Many limited companies have to file their accounts, electronically, with Companies House by 31st December.
Beware the date is not missed! Fines can now be £370 etc, with precious few grounds for appeal!
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Monday, 19 December 2011
Tax time of year again!
In the UK, the deadline for online tax return filing is 31st January.
Therefore, it's panic time again, and it's urgent to get on with accounts and tax computations in good time (actually good timing is to meet the October deadline for filing paper returns, as it leaves lots of time to make any adjustments or to gather funds to pay before 31st January!)
Really, I want to make further progress with my 'Bert Blagger' basic literacy teaching material. I did some more illustrations during my recent 7 week absense to Bangkok, Australia and Hong Kong.
While I was away, I devised a new sport, for aircraft, train, bus and coach passengers, Sky Chi. This was because the exercise information available on the plane I was sitting in was boring! I thought about it, and decided a new sport, with every person the winner, and which would be fun to do, was needed. People can arrive refreshed, fit, relaxed.
Aside from those 2 things, I also did some more design details on a new boat I want to build. You know that wind-surfing is generally the sport for the younger, fitter people amoungst us? Well, why not have a boat suitable to be handled by the middle-aged, the not-so-fit, and the disabled? It's NOT a dinghy adapted for disabled, but and is very stable, easily steered, able to have an outboat motor to supplement the sails!
Hmmm, perhaps an other blog is called for? What do you think? Email me at ken.midas@gmail.com if you wish to communicate direct.
Therefore, it's panic time again, and it's urgent to get on with accounts and tax computations in good time (actually good timing is to meet the October deadline for filing paper returns, as it leaves lots of time to make any adjustments or to gather funds to pay before 31st January!)
Really, I want to make further progress with my 'Bert Blagger' basic literacy teaching material. I did some more illustrations during my recent 7 week absense to Bangkok, Australia and Hong Kong.
While I was away, I devised a new sport, for aircraft, train, bus and coach passengers, Sky Chi. This was because the exercise information available on the plane I was sitting in was boring! I thought about it, and decided a new sport, with every person the winner, and which would be fun to do, was needed. People can arrive refreshed, fit, relaxed.
Aside from those 2 things, I also did some more design details on a new boat I want to build. You know that wind-surfing is generally the sport for the younger, fitter people amoungst us? Well, why not have a boat suitable to be handled by the middle-aged, the not-so-fit, and the disabled? It's NOT a dinghy adapted for disabled, but and is very stable, easily steered, able to have an outboat motor to supplement the sails!
Hmmm, perhaps an other blog is called for? What do you think? Email me at ken.midas@gmail.com if you wish to communicate direct.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
"Bert Blagger" Adult Literacy teaching resources
At last, after another 2 months, I have drafted the first 2 booklets in a series of literacy teaching resources.
The beginning of all this was in 2003, when I was kept very busy teaching in prisons. I felt that the resources available were limited. Most seemed to me to be written for young children. Adult learners did not like them. In prison, they are not frightened to say so! Most teachers had to resort to downloading material at home, or search for suitable resources.
My material is called 'Starter Level'. This is intended for anyone over early childhood, say 11 onwards. It would cover National Curriculum Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1. I think it can be used for Key Skills 1 and 2, ESOL, and for many of those with learning or behaviour difficulties.
These resources are intended to be useful even in the most difficult teaching situations, where interactive whiteboards and rows of computers are not available for teaching. Do you teach one-to-one? In small groups? In informal surroundings? Are resources budgets restricted or non-existent? Are your teaching books 10 years old, or written for kiddies?
The topic of this first series is punctuation, helping the learner in making sense of the written word. There will be more series, hopefully, and to definetly also cover numeracy skills teaching resources.
Based on my prison teaching experience, I'm using a character I'm calling Bert Blagger to typify the sort of prisoner who is working very hard to catch up on his missed education. He's determined to achieve well.
Most of those working in education agree that poor literacy skills really do disadvantage people. In many cases, inadequate parenting and disruptive behaviour leads to poor school attendance. In turn, this impacts on the quality of education achieved by the child.
Without literacy skills, few subjects can be mastered. Poor education leads to a limited choice of work. A solution can be to turn to crime.
Bert wants a better life upon release and not fall into the re-offending and re-admission trap that befalls around 60% of released prisoners.
He knows he has an uphill struggle to get society to re-accept him after release. He has to admit the prison record, which will greatly restrict his employability.
With the resultant poor job prospects, it's all too easy to fall back into criminal life. Again, about 60% do and get caught.
He wants to 'catch back up' on literacy and numeracy, avoid falling back in with old associates and criminal underworld connections. He knows that if he does, he'll soon be back in prison.
