**STOP PRESS** Neves are hosting a free seminar for first time buyers, to be held on 1st July 2009 in conjunction with Wilkinson Estate Agents, the Mortgage Store and Better Prepared Suveyors, for more information click here Legitimate business expense claims are one thing, but funding your lifestyle through claiming expenses is another, isn’t it?
Did the MPs’ expenses scandal sway the way we voted this month? Perhaps this straw has finally broken the camel’s back and the relationship between voter and politician is irreconcilable.
A duck house; moat cleaning; manure and an already paid-up mortgage are just a handful of the things that have enraged the nation; all quite clearly what-not-to-claim-for. But in all seriousness, do you know what you can claim for as part of your allowable business expenses?
If not, you will find HMRC’s Allowable Business Expenses information of assistance and if you work from home, their Use of Home: Specific Expenses is what you need to read.
Now on to this month's Firm news and reports from the legal world.
Neves News
We are pleased to announce that the Neves team in the MK Race for Life raised in excess of £900 for Cancer Research. Well done to all the ladies who took place and a big thank you to all of you who sponsored the team. This coming weekend will see the Neves Dragon Boat rowers take to the water in the MK Dragon Boat Race, this time in conjunction with local accountants Landers, as part of team Neverland. The Dragon Boat race is a great day out, particularly when the weather is good, and there is loads to do for all the family. This year we are raising money for Keech Cottage Childrens Hospice and if you would like to sponsor the Neverland team, then please visit out justgiving website at www.justgiving.com/nevessolicitors. Mary and Beth in our Family Department are members of Resolution which is a specialist group of Family Lawyers. Resolution aims to provide services for separating families. They provide advice on managing future relationships for those who are separating and have children. Advice includes tips for managing your relationship with your ex-spouse or partner; talking to your children about divorce; managing the negative impact of divorce for children; how to listen to your children; where one parent turns the child against the other; managing activities (holidays, outings and so on) and lots more. This is not an exhaustive list and the information contained on the website is really useful and informative and well worth reading. If you would like to read more go to www.resolution.org.uk/adviceforparents
Legal News
Following on from our expenses/tax-related intro, a story on our website this month sounds a warning bell for anyone who signs documents whilst they are still in draft with work yet to be completed on them. HMRC found documents used in a tax avoidance scheme had been pre-signed by a participant and the case went to court. Because the final version of the documents was not executed by the signatory, the court ruled that the documents were void.
Continuing on the theme of warnings, ‘borrowing’ log-in details to access subscription services may be common practice but in many cases loaning your log-in to a colleague is likely to breach the Supplier’s licensing agreement which could lead to a claim for damages. How do they know? Because logging in to a website via a different computer creates an individual digital signature which is easily detected. You can read more about this, and about how the Financial Times is taking action against a large international asset management group for breaching their user agreement, in this month’s website news.
“Good practice in the boardroom” may spark thoughts of refraining from slurping your tea, but in fact the new three page guide from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators offers practical advice and a Code for company secretaries and directors.
A reminder that late filing penalties have been subject to substantial increases as of 1 February 2009: if you run a private company, you must file your accounts within 10 months of the end of the accounting period; file up to one month late and you’ll face a fine of £150. The scale rises sharply; leave it more than 6 months and the bill will be £1,500. For public companies, file within 6 months of the end of the accounting period otherwise you’ll face fines starting at £750 and rising to £7,500. Registering a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is renowned for being a complex and costly process so it will come as a relief to many that as of 1 April 2009, the Government has made the paperwork simpler and has reduced the registration fee from £150 to £120. A Lasting Power of Attorney is an insurance policy for your future financial and care interests. If you would like advice on making sure your best interests are taken care of in the event that you become unable to deal with them yourself, contact us. A recent case (see below) highlights the sort of problems that can arise when family members make informal financial arrangements with one another. If you require any assistance with wills or trusts then contact us. | 
