All Star Accounting

23/05/2025

When your career’s in the spotlight, your finances need to stay in the clear.

That’s why we created Ask an Accountant — a weekly Q&A where we answer one real question from someone navigating the world of fame, sponsorships, appearances, royalties, and more.

🧠 Ask an Accountant - No Jargon. No Pressure. Just Answers.

Got a tax question that’s been bugging you?
Now’s your chance to ask one question - completely free of charge.
No sales pitch. No pressure. Just straight answers from accountants who get it.

Whether it’s about:
- Living or investing abroad 🌍
- Buying, selling or renting property 🏡
- IR35 or off-payroll working 💼
- Crypto, side hustles or capital gains 📊
- Life as a freelancer or creative 🎭

Pop your question in the comments or drop us a DM. We’ll answer publicly (anonymously if you prefer) in a future post and down in the comments.

Because tax shouldn’t be confusing - and you shouldn’t have to pay just to get started.

24/03/2025

Golf risk from Great Crested Newt?

Melrose Golf Club, a volunteer-run community sports club in Scotland has unsuccessfully applied to its council for a £24,000 grant after a protected species of newt was spotted on its land.

The great crested newt is a European Protected Species (EPS), which means the amphibians and their eggs, breeding sites and resting places are protected by law.

Melrose Golf Club now needs to implement a working plan for greenkeeping staff that will allow the protected species’ habitat to be maintained.

The club has to carry out the necessary ecology surveys, preparation of habitat management plans, habitat development works and the purchase of more efficient greenkeeping machinery to allow staff to maintain the golf course in a new way going forward.

Despite the setback with the funding, club secretary Gavin Yuill expressed optimism about the future.

“While our funding application was not successful, our commitment to sustainability remains unwavering. We see this as an opportunity to be at the forefront of environmental stewardship within Scottish golf, balancing our responsibilities to nature with the needs of our members.”

“The presence of the great crested newt, a legally protected species, has introduced new considerations for the club’s course management. This has necessitated a revised approach to grounds-keeping that aligns with conservation requirements while maintaining the high standards of playability expected by members. The club has already taken proactive steps, working closely with ecological experts and relevant authorities to develop a habitat management plan that will safeguard the newts while allowing for responsible course maintenance.

The club is currently exploring alternative funding sources and partnerships to implement its revised course maintenance plan.”

Adapted from an article © Alistair Dunsmuir

14/03/2025

"I am saddened and embarrassed by this outcome and would advise others to take a stronger rein over their financial matters." Champion jockey and celebrity Frankie Dettori has gone bankrupt citing tax bills and a dispute with HMRC as the main reason

The last few months have been difficult for Dettori with a long-running dispute with HMRC over use of a tax avoidance scheme and an attempt to keep his anonymity at a tax tribunal, which failed, resulting in publication of his name. However, he had already settled the tax bill related to that case.

Now Dettori has filed for bankruptcy, citing ongoing problems with HMRC.

In a statement, Dettori said: ‘For the last six months, my advisors have been working with HMRC in an attempt to find a solution to my financial situation.

‘Regretfully I will be filing for bankruptcy.

‘I am saddened and embarrassed by this outcome and would advise others to take a stronger rein over their financial matters.

28/10/2024

Tax barrister, Robert Venables, is being prosecuted by HMRC for tax evasion

HMRC is alleging Mr Venables evaded nine years’ tax in his personal tax returns (not relating to his advice to any client).

Tax evasion (technically “cheating the revenue”) is a criminal offence. Tax avoidance is not. The key difference is that tax evasion involves dishonesty.

Venables has a reputation for enabling aggressive tax avoidance schemes. Until now, I hadn’t heard any suggestion of tax evasion/dishonesty. It’s important to note he is denying the allegations. Barristers and solicitors facing HMRC prosecution have historically stepped down or been suspended from their chambers/law firm. However, Venables appears to still be a full member of Chambers and is still practising/advising clients (one of whom is (Less Tax for Landlords).

Please be careful with any comments on this topic (on or off line), given the contempt of court rules and reporting restrictions.

Abridged from the report provided by © Dan Neidle, 28th Oct 2024

16/10/2024

40% business rates relief for film studios

The Treasury plans to give film studios a targeted relief on their annual business rates bill to encourage investment in film and TV

The measure will provide 40% relief on gross business rates bills for eligible film studios in England from 1 April 2024 until 2034.

Film and high-end TV support is viewed as critical by all recent governments, and the Treasury said this relief was critical to ‘promoting investment in new studio space and ensuring that the UK continues to be a world leader in producing film and high-end TV’.

Details of the new rules and exemptions are not available as yet., but as soon as they are, we'll share that detail here

Photo from the new studios at Shinfield near our Berkshire office

16/05/2024

Tax warning for footballers and agents on contracts

Following a number of tax disputes, HMRC has clarified the tax treatment of football agents’ fees and dual representation contracts, flagging the risk of compliance checks if tax rules are flouted.

Targeted primarily at football agents and clubs, the guidance is also highly relevant for footballers and coaching staff, and focuses on the tax issues related to the agents’ fees that are charged when a football player transfers from one club to another, or a playing contract is negotiated with player’s current club.

The move comes as HMRC said it “recognises that dual representation contracts can be complex. The purpose of these guidelines is to set out our recommended approach to help customers pay the correct amount of tax”.

The risk heightens in cases where payments are made to agents, who then immediately disperse the payment to one or more other agents, increasing the risk of compliance checks.

HMRC said: “It is important that any fees related to contract negotiations are described as such and not categorised as something else, such as scouting fees. We will critically examine such charges and services provided by football agents.”

Another problem area is instances where a payment to a family member may be a payment to induce a player to sign for a specific club. In these cases, any payment to the family member would be taxable as employment income of the player.

If you need support as either a player, coach or team with any aspect of taxation, contact us [email protected]

Extract from © Croner

25/04/2024

“Influencers”

We work with a lot of on their tax management and reporting, and of course people would think that this is a modern phenomenon but it really isn’t … see the Stanley Matthews image here from 1952

It is complicated to get the tax position right, and too many “wannabe accountants” advise their clients wrongly about the taxation of the income, and what expenses are deductible.

If you know anyone that has cash or goods in exchange for endorsement, ask them to contact me on [email protected]

12/04/2024

HMRC have issued new Directions for the electronic delivery of additional information and amendments to corporation tax returns, both in relation to claims for the creative industry tax reliefs. The Directions specify the following:

additional information that is required to be submitted in relation to claims made on and after 1 April 2024 must be made electronically via the internet using HMRC’s Google Form (G-Form), although submissions can also be made by email, ‘where permitted by HMRC’; and

amendments to corporation tax returns which include a claim for relief should follow the existing procedure that applies for electronic delivery of CT returns (under previous Directions issued in 2010). This appears to mean that amendments to returns which include a claim for relief should be made electronically and are subject to the authentication and technical requirements set out in those Directions.

31/12/2023

A little early but a quick post from Linda and me (and the cats) to wish you all a wonderful New Year, may it be filled with health, happiness and maybe some prosperity too - Happy New Year

23/12/2023