Crystal Blog

Updated on September 18, 2024. For those seeking HR and Employment Advice, this post provides up-to-date information that can help you navigate the complexities of the workplace. Over time, we have received numerous inquiries from our clients about a comprehensive HR and Employment Advice Service tailored for larger employers. In response to this demand we're […]

Have you been asked to “get the contractor sorted”, but aren’t really sure what that means? If so, you’re not alone. For many businesses, contractors and subcontractors are part of day-to-day operations, but misusing these terms, or misunderstanding their meaning, can lead to expensive payroll errors, HMRC fines, and serious HR issues. We've put this […]

Mistakes in tax returns happen. Sometimes they’re genuine errors, sometimes it’s carelessness and sometimes HMRC believes the behaviour goes further. Whatever the cause, HMRC can apply penalties if inaccurate information leads to underpaid tax. This HMRC Penalties Guide explains how penalties work, what counts as an inaccuracy, the penalty ranges, how HMRC decides the penalty […]

Dashboard Contractors in the construction industry are often extremely busy. Projects, staff, suppliers and deadlines all compete for attention. Because of this, Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) administration is sometimes treated as a small monthly task. In reality, CIS involves several compliance steps that must be completed correctly. Mistakes can lead to HMRC penalties, incorrect deductions, […]

If you’re looking to grow your business, there is support available. But it doesn’t sit in one simple scheme anymore. Older programmes like Growth Vouchers have gone. In 2026, support is spread across multiple platforms and unless you know where to look, it’s easy to miss. This guide pulls together what’s actually available right now, […]

Thousands of small businesses have benefited from HMRC live webinars, and HMRC receive a lot of positive feedback about the service. If you haven’t attended one of their webinars yet, then you may be missing out on important help with your taxes. A few of HMRC's upcoming webinars are listed below.  If you work in […]

As an employer, you are responsible for operating National Insurance through payroll. This means deducting employee National Insurance contributions from wages and paying both the employee’s and the employer’s contributions to HMRC. National Insurance for employers is different from self-employed contributions. Employers deal with Class 1 National Insurance, which is calculated and reported each time […]

Got a lot of questions about tax, National Insurance, business records and expenses? Our articles will build your confidence by guiding you through everything you need to know to get started. There are useful tips from others who have been where you are now and practical case studies to help you along the way. We […]

Tribunal ruling links holiday pay to overtime An employment tribunal recently ruled in favour of an employee who argued that his holiday pay should reflect his overtime pay as well as his basic wages. The case has implications for how employers apply the rules under the Working Time Regulations and has moved the UK closer […]

An independent complaints review body has ordered HMRC to pay £4.4m in refunds and write-offs last year and upheld 94% of PAYE complaints. The tax adjudicator – currently Judy Clements OBE – reviews complaints against HMRC, as well as against the Valuation Office Agency and the Insolvency Service. Her annual report for 2013/14 shows that […]

HMRC plans to recover unpaid tax from the bank accounts of alleged debtors has been branded “unconstitutional” by the Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales (ICAEW). A three month public consultation on the Direct Recovery of Debt (DRD) initiative ended yesterday (29th July). The ICAEW says the plans are “unconstitutional and wrong in […]

Pension savers continue to be targeted by unscrupulous companies encouraging them to access their pension savings early. Promoters of these schemes offer personal loans, cash incentives and one-off pension investments to entice people to invest in these pension scams. Pension savers involved in these pension liberation scams face significant tax consequences. HM Revenue & Customs […]