If he does has difficulty in getting a job, he wants to be confident that he has enough knowledge to become self-employed.
As a teacher, would you wish to help him?
Any comment?
The beginning of all this was in 2003, when I was kept very busy teaching in prisons. I felt that the resources available were limited. Most seemed to me to be written for young children. Adult learners did not like them. In prison, they are not frightened to say so! Most teachers had to resort to downloading material at home, or search for suitable resources.
My material is called 'Starter Level'. This is intended for anyone over early childhood, say 11 onwards. It would cover National Curriculum Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1. I think it can be used for Key Skills 1 and 2, ESOL, and for many of those with learning or behaviour difficulties.
These resources are intended to be useful even in the most difficult teaching situations, where interactive whiteboards and rows of computers are not available for teaching. Do you teach one-to-one? In small groups? In informal surroundings? Are resources budgets restricted or non-existent? Are your teaching books 10 years old, or written for kiddies?
The topic of this first series is punctuation, helping the learner in making sense of the written word. There will be more series, hopefully, and to definetly also cover numeracy skills teaching resources.
Based on my prison teaching experience, I'm using a character I'm calling Bert Blagger to typify the sort of prisoner who is working very hard to catch up on his missed education. He's determined to achieve well.
Most of those working in education agree that poor literacy skills really do disadvantage people. In many cases, inadequate parenting and disruptive behaviour leads to poor school attendance. In turn, this impacts on the quality of education achieved by the child.
Without literacy skills, few subjects can be mastered. Poor education leads to a limited choice of work. A solution can be to turn to crime.
Bert wants a better life upon release and not fall into the re-offending and re-admission trap that befalls around 60% of released prisoners.
He knows he has an uphill struggle to get society to re-accept him after release. He has to admit the prison record, which will greatly restrict his employability.
With the resultant poor job prospects, it's all too easy to fall back into criminal life. Again, about 60% do and get caught.
He wants to 'catch back up' on literacy and numeracy, avoid falling back in with old associates and criminal underworld connections. He knows that if he does, he'll soon be back in prison.
If he does has difficulty in getting a job, he wants to be confident that he has enough knowledge to become self-employed.
As a teacher, would you wish to help him?
Any comment?
Monday, 13 June 2011
Teaching literacy to adults
For the past couple of months, I have been busy drafting the first of what I hope will be a series of literacy for adults teaching resources. I've taught in prisons for 8 years, and colleges before, so have some experience of teaching.
I don't claim to be an expert or specialist. Being a qualified accountant, and more recently a qualified teacher as well, I obviously started by teaching business, maths etc. However, because I'm reasonably helpful and versatile, I've also covered ESOL, Literacy, Key Skills, Cookery, Art etc.
Teaching in prison is difficult, and subject to prison regime, the usual college education provider's rules and with some of the most awkward students and situations you could imagine! Teaching resources are basic, because of security constraints. Unfortunately, many resources for teaching basic literacy are designed for younger children. Naturally, they embarass mature adults.
However, despite the challenges, the teachers do their best to enthuse students and give them a hope to achieve something worthwhile after release. The fact is more than 60% will re-offend and return to prison, and it's costly to keep them. Some estimates say £800 per week, and there's 80,000 people held in the UK prison system. How are your maths?
Students are often difficult to manage, too. Often, the students would prefer to be working in a workshop, as they get higher wages there than for attending education. Yes, they get paid for coming out of their cells! Many regard education just as a 'stepping stone' to getting better-paid workshop employment.
Many students are held back by a lack of literacy skills beyond signing their name. Most missed or got excluded from school, or had parents who didn't care. Generally they have a lack of self-esteem and have acheived nothing significant.
Therefore, when you have helped one to multiply or subtract numbers, to read a paragraph correctly, to write a story, or pass a Level 1 exam (which is actually only equilivent to an 11 year old) it can change their whole outlook!
Equally, when a student gets to understand how to calculate profit, forecast cashflow, work out a break-even point, and to put together a credible business plan, it can give them real hope for a future and to provde for their families.
When talking or writing about working in prisons, for obvious reasons we can't give any information that could jeapodise security, or use real names. Instead of using the traditional name 'Blogs' for a prisoner, I've invented and adopted another: Blagger. Blogging might be said to write or say things that may be of interest to others. Blagging is slang and may mean using speech or sometimes writing to simply get what you want. I assure you that prisoners are expert at this skill! Anyway, I've chosen the name Bert Blagger to typify the no-nonsense and street-wise prisoner who has worked hard in education, and is really trying to better himself.
If there's any interest, make a comment to contact me and I'll upload (or copy & paste if I can't work out how!) a copy of Bert Blagger: - Booklet 1: Writing.
