Trusts legal framework factsheets

ACCA members can request a range of legal framework factsheets

Market demand for professional business and advisory services - Singapore, ASEAN region and China

A key driver of regional growth will come from the rise of e-commerce and the digital economy. Businesses that want to seize the opportunities can move faster and more securely by using not only internal know-how, but independent specialist business and advisory services from consultants and experts outside their organisations.

Review of the corporate intangible fixed assets regime

ACCA comments on a public consultation issued by the HM Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs in May 2018.

Accountants' reports

The SRA has highlighted its expectations of accountants' reports

Accountants' reports

The SRA has highlighted its expectations of accountants' reports

Tenets of good corporate governance

This report sets out key issues for companies to think about when considering their long term business model and strategy. It examines the interrelation between businesses and the context in which they operate, encouraging them to embrace good practice that facilitates long term growth.

Invitation: Social Mobility – how can we increase opportunities through training and education?

To shift mentalities we need everyone to be on board and with this in mind the ACCA, PwC, European Movement International and the European Youth Forum are delighted to invite you to a lively debate hosted by Martina Dlabajova, MEP, on how improving training and education can be critical factors for social mobility.

Privacy and protection: specimen policies

The specimen policies, which cover a wide range of issues, are basic examples that will require tailoring to specific circumstances.

Technical factsheet: Employment status: workers

Determining a person’s employment status has been a contentious legal issue since the middle of the 20th century. Although current cases have tended to focus on employment rights, there is a large body of case law around tax, and the principles applied are not always entirely consistent, which adds to the difficulty.

Technical factsheet: Disciplinary, dismissal and grievance procedures

It is very important for employers to ensure that they follow a good procedure in disciplining and dismissing employees. If a fair procedure is not followed, a dismissal is likely to be unfair, no matter how good the employer’s reason for terminating the employment.

Technical factsheet: Dealing with sickness

Staff sickness may be a considerable burden on a business, leading to additional staffing costs and increasing the workload for other workers. While all employers would want to support members of staff who are unwell, sickness absence must be managed otherwise it can cause problems in the workplace.

Technical factsheet: The contract of employment

Every relationship between an employer and an employee is governed by a contract of employment, which is an agreement setting out their mutual obligations. The contract starts as soon as the employee starts work, and if there are no written terms, the parties’ obligations are implied by looking at how the parties conduct their relationship on a day-to-day basis.

Technical factsheet: Age discrimination

The law in relation to age discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010. All employees and workers are covered, as well as those accessing vocational training, including job applicants and people who have left their job (and, for example, have not received a reference).

Technical factsheet: Working time

The Working Time Regulations were introduced in 1998 to give effect to the European Working Time Directive. They are a health and safety measure, primarily intended to ensure that working hours are limited, proper breaks are taken and that workers receive paid holidays. We do not know what impact Brexit will have on these regulations as the government will be free to repeal them if it chooses to do so. It is thought to be unlikely that there will be a wholesale repeal, but there may be some elements that are less popular with government and employers, and which may be subject to change.

Technical factsheet: Unlawful discrimination

The law recognises the right of an individual worker to be treated equally with others regardless of personal characteristics that should be irrelevant in decision-making, such as sex or race. These are known as ‘protected characteristics’. This area of law is about trying to prevent employers making choices that are detrimental to someone at work for reasons that are unlawful.

Technical factsheet: Settlement offers

The settlement offer was introduced by s111A of the Employment Rights Act 1996 to provide a new tool to assist employers to resolve issues at work. The offer and the subsequent discussions between the employer and the employee can result in them concluding a settlement agreement by which the employment is terminated in a mutually acceptable way.

Technical factsheet: Redundancy

Redundancy is a separate and specific reason for an employer to fairly terminate a contract of employment. It is a form of dismissal but the conduct or competence of the employee is irrelevant; the reason for the dismissal is economic and/or organisational reasons which have led to a reduction in the workforce. It is governed by the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Technical factsheet: Managing performance

A well-managed workforce is generally a happier and more productive one. Managing performance is about recognising good performers and motivating them to stay and grow the business. It is also about addressing poor performance and helping people to improve.

Technical factsheet: Family-friendly rights

A number of important rights have been introduced in an effort to address the work/life balance problems faced in modern working families. These rights are only accorded to employees. Most of them depend upon serving a particular period of continuous employment. Employers are free to provide enhancement to these rights if they wish but the outline below is the basic statutory entitlement.

Suspicious activity reports (SARs)

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued SARS Regime Good Practice Frequently Asked Questions: Defence Against Money Laundering (DAML)

Generation Next: managing talent in the public sector

The fourth and final in a series of sector-specific Generation Next studies, this report explores the work preferences and career aspirations of the youngest professionals in the public sector, globally.

ACCA guide to... choosing and using accountants and lawyers

You should choose advisers who understand your kind of business and will value you as a client.

ACCA guide to... email policy for your employees

A clear email policy helps prevent timewasting, protects data security and minimises the risk of legal problems.

Technical factsheet: charitable incorporated organisations

Guidance on structure and some of the benefits of being a company, without the additional reporting and legal requirements to which charitable companies are subject

Global economic conditions survey: Q1 2018

The first report in 2018 from our joint global survey with IMA shows that economic confidence rebounded strongly in the first quarter of 2018 and is now at its highest level since the series began.

What is GDPR?

What the Information Commissioner's Office told us when we asked a few questions

Businesses fined £1.7m for breaching company law

The Competition and Markets Authority has highlighted a recent case that resulted in the businesses concerned being fined £1.7m

Taxation of pension benefits

The key points to consider when looking at how inherited pension pots are taxed

Relief available on losses on loans by traders

The how, when and by whom relief can be claimed on losses

Capital gains and chattels

A refresher on CGT and chattels

CGT loss relief when a taxpayer dies

What to consider when it comes to CGT losses, including worked example

Jointly owned property and form 17

Guidance on how and when to use form 17 with regards to jointly owned property

Finalising clients’ tax returns

Browse our ‘aide memoire’ of common and quirky issues/errors/omissions

Eight things you should know about pensions

Guidance on eight key areas you can share with clients prior to completing their self assessment tax returns

Personal income tax – interest on qualifying loans

Under Income Tax Act 2007 (ITA) s383, interest paid on ‘qualifying loans’ is deductible in the tax computation

When are pre-letting expenses allowed?

A look at pre-letting expenses and the issue of whether repairs are a capital or revenue expense

Rollover relief

A 60-second refresher and worked examples

Tax irregularities – should I resign?

A step-by-step guide to dealing with possible tax irregularities

Interest on loans from residential property income

A new measure will restrict relief for finance costs

Tax changes affecting buy-to-let properties

Tax changes for holding a rental property as an individual, or in a limited company, will need to be carefully considered by landlords

Changes to tax relief for residential landlords

A quick refresher on the impact of the new finance costs restrictions

Allowable expenses when using home as office

Tips to benefit from – and traps to avoid

Badges of trade

A side-by-side comparison of badges of trade between circumstances pointing to trade or investment

Income and expenses helpful hints for tax return

Understanding taxable and non-taxable receipts

Offline options for paying HMRC

Fewer options available for those who choose not to pay online

Paying a self-assessment liability via PAYE code

It could pay to get the details right

Top five most popular self-assessment questions

HMRC has revealed the most popular questions - and answers

Overpayments from customers

Don’t overlook the VAT, tax and legal implications of overpayments

VAT partial exemption

A review of the potential pitfalls

Changes to the VAT flat-rate scheme

A look at how the changes may affect users