Edition 70

Edition 70: May 15^th 2008

Rise In Personal Tax Allowance Announced
Employer Checks On Work Experience
Have You Got A Will?

Internal News

A P Robinson & Co Short Listed For Business Awards
Star Ball Raises Over 20,000 pounds
Work Experience Opportunities
3 Weeks Left to Enter Our Competition: Free Accounts For One Year!

The Chancellor, Alistair Darling has announced some of the details of the compensation the government is to offer taxpayers who have been hit by the scrapping of the 10p income tax starting rate.

Mr Darling told the House of Commons that the basic rate personal tax allowance is to rise by 600 pounds to 6,035 pounds. As a result basic rate taxpayers will save 120 pounds annually.

The Chancellor also said that the allowance for higher rate taxpayers would be reduced.

To cut the higher rate threshold as announced by the Chancellor, the basic rate limit will be reduced by 1,200 pounds from 36,000 pounds to 34,800 pounds. The higher rate band will now start at 40,835 pounds. Higher rate taxpayers will see no difference in the amount of tax they pay.

The cost of raising the basic rate allowance to 6,035 pounds will lose the government some 2.7 billion in income. The increase in the allowance is to be backdated to 6 April.

Basic rate taxpayers will receive a 60 pounds lump sum in September to be followed by 10 pounds a month for the rest of the year.

The move, the government estimates, will compensate 4.2 million households with as much as or more than they forfeited when the 10p rate was abolished. The changes are to be included in the current Finance Bill.

The level of work experience available to young people could be under threat because of costly new employer checks, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has argued.

Under the new scheme, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) will conduct checks on those individuals responsible for supervising work experience pupils.

The ISA will run the checks through the Criminal Records Bureau at a cost of 64 pounds each.

The scheme requires the person who is supervising the work experience pupil to register.

However, the FSB has argued that, depending on the nature of the work experience placement and the number of people responsible for carrying out any supervision, this could mean that several individuals in a business may have to register.

The FSB said it believed that the cost and administration burdens involved would prevent many small businesses from offering work experience.

Should you become incapable of managing your business and your personal affairs do you have someone in place to take care of everything for you?

What steps have you taken to ensure that this would happen LEGALLY?

Millions of people spend 200-300 pounds per year to insure their homes against fire/flood/damage/robbery etc - are you aware that with the "Right" Will and good forward planning you can also protect your home to third parties such as Care Fees.

A P Robinson & Co highly recommend that you start looking into a Will if you have not already done so.

Our affiliate Will Writing company Allguard Legal Services (Lincolnshire) can help you have "Peace of Mind" that the right Will in place, can achieve.

For a FREE Information pack or to arrange a consultation please contact Lizzy Dale on: 01472 345888 or email: lizzy.dale@aprobinson.biz

A HUGE congratulations to Emma Stamp, our recently promoted Manager of Operational Services for both the Grimsby and Scunthorpe office, who has been short listed for 'SME Manager Of The Year' at this years Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards.

Emma Stamp, who has been with the company for 11 years, was the first accountant to qualify within A P Robinson & Co back in 2001.

Managing Partner Andrew Robinson comments; "Throughout her time here at A P Robinson & Co Emma has pushed herself in her academic and management career. She has been instrumental in implementing many forward-thinking schemes whilst balancing this demanding full time position around her two young children. She is undeniably a huge asset to the firm."

A P Robinson & Co are very proud that Emma has been recognised for this prestigious award and we have our fingers crossed for her to win. The event takes place on Friday 20th June at the Grimsby Auditorium.

A P Robinson & Cos charity When You Wish Upon A Star managed to raise over 20,000 pounds at the Star Ball event last Saturday.

Nine Emmerdale stars also attended and dug deep into their pockets at the auction and lucky dip which Andrew co-hosted as the glamorous assistant . The money raised will help to grant the wishes of children and young people with terminal and life-limiting illnesses.

Looking to gain valuable work experience this summer in Marketing?

Our Marketing Manager is looking for intelligent, eager and hard working candidates to fulfil work experience openings this summer, one at the beginning of July and one at the beginning of August for a one week placement.

The candidate will assist the Marketing Manager in administration duties, event organisation, campaign planning and attend a networking event. To apply email your CV with a brief covering letter to lizzy.dale@aprobinson.biz

Only three weeks left for you to enter your business into our fantastic competition for 25 businesses to WIN the chance to have their accounts completed for free for 1 year! www.aprobinson.biz

The competition closes on Friday 6^th June 2008 where GSMG will select 25 very lucky businesses to win the prize. Business entrants can be of any size, industry and even current clients of the firm. Terms and conditions apply.

To enter go to our website www.aprobinson.biz and click on the 'Win your accounts for free' link on our homepage and fill in an electronic application form or alternatively telephone Lizzy Dale on 01472 345888.