Meanwhile, I'll crack on with Booklet 2, and amplify the rough draft I made some years ago on Punctuation!
I don't claim to be an expert or specialist. Being a qualified accountant, and more recently a qualified teacher as well, I obviously started by teaching business, maths etc. However, because I'm reasonably helpful and versatile, I've also covered ESOL, Literacy, Key Skills, Cookery, Art etc.
Teaching in prison is difficult, and subject to prison regime, the usual college education provider's rules and with some of the most awkward students and situations you could imagine! Teaching resources are basic, because of security constraints. Unfortunately, many resources for teaching basic literacy are designed for younger children. Naturally, they embarass mature adults.
However, despite the challenges, the teachers do their best to enthuse students and give them a hope to achieve something worthwhile after release. The fact is more than 60% will re-offend and return to prison, and it's costly to keep them. Some estimates say £800 per week, and there's 80,000 people held in the UK prison system. How are your maths?
Students are often difficult to manage, too. Often, the students would prefer to be working in a workshop, as they get higher wages there than for attending education. Yes, they get paid for coming out of their cells! Many regard education just as a 'stepping stone' to getting better-paid workshop employment.
Many students are held back by a lack of literacy skills beyond signing their name. Most missed or got excluded from school, or had parents who didn't care. Generally they have a lack of self-esteem and have acheived nothing significant.
Therefore, when you have helped one to multiply or subtract numbers, to read a paragraph correctly, to write a story, or pass a Level 1 exam (which is actually only equilivent to an 11 year old) it can change their whole outlook!
Equally, when a student gets to understand how to calculate profit, forecast cashflow, work out a break-even point, and to put together a credible business plan, it can give them real hope for a future and to provde for their families.
When talking or writing about working in prisons, for obvious reasons we can't give any information that could jeapodise security, or use real names. Instead of using the traditional name 'Blogs' for a prisoner, I've invented and adopted another: Blagger. Blogging might be said to write or say things that may be of interest to others. Blagging is slang and may mean using speech or sometimes writing to simply get what you want. I assure you that prisoners are expert at this skill! Anyway, I've chosen the name Bert Blagger to typify the no-nonsense and street-wise prisoner who has worked hard in education, and is really trying to better himself.
If there's any interest, make a comment to contact me and I'll upload (or copy & paste if I can't work out how!) a copy of Bert Blagger: - Booklet 1: Writing.
Meanwhile, I'll crack on with Booklet 2, and amplify the rough draft I made some years ago on Punctuation!
Friday, 1 April 2011
Monitoring your tax liability
The best way to stay in control of your tax liabilites is to keep records.
These need not be elaborate or complicated. No need to buy expensive software packages, spreadsheets will do.
Records ought to be maintained on a monthly basis. Fill them in perhaps on a certain day each week, to ensure that transactions are entered whilst still 'fresh' in your mind.
With income, have a sequentual number system for each job/sale/transaction, and it may be good management information to have columns to sub-divide between the different types of services/goods you provide.
With expenses, your tax return categories will suffice at minimum. This would normally be materials, other direct expenses, wages (people directly concerned with providing the services), salaries (adminstrative staff), Premises rent & insurance, Repairs, Travel, Vehicle, Advertising and Adminstrative expenses.
These need not be elaborate or complicated. No need to buy expensive software packages, spreadsheets will do.
Records ought to be maintained on a monthly basis. Fill them in perhaps on a certain day each week, to ensure that transactions are entered whilst still 'fresh' in your mind.
With income, have a sequentual number system for each job/sale/transaction, and it may be good management information to have columns to sub-divide between the different types of services/goods you provide.
With expenses, your tax return categories will suffice at minimum. This would normally be materials, other direct expenses, wages (people directly concerned with providing the services), salaries (adminstrative staff), Premises rent & insurance, Repairs, Travel, Vehicle, Advertising and Adminstrative expenses.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Tax Saving Tips
How many businesspeople forget to collect receipts for their day-to-day buiness spending?
Don't they realise that every £10 or $10 of receipts can equate to £2.50 or $2.50 saving on their tax bill?
It's easy for the tax authorities to check or confirm the income part of the taxable income part of the equasion. Most couldn't care less if expenditure has been omitted. Naturally, many tax inspectors are kinder than that, and will point out obvious missing expenditure.
If you are forgetful about asking for receipts, especially for cash expenditure, then get yourself a pad of voucher forms, available from most stationers. For most types of expenses, this form can be used as a valid substitute documents for up to £100 in value.
