There were three elections last week.
The one in France set the French on a collision course with Angela Merkel’s Germany on European financial and austerity measures. However, it remains to be seen how rabid M. Hollande remains on his anti-austerity intentions as he takes power. In practice, a reasonable balance is likely to be struck between France and Germany which is pragmatic and workable.
The UK Council elections should...
What will be in George Osborne’s Budget on Wednesday?
Well, the main thing will be the signalling of what is going to happen over the next couple of years, probably in the rundown to the next general election. There is some serious juggling going on politically between what he should do, and what he can do.
The main fight is between stimulating growth in the economy and at the same time remaining fair within the tax system....
There has been an increase in incorporations of dental practices over the past few years. Whilst many incorporations have been properly done and for valid reasons, it is estimated that many more have not been. So how do you ensure that your incorporation is robust?
It is important to recognise, first and foremost, that the Limited Company (“NewCo”) is a separate legal entity and personality from the Sole Practitioner or Partnership (“Dentist...
A new tax relief for business is to be introduced from 6 April 2012 - the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). The aim of SEIS is to encourage individuals to invest in small companies by providing incentives in income and capital gains tax. This is of interest to both investor and companies who may be looking for capital to take the next step in their development.
Whilst these incentives are generous, there are many qualifying conditions attached to the scheme...
The suggestion by the powers of France and Germany for a closer union has had fairly predictable repercussions, with a split starting to appear between those countries who want closer political union, and those who do not. It is Germany who is in the driving seat, and their effective refusal to support the minor Eurozone countries or clear the European central bank to do so means that countries either have to choose to go with Germany, or push away.
This fragmentation is hugely...
In yesterday’s pre-budget report, the Chancellor has announced how the government is trying to stimulate business growth in areas that have been hit particularly hard by the recession. These initiatives range from encouraging banks to lend more, to giving incentives for investors.
The following are the main points of interest from the report:
The government is going to launch a new Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) from April...
I blogged last week about the position of Greece within the Euro, and even within the European Union itself. I mused that exits from the Eurozone may not stop with Greece, but may even involving much larger economies, even Italy.
My goodness. What a long period of time is a week.
Events are moving so quickly at the moment, one really has to stop speculating about outcomes. One thing is certain, however. With its veto on extra funds to shore up Italy, it...
For the first time, the subject of a country leaving Eurozone has been raised at Heads of Government level in the European Union. It has been made clear to the Greeks that a rejection by referendum or in a general election of the measures imposed by the EU would mean this is the very likely outcome.
There is a problem, however.
There is no actual mechanism for a country to leave the Euro. It cannot simply opt out. When the rules were designed any mechanism to leave...
You will have received a “special message” with your NHS Schedules on 1 November with regard to incorporated performers.
This consummates what we have been saying for some time, in that incorporation calls into jeopardy the ability to be part of the superannuation scheme. The tax benefits of incorporation, which in many cases are “apparent” only are far outweighed in many cases by the loss of the superannuation benefits, and incorporation is much easier...
One of the most worrying aspects of the inability until yesterday of the Eurozone countries to reach agreement on what to do with Greece is that it calls into question their ability to deal with the much bigger problem of Italy. The Italians have passed various structural measures through their Parliament, but there remains a level of doubt in world financial markets. The seriousness with which the world views these changes and the ability of prime minister Berlusconi to carry them through...
