Don’t Lose Your 2020/21 Personal Allowance
For every £2 that your adjusted net income exceeds £100,000 the £12,500 personal allowance is reduced by £1. Pension contributions and Gift Aid can help to reduce adjusted net income and save tax at an effective rate of 60%.
The restriction applies between £100,000 and £125,000 adjusted net income. Another way that you could avoid this trap would be to agree with your employer to sacrifice some of your salary in exchange for a tax-free benefit in kind such as an additional pension contribution.
VAT Rules For Construction Sector Started
The new “reverse charge” system of VAT accounting affects sub- contractors supplying their services to main contractors in the construction sector.
Under the new rules, supplies of standard or reduced-rated building services between VAT-registered businesses in the supply chain are no longer invoiced in the normal way. Under the new reverse charge system, the sub-contractor does not show VAT on their invoice to the main contractor and does not account for output VAT on that transaction.
The new reverse charge applies to activities covered by the construction industry scheme (CIS) payment rules. So if Eddie the Electrician does £10,000 of work for Big Builder Ltd after 1 March he no longer shows VAT on his invoice. Big Builder Ltd will record £2,000 (20%) as input tax and output tax. Note that normal VAT invoices will continue to be issued to domestic customers and end-users.
Please contact us if you need help understanding this new system. Note also that if you are a subcontractor using the VAT flat rate scheme it may be beneficial to leave that scheme as you may be entitled to a VAT refund on your expenses from 1 March 2021.
Buy New Equipment Before 6 April?
Your business year end, not 5 April, is relevant for capital allowances purposes. If however you are running a business and making up accounts to 31 March or 5 April you should consider buying plant and machinery to take advantage of the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance (AIA).
The AIA provides a 100% tax write off for equipment used in your business. This tax relief extends to fixtures and fittings within business premises such as electrical, water and heating systems. AIA does not apply to motor cars but there is a special 100% tax relief if you buy a new car that emits no more than 50g CO2 per kilometer. Note however that from April 2021 100% tax relief will only apply where there are zero emissions.
2021/22 National Insurance Bands
The thresholds for employee and employer national insurance contributions (NICs) have been increased by £1 a week for the 2021/22 tax year. Employees will be liable to 12% NICs between £184 and £967 a week (£50,270 a year). Employer contributions will start at £170 a week.
The self-employed will pay 9% Class 4 NICs on profits between £9,570 and £50,270.
The higher rate tax threshold for 2021/22 will be aligned with the £50,270 NIC upper earnings limit and the personal allowance will be uprated by the same percentage to £12,570 for 2021/22. Note that there are rumours that the chancellor may freeze the personal allowance in the budget.
Advisory Fuel Rate for Company Cars
These are the suggested reimbursement rates for employees’ private mileage using their company car from 1 March 2021.
Where there has been a change the previous rate is shown in brackets.
| Engine Size | Petrol | Diesel | LPG |
| 1400cc or less | 10p | 7p | |
| 1600cc or less | 9p (8p) | ||
| 1401cc to 2000cc | 12p (11p) | 8p | |
| 1601 to 2000cc | 11p (10p) | ||
| Over 2000cc | 18p (17p) | 12p | 12p |
Note that for hybrid cars you must use the petrol or diesel rate. You can continue to use the previous rates for up to 1 month from the date the new rates apply.
Diary of Main Tax Events
March/April 2021
| Date | What’s Due |
| 1/03 | Corporation tax payment for year to 31/5/20 (unless quarterly instalments apply) |
| 19/03 | PAYE & NIC deductions, and CIS return and tax, for month to 5/03/21 (due 22/03 if you pay electronically) |
| 1/04 | Corporation tax payment for year to 30/6/21 (unless quarterly instalments apply) |
| 5/04 | End of 2020/21 tax year. Tax actions need to be taken by this date (see above). |
| 19/04 | PAYE & NIC deductions, and CIS return and tax, for month to 5/04/21 (due 22/04 if you pay electronically) |
| Content accurate as at 25 Feb 2021 | |
Recent Comments