety factors that may arise if product is not stacked in accordance with manufacturers instructions and H&S best practice (e.g. leaning/stacking of boards). FIS Site Guides are free to download for members and include some helpful reminders on storage issues.