Booklets on starting a new business

If you check one of my other blogs, bert-blagger, you'll notice that I'm writing booklets on basic literacy and basic numeracy.

So far, I've completed 2 literacy booklets, and am nearing the end of the 3rd one.

I've been considering that I need to have a series of 5 booklets in each of literacy and numeracy before I can start actively marketing them. They are teaching resources for use in schools, colleges, prisons, where adults are struggling to learn those subjects.

However, I have many years' business experience in addition to my accounting work experience in large businesses and my consultancy, which was established in 1979. I have enjoyed teaching business in the prison teaching environment for some years.

With prisoners, their options on release are somewhat limited. Most employers will refuse their job applications. Sentences have to be declared. What is their choice then? A life of living at Public expense on unemployment and housing benefit? (I realise that the terminology and structure have slightly changed recently). Alternatively, should they start a business, and hopefully generate employment, and pay tax & insurance?

Which would YOU prefer they choose?

Now, there are many TV programmes that promote business activity, although few place any emphasis on the risks. Equally, there is much debate on whether banks are lending enough to business, but precious little on operating within a budget.

Therefore, perhaps there is a market for straight-forward information for people considering going into business. Much of the 'advice' out there is data on web-sites, or delivered by experts (x is an unknown quantity, and a spurt a drip under pressure). Most business teachers have never been in business themselves, so how can they teach it?

If I publish anything on business, I may start with my Discussion Sheets. At the start of each teaching session, I'd put a current business topic question up on the whiteboard (I'm not being 'PC', but few blackboards exist nowadays!)and jot down the students' comments. Believe it or not, they approached it very positively. Their suggestions were considered, sensible, and often innovative!

Adjusting your UK online tax return

Don't forget that if you used estimates in order to meet the online filing latest date of 31st January (plus two days re strike), that you can still adjust your returns.

That's right! You can sign in, call up the return you submitted, and make changes.

Obviously, you should only do so if the changes needed are material, not just minor modifications.

This process does not trigger a penalty!

Hope you get on well with it.

Tax Returns online filing

Be aware that not only must the tax return be filed online by 31st January, but HMRC also want the payment in before that date, preferably cleared to your account!

For anyone attending to it at the last minute (moi?) this means you lose some days, as you must calculate the tax before you can arrange the payment.

Obviously, you can pay (using a debit card)over the telephone, or internet.

The 'trick' is that the funds must be cleared. This implies that they must receive the payment 3 or 4 working days beforehand.

As 31st January falls on a Tuesday, I guess that means you should finalise both the return and payment by midnight Wednesday 25th to be safe?

We all accept that if the payment is made late, interest becomes payable. That's fair. But the above system also 'triggers' the £100 penalty!