Tribunals cost firms £8,500 each, says BCC January 5, 2011 EMPLOYERS face costs of thousands of pounds from spurious employment claims, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) claimed yesterday. Tribunals are “overwhelmingly weighted in favour of the employee,” causing companies to pay large settlements even for claims with no substance, the BCC’s report said. The average cost for an employer to defend themselves at tribunal [...]
Fewer closures in 2010 but many firms are still walking an economic tightrope January 5, 2011 FAR fewer struggling UK companies fell into administration in 2010 compared with 2009, Deloitte research showed yesterday. Insolvencies fell by 35 per cent, or by 1,102 companies last year, to 2,086 in 2010 from 3,188 in 2009, analysis of notices in the London Gazette over the year showed. Policymakers have worked to keep the business [...]
Small shops to gain as sales tax hits big retailers January 4, 2011 NOT all retailers face a painful squeeze from the VAT rise to 20 per cent. Smaller companies such as independent retailers, corner shops and convenience stores that fall below the threshold at which VAT is paid will not have to accommodate the change. Retailers that generate turnover of £70,000 or less per year do not [...]
Report fuels tax protests against HSBC December 19, 2010 THE campaign group UK Uncut has chosen its latest target, HSBC, as a result of suggestions from a former tax inspector that the banking giant is negotiating with the Inland Revenue to withhold around £2bn in tax. The protest group yesterday said the bank is “next in line” for a fresh wave of protests, after [...]
Offshore trusts attacked by government tax plans December 9, 2010 THE GOVERNMENT plans to crack down on offshore trusts used to avoid tax on bonuses, it revealed yesterday, as part of its plan to shake up tax rules. Money kept in trusts for employees will be treated as payments to workers and taxed at a higher rate under the government’s 2011 budget plans published yesterday. [...]
Firms up in arms at £2bn tax raid December 6, 2010 THE government yesterday announced a clampdown on tax avoidance which it said would raise £2bn, drawing fierce criticism from business groups. David Gauke, the Treasury minister in charge of taxation, announced a raft of measures, including two that will come into force with immediate effect. He said the changes would raise £2bn by the end [...]
Cadbury may be next target for protesters December 5, 2010 CADBURY could be the next firm to be hit by organised groups of protesters after it relocated part of its operations to Switzerland for tax reasons. The move comes as Topshop boss Sir Philip Green was left counting the cost of closing his flagship Oxford Street store on Saturday afternoon after a protest over his [...]
Football clubs have to look to long-term November 30, 2010 INSOLVENCY is becoming more common for football clubs. So how can clubs avoid administration in the hard times ahead? What can administrators do to prevent it? The unique – and controversial – element of a football club insolvency is the requirement that certain football related creditors be paid in full as a condition of the [...]
Q&A November 25, 2010 Q. What can I do to get better or cheaper deals on office equipment? A.It’s a good idea to consider swapping unwanted stock with other companies’ goods, services, or advertising space: things for which both sides would usually expect cash. This transaction is called corporate trade or corporate barter. There are now a number of [...]
NATIONAL BUSINESS AWARDS CELEBRATE VERY BEST OF BRITISH November 9, 2010 “CELEBRATING” the Best of British was how Prime Minister David Cameron described the National Business Awards last night, speaking via a video link recorded before his trip to China this week. And a fine celebration the ceremony was too, honouring companies of all sectors and sizes across the UK economy, from niche tiddlers such as [...]