News
A round up of our latest blogs, commentary or office news. Get in touch if you need more details on any of the topics covered.
Latest posts

Graduate Trainee Accountant Programme
Your career in accountancy could start with us. We offer a tailored training programme, on the job training and fully paid study leave in one of the region’s most successful training practices. Apply now to join our Graduate Trainee Accountant Programme 2022.

Covid Update from PM 5 Jan 2022
Prime Minister gives Covid update to Commons on Plan B with measures to strengthen NHS, protect services and supply chains and reduce testing requirements for travel.
Section 431 Election – more than just a piece of paper?
The relevance of signing a section 431 election and the tax consequences when shares are acquired by employees.
Bates Weston Summer Newsletter for Charities
We look at the issues currently affecting clients in the Charities sector.
Plastic Packaging Tax consultation published
If you are in the packaging industry, are a pack filler, brand owner or retailer, you may be interested in the summary of responses to the “Plastic Packaging Tax” consultation, published this month.
Myth busting on Making Tax Digital
HMRC has decided to dispel some of the myths it believes surround Making Tax Digital for VAT. Among the myths they are challenging is that businesses don't know MTD is happening or what to do. They maintain that more than 80% of businesses had already started to make...
Selling your veterinary practice?
Finding the right advisors, those who understand you, your business and the veterinary practice market, with a track record for delivering a successful sale is crucial.
Selling your business and the impact of payments to Personal Service Companies.
Watch out for the impact of Off-Payroll working rules in sale transactions from April 2020 If you own a private limited company and make payments to a personal service company (PSC) then from April 2020 it will be the clients responsibility to police the IR35 regime....
Thinking of selling your specialist care business?
You only sell your business once and preparation is everything. Thinking of selling your care business? Finding the right advisors, those who understand you, your business and the specialist care market, with a track record for delivering a successful sale is crucial....
SDLT Payment Pressures
As of 31 March 2019, SDLT is now due for payment 14 days after the completion of the transaction. Given the cashflow pressures of this it will be more important than ever to get the SDLT liability right and take advantage of any reliefs available. Multiple Dwellings...
Claiming Entrepreneurs’ Relief on dilution
Cassandra Graham, Tax manager at Bates Weston, explains the elections you can make to protect your Entrepreneurs' Relief on dilution of your shareholding. As ever, this article is general in nature and you should take no action based upon it without first consulting...
What now for the Loan Charge?
Richard Coombs, Tax Partner at Bates Weston, looks at the outcry against the retrospective nature of the loan charge, effective from the beginning of April 2019. You would be forgiven for thinking that now that April has passed then the loan charge is now a done deal...
MTD – What is a digital link?
What is a digital link and how not to break it! So, we’ve heard lots about Making Tax Digital for VAT, and we know that if our business’s taxable turnover is over £85,000, we have to keep our business records in digital form and file our VAT returns using functional...
Tips to reduce your tax bill
Puzzling over your tax return? As the tax deadline of 31 January looms, our thoughts turn to making sure our client’s tax affairs are in order and that they are taking all reasonable measures within the constraints of the tax system, to ensure that they minimise their...