By Jim Haines

Do you want your company to pay less tax this year?

Of course you do. It’s a pretty silly question, right? No company wants to pay more tax than they absolutely have to.

Nevertheless, many companies don’t take advantage of the opportunities that are available. Luckily, with some fairly straightforward tax planning, you can significantly reduce your corporate tax this year.

Here are our five top tips that will help reduce your company’s tax liability this year:

1) Bring Forward Long Put Off Expenditures :

Bring forward that long overdue office repair or redecoration project or that direct marketing campaign you were considering for next year. Any expenditure before the company year end will reduce the current year’s tax liability and lets’ face it, your office will look nicer.

2) Make The Most Of Your Capital Allowances :

You will certainly save your company some tax by bringing capital expenditures – such as machinery – forward. Some of the bigger savings can be found in the purchase of energy saving technologies and products which qualify for a 100% allowance.

Companies generally receive a 25% allowance on plant and machinery related capital expenses, but SMEs companies get a 40% allowance in their first year. So, if you are a small or medium sized company (as defined by company law), take advantage and make those types of purchases before the end of your first year trading.

Even better, for computers and telephone equipment, you can claim a 100% reduction against your profits in the first year.

The best bet of all is in research and development – a new R&D tax credit means you can claim 150% of what you spend, and if you are a loss-making company you have the option of taking a part of that as an immediate cash payment.

This is a little known and often misunderstood tax credit, but many companies can take advantage of it. Get some advice on what exactly qualifies as research and development first, just to be on the safe side.

3) Re-structure Your Dividends and Bonuses:

Smaller companies – in particular, owner-managed businesses, can save on National Insurance payments by taking dividends rather than paying themselves a salary. On average for a higher rate tax payer, the tax rate will be reduced to around 39% compared to 47%.

4) Minimize Capital Gains Costs:

One of the best ways to minimize capital gains is to reinvest the proceeds of a sale into buying a replacement asset. Be warned, though, that not all assets qualify for relief. Check first before utilizing this tip.

5) Get The Right Receipts

A useful tip is to make certain that your employees ask for VAT receipts whenever they make a purchase on behalf of the company. That will ensure you can claim back the VAT on all purchases that are VAT rated.

If your company reviews it’s tax affairs between two and three months before the end of your financial year, then you can start planning how to effectively and, most of all, legally, minimize your tax liabilities.

About the Author: Jim Haines works for Just Accountants, a UK website that allows companies to get quotes from up to 4 accountants. Visit

Just Accountants

for details.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=209525&ca=Business+Management