With cash expenditure receipts, vouchers or the above forms, it is wise to number them sequentially, and retain them by month, in an envelope. Best way to preserve the sequence is to use treasury tags ("green strings"). Each piece of paper should show it's date, amount and what type of expense it was. Examples are travel, advertising, subsistence, vehicle.
Self-employment is a paper chase. Happy hunting!
Don't they realise that every £10 or $10 of receipts can equate to £2.50 or $2.50 saving on their tax bill?
It's easy for the tax authorities to check or confirm the income part of the taxable income part of the equasion. Most couldn't care less if expenditure has been omitted. Naturally, many tax inspectors are kinder than that, and will point out obvious missing expenditure.
If you are forgetful about asking for receipts, especially for cash expenditure, then get yourself a pad of voucher forms, available from most stationers. For most types of expenses, this form can be used as a valid substitute documents for up to £100 in value.
With cash expenditure receipts, vouchers or the above forms, it is wise to number them sequentially, and retain them by month, in an envelope. Best way to preserve the sequence is to use treasury tags ("green strings"). Each piece of paper should show it's date, amount and what type of expense it was. Examples are travel, advertising, subsistence, vehicle.
Self-employment is a paper chase. Happy hunting!
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Tax Return mistakes?
Hopefully, we have all, here in the UK, filed our Tax Return. Either in paper form by last 31st October, or online by this Monday 31st January!
However, what if you realise that you had made a mistake or omission? This can have greatly influenced the amount of tax (and if self-employed in business the extra bonus 8% tax called class 4 national insurance for being self-employed!)payable?
No problemo, you are able to go online and modify the tax return without any difficulty, and the tax will be re-computed!
This facility is also useful if you were obliged at the time to submit estimated information (and hopefully ticked that little box). You can put in the actual data and confirm no estimates are involved.
Again, never forget to download a copy of your return (the pdf one is the best and most life-life looking option) for your records!
However, what if you realise that you had made a mistake or omission? This can have greatly influenced the amount of tax (and if self-employed in business the extra bonus 8% tax called class 4 national insurance for being self-employed!)payable?
No problemo, you are able to go online and modify the tax return without any difficulty, and the tax will be re-computed!
This facility is also useful if you were obliged at the time to submit estimated information (and hopefully ticked that little box). You can put in the actual data and confirm no estimates are involved.
Again, never forget to download a copy of your return (the pdf one is the best and most life-life looking option) for your records!
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Tax Returns - Deadline
Here in the UK, the authorities' deadline is 31st January each year. The penalties for being late start at £100, and interest on late payment begins to accrue.
Inland Revenue usually (unless they don't know you have started a business or new income flow) let you know that you are responsible to furnish a return.
Obviously, if you do start a business, you have a responsibility to notify them, for both tax and national insurance purposes.
In recent years, Inland Revenue have made it a lot easier to handle your own affairs. The tax system is really rather straightforward now, there's few tax rates or allowances to 'fog' matters, and you can do it all online!
Obviously, you can choose to pay someone else, and hopefully your choice would be a suitably-qualified and properly-regulated person, to deal with your records.
Nevertheless, you're wise to retain all receipts and vouchers, and keep reasonable records, no matter how busy you consider you are, to be unravelled later!
It is wise to retain a copy of every document, return or letter you submit to any of the authorities, including Inland Revenue. Remember, they have access to all that information when they review your latest offering!
Inland Revenue usually (unless they don't know you have started a business or new income flow) let you know that you are responsible to furnish a return.
Obviously, if you do start a business, you have a responsibility to notify them, for both tax and national insurance purposes.
In recent years, Inland Revenue have made it a lot easier to handle your own affairs. The tax system is really rather straightforward now, there's few tax rates or allowances to 'fog' matters, and you can do it all online!
Obviously, you can choose to pay someone else, and hopefully your choice would be a suitably-qualified and properly-regulated person, to deal with your records.
Nevertheless, you're wise to retain all receipts and vouchers, and keep reasonable records, no matter how busy you consider you are, to be unravelled later!
It is wise to retain a copy of every document, return or letter you submit to any of the authorities, including Inland Revenue. Remember, they have access to all that information when they review your latest offering!
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Your advice is also welcome!
My inital posting, 31st December, was my very first, ever, attempt at setting up some sort of web presence.
I am now learnings about labels, clouds, links, comments, moderation and all sorts of new things!
Therefore, I'd appreciate any comments or advice you may have, to help me produce a reasonably attractive and interesting web-page.
Many thanks!
Ken, 15th January, 2011
I am now learnings about labels, clouds, links, comments, moderation and all sorts of new things!
Therefore, I'd appreciate any comments or advice you may have, to help me produce a reasonably attractive and interesting web-page.
Many thanks!
Ken, 15th January, 2011
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