Alto Accounting

17/05/2026

Your agency spent £100k on kit. HMRC will give you £25k back — if you claim it correctly.

Most agencies are stuck on the default Writing Down Allowance (WDA), which just dropped from 18% to 14%. That means you’re only getting £3,500 back on that exact same spend.

Enter the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA).

AIA gives you 100% relief in year one. That is a massive £21,500 difference for the exact same purchase.

Here are two things you need to know:
1. AIA must be elected — it is not automatic.
2. Timing is everything — the date on your receipt dictates which tax year you claim.

Pro tip: Always buy before your accounting year-end, not the week after.

Hit the link in our bio to see exactly how this affects your bottom line and profitability.

UKBusiness TaxTips AgencyLife

22/05/2025

19/05/2025

💸 5 Tax-Deductible Business Expenses Most UK Directors Overlook

If you run a UK limited company, chances are you’re missing out on some of the most commonly underclaimed allowable expenses — which means you’re likely paying more tax than you need to.

Here are 5 legit business expenses that are fully deductible under HMRC rules 👇

1. Home Office Claim
If you regularly work from home, you can claim part of your rent, utilities, broadband, and council tax — not just the £6/week flat rate.
Use a proportion of space and time worked to calculate the allowable cost.

2. HMRC Mileage Rates (Using Your Personal Car)
Driving to meetings or business events in your own car?
You can claim 45p per mile (up to 10,000 miles) and 25p per mile after that — tax-free.
Just make sure to keep a mileage log.

3. Staff Gifts & Trivial Benefits
You can gift yourself (as a director) and your employees up to £50 per item, tax-free, under HMRC’s trivial benefit rules.
Max £300/year for directors — ideal for birthdays, Christmas, or spontaneous rewards.

4. Computer Equipment & Tech
Laptops, webcams, monitors, desk chairs — if it’s used for work, it’s deductible.
Claim via capital allowances or Annual Investment Allowance.

5. Business-Related Subscriptions
Tools like Canva, Notion, Loom and ChatGPT Pro are all allowable if they’re used wholly and exclusively for your business.

✅ These are 100% legitimate deductions under UK tax law
💼 Perfect for small business owners, freelancers, and limited company directors
📌 Save this post so you’re not scrambling at year-end

06/05/2025

🇬🇧➡️🇦🇪 Thinking about moving to the UAE to live tax-free?
Just getting on a plane won’t erase your UK tax bill — unless your structure is right.

Here’s the truth:
You could be living in Dubai…
🏝️ Paying no income tax locally…
💸 But still owing HMRC back in the UK.

The reasons?
❌ You didn’t pass the UK Statutory Residence Test
❌ You’re still drawing a salary from your UK company
❌ You have UK clients, property, or directorship duties
❌ Your business is still “controlled and managed” from the UK

Even outside the UK, you can still be taxed by the UK.

Especially if you haven’t set things up correctly.

✅ What can help?

- Becoming a UK non-resident (with evidence)
- Paying yourself via dividends, not salary
- Removing UK ties (contracts, control, decision-making)
- Transitioning to a UAE free zone company *if needed*
- Keeping records that back up your non-resident status

Remember:

📌 Personal tax in the UAE is 0%
📌 UK company tax still applies unless you restructure
📌 UAE now has corporate tax — but it’s only 9% (with ways to mitigate it)

💡 Moving abroad is easy.

Staying tax-compliant and actually tax-efficient? That takes planning.