African Ministers visit Bucks rural businesses
The Royal Agricultural College supports a programme of international development to encourage international sharing of best practice in rural economic development. Many of the team are ministers in agriculture from a range of African countries such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi. The group are in Buckinghamshire keen to see how farmers in Bucks […]
FUW warns millions of pounds at stake over unchecked farm data
The warning comes on the eve of the May 15 SAF deadline, after which hefty penalties are incurred for late forms, and less than a month before the June 11 deadline when late forms and corrections are automatically rejected. FUW president Emyr Jones said: “The complexity of SAF forms adds significantly to the risk of […]
Does your diversification venture make the farm one business or two?
All business activities carried out by a VAT registered business come under the same registration. However where a new venture is carried out by a separate business, owned by, say, one of the partners of a partnership, and turnover is below the VAT registration threshold (currently £77k) then VAT is not payable. There are rules […]
Tax returns the key to tax savings
With the deadline for filing online tax returns fast approaching, including the correct information on a tax return and making the most of current legislation could be the key to big savings this tax year, according to pension and investments provider, NFU Mutual. Sean McCann, personal finance specialist at the Mutual, gives a […]
Packington Pork expands with support from Barclays Corporate
A pig farming business in Staffordshire has expanded with a 600,000 loan from Barclays Corporate. Burton-based Packington Pork has extended their acreage in order to meet growing demand for their products. The third and fourth generation Mercer farming business is managed by father and son Roger and Rob Mercer, who supply free range pork to […]
Capital allowances consultation on fixtures in commercial buildings is ending soon
The Inland Revenue consultation on claiming allowances on fixtures in buildings will come to and end on the 31st August 2011. All owners of commercial buildings, including landowners with rural commercial buildings, need to review their allowances now and take appropriate action, say leading accountants Saffery Champness. Mike Harrison, a partner of Saffery Champness Landed […]
Results of IPD Property Index released today
The rural property market continues to go from strength according to the latest results from the Carter Jonas/Smiths Gore sponsored IPD Rural Property Investment Index. On the 30th anniversary of the index, it returned 9.0% in the 12 months to December 2010 compared with 8.4% recorded in 2009. The index measures the performance of farmland […]
HMRC to target riding instructors, warns accountants James Cowper
HMRC has this week announced a major new clampdown on private tutors who it believes are avoiding or paying the incorrect amounts of tax.This latest clampdown from HMRC follows similar campaigns targeting doctors, plumbers and restaurants, and will, according to accountants James Cowper, include riding instructors who give private lessons. The campaign, which is looking […]
Farmers losing millions from foreign currency fluctuations
Continuing exchange rate volatility between the euro and sterling could result in farmers losing out on this years EU subsidy payment, according to specialist currency broker, currencies.co.uk. Around 200,000 farmers across the UK receive approximately 3.3 billion euros every year1 from the EU in subsidies but exchange rate volatility between sterling and the euro has […]