Dancers are vulnerable to sciatica because of the amount of concentration on turning out their legs. This often leads to piriformis syndrome. Dancers also move in a large range of movement at the spine, which end in undue stress on the spinal discs when alignment or body mechanics is poor. This could lead to herniated discs. Poor body mechanics, arthritis, and scoliosis can be factors in spinal stenosis which ends up in sciatic pain.Widespread Causes of Sciatica1) Piriformis syndrome2) Herniated disc3) Spinal stenosisPiriformis SyndromePiriformis syndrome is a situation where the piriformis muscle, the biggest of the 6 deep lateral rotators, irritates the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve typically passes underneath the piriformis muscle, however in about 15% of the population the nerve goes through the piriformis muscle increasing it’s potential for compression. When dancers overwork their turnout, their piriformis muscular tissues could also be excessively contracted and might press on the sciatic nerve. It is a functional syndrome. It isn’t simple to diagnosis by means of a MRI or CT scan.Signs include pain within the low back and buttocks, ache that can radiate down the back of the leg and troublesome, and uncomfortable sitting.Remedies include physical remedy which focuses on stretching and strengthening the rotator muscles at the hip, and ultrasound to the infected side to release and soften the piriformis muscle. Anti-Inflammatory treatment, (such as ibuprofen), is also administered to decrease irritation of the nerve. For more acute cases, a cortisone injection could also be suggested. Deep massage may assist to release the tension within the turnout muscle tissues as well as surrounding pelvis and hip muscles. After a lengthy period of unsuccessful conservative treatment, surgical release is the final resort.Herniated discSpinal discs are tender cushions of cartilage with a gel-like middle between the boney vertebrae of the spine. It is where the movement and flexibility of the spine is created. Discs often lose elasticity with age and develop into extra susceptible to injury. A herniated disc bulges out between the vertebrae where it compresses the spinal nerves. This causes ache in the lower back, usually traveling down the leg. A herniated disc is confirmed via a CT imaging scan or a MRI. It’s also commonly known as a slipped disc or bulging disc.You might be suffering from herniated disc if you have leg pains usually over the surface of the thigh and lower leg and foot. Typically shooting down the leg, felt like an electric shock. Different signs include persistent ache regardless of whether or not you might be standing or sitting, tingling or numbness down the leg and muscle weakness. The worst is that if bowel or bladder problems occur. This time see a physician as quickly as possible with these symptoms.Anti-Inflammatory medicine (such as ibuprofen) is given to decrease inflammation. Doctors could choose to do a steroid injection. Bodily remedy can be used to redevelop muscle steadiness and proper spinal alignment. If less invasive measures don’t help, surgical procedure is a last resort.Spinal stenosisStenosis means a narrowing of an opening. Sciatic ache can happen from lumbar (lower back) spinal stenosis, whereas numbness and problems in the arms can happen from cervical (neck) spinal stenosis. The area where the nerves come out from the spinal column can inflame and narrow. This creates strain and ache on the nerve. Older ones are most commonly affected on this type of nerve because of chronic poor body mechanics such as a swayback or tucking under, being obese, having arthritis and/or scoliosis.Signs include ache in the buttocks, thigh, and calf, weakness of one leg and pain that always will increase with motion and strolling, and decreases when sitting or lying down.Diagnostic checks such as x-rays and CT scans or MRI can be used to substantiate the diagnosis. Anti-inflammatory treatment along with physical therapy is prescribed for gentle cases. Surgery may be necessary to remove the stress from the nerve, if much less invasive measures are unsuccessful.Ideas for PreventionIn case you have sciatic signs and are a dance trainer, dont be so depressed. It’s a curable disorder. However, you need to adapt your educating style temporarily. Since teachers have unhealthy habits of showing a movement without being fully warmed up, it is necessary to pull back on demonstrating.Below are some steps that may assist:Stand simply in a turned out first place, Are your gluteal muscular tissues rock hard? It could be a sign of overworking the turnout and hip joint muscles. Periodically, sit on a chair with one leg crossed over the opposite thigh in an open position and lean forward. You will feel the stretch deep within the gluteal of the bent leg.Are you standing in a swayback? Then stretch out the hip flexors within the runners lunge. Usually the hamstrings, gluteal and turnout muscular tissues become overly contracted as they counter the pull of the hip flexors.Notice whats taking place on your feet. Pronation means your weight is not centered and your toes are rolling in – which then creates more muscular pressure within the turnout muscles.Give your turnout muscles a break! Stand with your feet turned in towards each other. Bend your knees then lean into one hip before switching to the opposite hip. It could look unusual, however is a fast reminder that the turnout muscles must be both strong and flexible.Be sure your weight is appropriate for your height and activity level. Extra weight can put strain on the lower back and discs.Are your hamstrings weak or tight? Pay attention to the muscle balance across the hip joint and address any apparent weak point and/or tightness.Relax for a few minutes on your back over a large physioball. This helps to decompress the spine.Get up straight without tension. When sitting and standing, don’t slump as it keeps the spine aligned and the discs and spinal cord happy!How you can Release RigidityTo release stubborn muscular stress, you may work with a pinkie ball. Begin by placing a small 2-2/15 inch rubber ball between the back of your pelvis and the wall. The farther your feet are from the wall the more weight you place on the ball and the deeper the pressure. To start out, roll on the ball from sacrum (base of the backbone). Then roll around the sides of the pelvis and right down to the sits bone. The piriformis and other turnout muscle tissues are in the midst of the buttocks and that area could also be tender. Work slowly and easily and comfortably to loosen the muscles. When you notice any nerve indicators, such as ache radiating down the leg, move away from that spot, or cease all together. 5 minutes before or after class can make a big distinction in reducing extra muscular rigidity!