Paul's blog

The 2013 Budget

It’s hard to get excited about the Budget, after all the whole purpose of the Budget it to raise taxes isn’t it?

But maybe some good news?

Beer duty

This is a question I am often asked at this time of year.

The due date for paying the balance of 2011/12 self-assessment tax is 31 January 2013, together with your first payment on account for 2012/13.

If your tax return was filed before early December, you should have received a statement from HMRC setting out the amount of tax due to be paid by 31 January 2013. The statement would also have given details of the various methods to settle this tax.

Welcome to 2013

Firstly welcome to my first blog posting for 2013. New year, new resolution .. more blogs. Well, we shall see. If you have any ideas on subjects or topics that you’d like me to cover in a blog, please drop me an email to blogideas@pauleldred.co.uk

Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) and the potential tax timebomb

You may have heard on the TV or radio, or read press reports, about the changes being made to Child Benefit.

Here is a brief outline of what is happening to Child Benefit and how you may be affected

Households where at least one person earns more than £50,000 per year will face a net reduction in the amount of Child Benefit they receive, and those households where one person earns more than £60,000 per annum will effectively lose all their Child Benefit.

I heard something on the radio about 30 minutes ago and it’s taken me this long to recover from shock.

Royal Mail has been given the go-ahead by OFCOM (The regulator) to increase first and second class stamps by 30% and 39% respectively as from 30th April.

Look at how much it will now cost you to send snail mail:-

    First class              up from 46p to 60p
    Second class        up from 36p to 50p

This must have been one of the worst kept secrets of all budgets. With all the “leaks” or “advertising” that has occurred over the last few days, there were few surprises this time around.

It has to be remembered that many changes that are happening as from 6th April 2012 were officially announced in previous Budget or Autumn Statements.

So, what has George Osborne done today?

Personal Allowance (PA)
The Personal Allowance (PA) is the amount you can earn before you pay tax.

Today I attended a networking lunch organised by the Isabel Hospice and held at Lussmanns restaurant in Hertford.

The usual format is that the event sponsor would give a short pitch about his or her business and then all attendees would have an opportunity to mingle and make business connections.

Today was different.

 It couldn’t have been more different.

As 31st January approaches, you may still be looking for an accountant in Hertford to help you. As most people and businesses know, January 31st is the normal deadline date for filing your personal tax return online with HMRC. The deadline can be after this date if HMRC issued a “Notice t