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We've scoured the web to get you the most up-to-date advice which includes the most useful tools on offer from the officials themselves.

Effective tax planning is essential if you are to minimise your tax bills. Simple tax planning can significantly reduce your tax liabilities.

The self-assessment tax return is an unavoidable burden if you are liable for self-employed tax or have complicated income tax affairs.

Corporation tax is charged on a company's profits. If you trade as a limited company, ensure that paying this tax is as painless as possible.

National Insurance Contributions (NICs) are payable whether you are self-employed or employed by your own company, although different rates apply.

As well as your legal obligations, you’ll want to ensure that payroll is painless and that you use any opportunities to improve your tax-efficiency.

VAT

Effective VAT planning aims to ensure that VAT is relatively painless, and that you are reclaiming as much as possible of the VAT you pay.

Capital gains are made when you sell something for more money than you paid for it. As a result, you can be subject to tax. Take professional advice.

Business property taxes apply to businesses with commercial premises.There are two commercial property taxes: business rates and stamp duty land tax.

If you have tax problems or face a tax investigation, it pays to seek professional advice and you must act rather than just hoping for the best.

Pandemic leaves thousands without an NI number

22 October 2020

An investigation by Money Box for the BBC has discovered that thousands of people that are legally entitled to work in the UK have been unable to get a National Insurance number.

Ciara Conalty is a hairdresser who moved to the UK from Ireland in June. The BBC reports that she has been unable to get a National Insurance number because the government has stopped issuing them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government says that you don't need an NI number to work. However, Ciara has told the BBC that she has struggled to prove to her employer that she could work without an NI number and was placed on a higher emergency tax code. She has also had trouble opening a bank account without an NI number.

What's more, Ciara may not be able to start an apprenticeship course as the college won't enrol her without an NI number. Ciara said: "I … was told that because of coronavirus, I can't have an interview to prove who I am, so I can't get one. I was told I could get an NI number after coronavirus but when will that be?"

The government says you can currently only get an NI number if you have entered the UK on a visa. BBC Radio 4's Money Box programme has found that British Passport holders arriving here for the first time are also unable to apply.

The government says it was necessary to suspend parts of the National Insurance number application process during the pandemic so it could redeploy staff to process benefit claims.

It says that if an applicant does not require a visa to work in the UK, such as a British passport holder or EU citizen, the right to work and ID check is carried out face-to-face and that those meetings are not possible because of coronavirus.

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), said: "Individuals can start work without a National Insurance number if they have the right to work in the UK and we are working on a solution to reopen the service soon."

However, the3million – a group representing the rights of EU citizens in the UK - says not every employer knows that people have the right to work without an NI number.

Luke Piper, head of policy at the3million, told the BBC: "Thousands of people who have arrived in the UK since March are having trouble getting jobs, opening bank accounts and paying tax."

Written by Rachel Miller.

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