Chris Kember FMAAT
Proprietor
Chris Kember FMAAT joined the firm in November 2007 and became a partner in the practice on 1 April 2012, progressing to senior partner on 1 April 2015. Chris became a Fellow of the AAT in August 2015 and took over running the firm as a sole practitioner on 1 April 2018.
Chris has been working in accountancy since 1991 and has extensive computer expertise, some of which he gained working in the computer industry in a break from his accounting career, and which he applies for the benefit of his clients. With a passion for technology, and a real interest in its application to the accounting world and its scope for enhancing the service he can offer to clients, Chris has moved the firm forward, taking advantage of the latest in cloud based technology and seeking to be at the forefront of digital development in his industry.
Chris is a keen Formula 1 supporter, and enjoys family holidays and socialising with friends.
Rebekah Heather
Accountant
Rebekah is our KashFlow ‘Queen’. She uses the software extensively herself for the preparation of accounts and VAT Returns, and enjoys finding answers to KashFlow queries from clients and other staff. Becka is also the first port of call for clients needing technical support in using our on line portal, OpenSpace, and helps her clients with tax and Vat queries.
Kristy Hunt FMAAT
Client manager
Kristy started with us in April 2018. Kristy has gained a wealth of experience over the years and deals with all clients, large and small.
Kristy has a good rapport with her clients and is always available for a chat!
Christine O’Neill
Christine O’Neill is our Payroll Administrator and has run our payroll bureau service since November 2007. Christine has extensive payroll experience and keeps a close eye on legislative changes and changes in HMRC practice. As well as preparing payrolls for many of our business clients, Christine advises those who deal with their own payrolls when problems or queries arise. Christine is also responsible for preparing and submitting statutory returns to Companies House for our limited company clients and looks after the firm’s credit control and Health and Safety requirements.
Christine enjoys days out with her husband, going to the cinema, and spending time with her 3 dogs.
Chloe Porter
Chloe Porter started with us in October 2010 as an Office Administrator. Chloe still helps with many administrative tasks to ensure the smooth running of the office, but now also prepares accounts, tax and Vat returns for many of our sole trader, partnership and company clients as well as dealing with payrolls.
Chloe has an energetic young son, 3 young grandchildren and a lively Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who all keep her very busy.
Lorraine Maltby
Lorraine Maltby joined the team in the Autumn of 2017. After a spell as a primary school teacher while her 2 children were young, Lorraine is enjoying her return to accountancy. She has considerable experience of Sage software and undertakes bookkeeping and VAT Return work on both Sage and KashFlow for several of our larger clients. Lorraine also prepares accounts and tax returns for all types of client from sole trader to limited company and enjoys analysing and investigating situations to find the answers to problems.
Lorraine enjoys live music, going to the cinema and reading murder mysteries.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme:
Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.
To access the scheme you will need to:
designate affected employees as ‘furloughed workers,’ and notify your employees of this change -
changing the status of employees remains subject to existing employment law and, depending on the employment contract, may be subject to negotiation.
submit information to HMRC about the employees that have been furloughed and their earnings through a new online portal (HMRC will set out further details on the information required) HMRC will reimburse 80% of furloughed workers wage costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month for a 3-
month period. HMRC are in the process of setting this scheme up and we will let you know when and how to make a claim. In the meantime, if you choose to furlough staff, you will have to pay them as normal.
Deferring tax and VAT payments:
HMRC will support businesses by deferring Valued Added Tax (VAT) payments for 3 months. If you’re selfemployed, Income Tax payments due in July 2020 under the Self-Assessment system will be deferred to January 2020.
VAT
The VAT deferral period will apply from 20 March 2020 to 30 June 2020, which will cover payments ordinarily due for the quarters ended 29 February 2020, 31 March 2020 and 30 April 2020.
The deferred VAT period must be paid to HMRC by 5 April 2021.
Tax
For Income Tax Self-Assessment, payments due on the 31 July 2020 will be deferred until the 31 January 2021.
Support for Businesses Paying Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
HMRC will provide support for businesses that are paying SSP on behalf of staff who have taken leave due to COVID-19. This could be due to self-isolation if a household member is showing symptoms. The refund will cover up to 2 weeks’ SSP per employee and is eligible to all businesses with fewer than 250 employees as at 28 February 2020.
Although there is no need for a GP Fit note, it would be advisable for employers to record the sickness for when the claim can be made. We would also recommend asking your staff to complete an isolation note from https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19.
HMRC are currently developing a rebate scheme where employers will be able to claim but this will need to wait for legislation to be passed, which could take a couple of months at least.
Business Rates Reliefs and Grants
Much has already been said about the grants that the Government have announced but below is a highlight of the reliefs and grants available:
Business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure industries For retail, hospitality and leisure industries, there will be no rate charges for 2020/2021 provided that your business is based in England.
You do not need to apply for this as it will automatically show on your next tax bill in April 2020.
However, local authorities may have to reissue your bill automatically to exclude the business rate charge. They will do this as soon as possible.
Cash grants for retail, hospitality and leisure industries
For businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of under £15,000, they will receive a grant of £10,000. For businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of between £15,001 and £51,000, they will receive a grant of £25,000.
Eligibility
You are eligible for the grant if:
your business is based in England
your business is in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector
Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied hereditaments that are wholly or mainly being used:
as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
for assembly and leisure
as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation
As with the rates holiday, the local authority will write to you if you are eligible for the grant.
Support for businesses that pay little or no business rates
The government will also provide additional Small Business Grant Scheme funding for local authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBBR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief. This will provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs.
Again, the local authority will write to you if you are eligible for the grant.
From looking at the information that has been provided, we believe that small businesses that have ‘serviced offices’ or where rates are included within the rental charges of the property, that these businesses will not be eligible for the grant.
Business Interruption Loan
A new temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, delivered by the British Business Bank, will launch early next week to support primarily small and medium-sized businesses to access bank lending and overdrafts.
The government will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on each loan (subject to a per-lender cap on claims) to give lenders further confidence in continuing to provide finance to SMEs. The government will not charge businesses or banks for this guarantee, and the Scheme will support loans of up to £5 million in value.
This loan could be used as an alternative to deferring VAT and income tax payments mentioned above or for paying staff whilst wating for Job Retention scheme to become operational.
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