Blogs, News & Useful PDFs
Stratford-upon-Avon
13 The Courtyard
Timothy's Bridge Road
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Warwickshire CV37 9NP
Check when to expect reply from HMRC
by Grenfell James
HMRC has a useful online tool to help agents and taxpayers know when they can expect to receive a reply from HMRC regarding a query or request that they have made. The online tool is updated weekly.
The online tool has recently been extended to
Passport delays and applications
by Grenfell James
A recent investigation by the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, in connection with the UK passport office, has found that hundreds of thousands of applicants faced unacceptable delays in receiving their passports.
Following the removal
Tax exempt private medical costs
by Grenfell James
There is no requirement for employers to pay tax and National Insurance on certain health benefits covered by tax concessions or exemptions. For example, there is no requirement to report employees’ medical or dental treatment or insurance if they
Effects of settlement legislation
by Grenfell James
The settlement legislation is intended to prevent an individual from gaining a tax advantage by diverting his or her income to another person who is liable at a lower rate of tax or is not liable to Income Tax.
Where a settlor has retained an
New life sciences growth package announced
by Grenfell James
The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has announced a new £650 million package of measures to help boost UK life sciences.
The new ‘Life Sci for Growth’ package brings together 10 different policies including £121 million to improve commercial clinical
Complexity may be double-edged sword
by Grenfell James
There does seem to be a trend to replace human interactions with automated AI systems. This is especially evident in the management of our tax system.
There was a time, many years ago, when each taxpayer’s tax affairs would be managed by a local tax
What you can and cannot patent
by Grenfell James
The GOV.UK website offers the following guidance if you are considering a patent application.
A UK patent may help if you want to take legal action against someone who uses your invention without your permission. For example, if they sell or
by Grenfell James
Fraudsters often try to take advantage of the 31 July deadline for submitting tax credits renewal information.
The fraudulent emails, texts or calls claim to be from HMRC and often promise money back in the form of a tax rebate together with a
by Grenfell James
HMRC is reminding parents that they may be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) to help pay for childcare costs. The scheme was used by almost 650,000 families during the 2022-23 tax year. This represented a significant increase over the previous
Grenfell James Technology Adoption Index
How does your business perform against others adopting financial tech? Find out with our interactive diagnostic:
1.
How does your business receive invoices?
A)
Invoices are mainly received in paper form
B)
Invoices are mainly received by email
C)
Invoices are emailed then automatically forwarded to a designated mailbox
2.
How are purchase invoices processed?
A)
Invoices are entered manually
B)
Invoices are attached to manually raised invoices
C)
Automated software (e.g. ReceiptBank, 1Tap, HubDoc etc) collates invoices
3.
How are accounts processed?
A)
Using Excel/paper-based
B)
Using Computer-based, offline software
C)
Using cloud-based accountancy software
4.
How often is business data revised?
A)
Data is updated annually
B)
Data is updated quarterly
C)
Data is updated monthly or more often
5.
How is banking updated for your business?
A)
Banking is updated manually
B)
Banking is updated by imports
C)
Banking is updated via a live feed
6.
How are bank payments made?
A)
Bank payments are manual
B)
Bank payments are made using bulk imports
C)
Bank payments are made directly via accounting software
7.
How are bank receipts reconciled?
A)
Receipts are chased and reconciled manually
B)
Receipts are chased and reconciled automatically
C)
A third-party platform is used to chase debts and collect fees
8.
How often are management reports produced?
A)
No reports are provided
B)
Reports are provided but often too late to be valuable
C)
Reports are automated with real-time information
Score 8-12:
Curious Exploration
Your financial technology phase is Curious Exploration
% of respondent businesses are in this phase too.
Switching accountancy systems may seem like an upheaval, but can be much more straightforward than most businesses imagine. From talking to our clients, they have found moving from paper invoicing and desktop-based accounting software to the cloud and apps quickly makes the transition process a worthwhile investment of time. Digital accounting solutions bring in streamlined processes, up-to-date business data and greater confidence in the accuracy of information when making financial decisions.
Grenfell James works with your team to fully assess the needs of your business and minimise the impact of any transitions for solutions we recommend.
Score 13-19:
Measured Discovery
Your financial technology phase is Measured Discovery
% of respondent businesses are in this phase too.
Once cloud accountancy software is in place, there’s still plenty of scope to improve your accountancy processes and make sure your business is maximising the benefits of adopting a digital accounting solution. Grenfell James assesses each business to understand how any implemented solutions are being used, identify areas for improvement and the needs of the business overall to support your business goals and achieve success.
Our team of experts can discuss a range of time-saving automation and get different apps and cloud-based solutions talking to create and manage a digital accountancy eco-system to help your business grow.
Score 20-24:
Bold Innovation
Your financial technology phase is Bold Innovation
% of respondent businesses are in this phase too.
You know the benefits of accounting technology and the impact it can have on your business goals. If you want to take it a step further, our team can conduct a systematic review of your processes, apps and business goals to ensure your digital accountancy ecosystem is keeping pace with the changing needs of a growing business.