Tag Archives: VAT

Planning Finances or Selling Insurance?

I’ve written a couple of blogs this week about my need for financial planning and my fear of wealth management. To repeat again, I don’t want to be treated as wealthy, but I do need help planning my saving and … Continue reading

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A “tax on a tax” – VAT on auto-enrolment bills

The Government is encouraging us to think of auto-enrolment for micros as an extension of the success story it has been for larger employers. But things are very different for smaller employers – especially when it comes to tax. Many … Continue reading

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If it’s not in the price- I’m not paying it.

All week I have been beset by those nasty little extras that add up. On Norwegian Airlines everything is extra, water, food , headsets , blankets – the duty free is more expensive than Tescos. It costs $50 to put … Continue reading

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Is auto-enrolment any more than a tax?

Speaking in Birmingham last week, former pension minister Steve Webb, commented on how hard it will be to raise the bar on employer auto-enrolment contributions from the current 1% of band earnings to 3% "Anything to get AE pension contributions … Continue reading

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Dear Government- “Five do’s, five don’ts” – #pensions

For those slipping quietly into retirement in the UK the political promises are about the revaluation of your state benefits, the payment of your winter allowance and the tax treatment of your savings and income. Whatever you have done or not … Continue reading

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Unrecoverable VAT on auto-enrolment advice

Advising on the pension decision used to be VAT free. That is because of an exemption for insurance that made commission and fee based advice on commission products VAT free. But now advice on auto-enrolment and pensions does not just … Continue reading

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Time to look at VAT on pension costs

OK – not the most exciting topic but it’s an important one! I’ve seen no discussion about VAT on pension fees and that’s troubles me as we put together our strategy to sort out the pension challenge facing the 1.2m … Continue reading

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Is honesty contagious? More on pension charges.

I’ve just read an excellent blog by Alastair Conway of Cofunds published on FT Advisor. It deals with the issues IFAs are facing as they enter the new world formed by the Retail Distribution Review and focusses on the adoption … Continue reading

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Advice in the workplace is 20% cheaper

I’m grateful to Paul Taylor of McCarthy Taylor for an excellent article on the current VAT treatment on the provision of free standing versus product related advice. His point is that when advice is linked to a VAT exempt product, the product can be used … Continue reading

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