Spring clean your finances, urges local tax specialist

A local tax specialist is urging small businesses to spring clean their finances as they tackle a raft of changes from this April.

Alan Johnston, who runs TaxAssist Accountants in Goldenacre, said: “Although the Government has now decided not to increase National Insurance contributions for self-employed people following a major backlash, other announcements in the Spring Budget added to a long list of changes and new responsibilities for small businesses. We want to ensure that local business owners make the most of all relevant tax breaks and don’t get caught out by the new rules.

“Although some of the changes, such as reduced dividend tax allowance for director-shareholders, will not start until next year, there are significant challenges for local business owners which come into force from April this year.”

Key changes from April 2017 include:

  • Corporation tax is cut to 19%
  • VAT registration threshold rises from £83,000 to £85,000
  • Businesses with very low cost bases who participate in the VAT flat rate scheme will pay a 16.5% fixed rate, they will however continue to charge VAT at 20%
  • The National Living Wage rises to £7.50 an hour
  • The cash basis accounting threshold for small businesses rises from £83,000 to £150,000
  • Many local businesses will reach their staging date for workplace pensions and must automatically enrol eligible staff in a scheme and contribute to their pension pot
  • And although unincorporated businesses with turnover below the new £85,000 VAT registration threshold have been given a further year to comply with quarterly reporting to HMRC, we’re urging local business owners to continue their vital progress on preparing for the new digital tax rules.

TaxAssist Accountants Goldenacre is a local business providing tax and accountancy advice and services purely to small businesses.

Get Fit and Fed at Free Multi-Sport Camp

With the news that exercise levels are declining ‘long before adolescence’, Edinburgh Leisure and Craigmillar Community Sports Hub is offering free sport and healthy eating sessions during the Easter holidays aimed at 6-12 year olds.

A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine says that sitting is replacing physical activity from the time children start school. Many of the 400 children enrolled in the study did less than this as they got older.

Phil Trodden, Community Sport Hub Coordinator at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Sitting is replacing physical activity from the time children start school. Children should get at least an hour of exercise a day. Activities outside school have an important role to play too.

“So our sessions will be on encouraging the children to have fun and move more, at the same time as instilling in them the importance of a healthy diet.”

The sessions will run from Monday, 3 April to Friday, 7 April 2017 from 10.30-12.30 at Jack Kane Sport Centre. Each day will have a different one hour sport of physical activity followed by a one hour healthy eating session and meal.

On Friday 7 April, a multi-sport event will kick off at 10.00 until 12.00 noon with a range of different sports to try out.

Places are limited to 30 per session and booking is essential and needs to be made by Monday, 27 March. To book a place on the camp, contact: communitysportshubs@edinburghleisure.co.uk

Coming out to play?

Applications are invited for an Edinburgh Playing Out pilot project which would see residents in eligible streets organise temporary road closures for children’s play events. 

The Council’s Playing Out scheme, which runs from 1 April to 31 August 2017, enables suitable residential streets to be closed [free of charge] for up to five sessions of outdoor play.

An update on the scheme will be considered by members of the Transport and Environment Committee on Tuesday (21 March).

North Edinburgh has held succesful Playing Out days in recent years when Total Craigroyston organised a programme of activities (above).

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “This Playing Out project is an excellent opportunity for local residents to close their streets for free so that kids can enjoy playing safely in the open air with their friends.

“Play events are also a great way for neighbours to mix and socialise, helping build stronger communities as well as boosting children’s health and wellbeing.

“I hope we’ll see lots of applications coming in so that playing out events can be run as often as possible during the warmer months.”

Lucy Richardson, of local group Edinburgh Playing Out, said: “This is a great initiative from the Council, giving residents up to five free street closures for street play from now until the end of August

“Children love unstructured play close to home and once children are playing on the street, people of all ages come out and chat to their neighbours and join in the freedom of a traffic-free street. It’s healthy and it’s fun.  Let the children play – apply now!”

 Conditions: 

You can close your street

  • only if it is a residential street
  • for up to five sessions

You cannot close your street if it is a

  • bus route
  • main road with a lot of traffic

Applicants should contact their local neighbourhood office to request a playing out session for their streets (if eligible). 

More information can be found on the Council’s website.

 

Make and Mend in Muirhouse Shopping Centre

SHARE SKILLS, LEARN NEW SKILLS!

This free taster event is bringing local people with practical skills together to share them in one place.There will be experts there on the day demonstrating basic repairs in textiles, furniture, I.T. and more. With a children’s activity station to keep them busy while you learn something new!

Most importantly, we need your input on the day:

  • What skills do you have?
  • What skills do you want to learn?
  • What would you find most useful?

…come along and tell us!

Saturday 25th March, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Inside Muirhouse Shopping Centre

 

Love your coastline: Wardie Bay deep clean!

Wardie Bay Beach will be receiving a thorough clean on Saturday 1st April as part of Beachwatch, the Marine Conservation Society’s beach clean and litter survey which aims to highlight the issues of beach litter around the UK’s coastline.  Continue reading Love your coastline: Wardie Bay deep clean!

Adult Education classes at Craigie

Continue reading Adult Education classes at Craigie

Youth Work: make your choice

Continue reading Youth Work: make your choice