The Positive Accountant Vol 1 Ed 15
Goodness, I had no idea how controversial these blogs are becoming. Whether a triangle is hit by a dinger or a donger has filled my inbox, maybe not quite on the scale of 'That Dress' that nearly broke the internet, but....
(The dress was definitely gold incidentally)
Yesterday I mentioned about the extra costs that could be claimed for tax relief when working from home. I think I've been accused of lowering standards by one avid reader who has reminded me that
"Working from home the expenses must include chocolate biscuits, staff to make and carry coffee to destination , clean cups and bathroom "
not to mention, from some one else,
"Staff to strew rose petals behind one as one wafts fragrantly from one room to another"
And you all thought until recently that I was a serious, grey suited accountant....
http://www.positiveaccountant.com
What are my positives today:-
1. I have a prune recipe (See Ed 12 for background). Susan, client and award winning food author (Gourmand World Cookbook Award for the "Best Book in the World for Food Professionals" in 2003) has sent me through a lamb tagine recipe with prunes, which actually sounds delicious. The prunes apparently dissolve into a fruity sauce
2. Hearing some cheerfulness on the phone I'm continuing to spend lots of time on the phone to people, which is great. And despite the challenges faced there seems to be more cheerfulness around this week, which is good to hear.
3. Heritage saved !
I look after the accounts of an award winning, internationally renowned, historic garden. Whilst they are (normally) open 363 days a year, winter is a time of spending, ready for the income from visitors in Spring onwards.
As a result of recent events we've been looking to all sorts of measures to plug a rather sizeable hole in their finances, I heard today that they have been awarded a survival grant, huge sighs of relief can be heard across East Anglia, well done to their tenacious manager.
What are the things I'm talking to clients about today:-
1.Holiday Entitlement. Up until now, if an employee didn't take their full holiday entitlement by the end of their employers' holiday year, then unless their terms and conditions said otherwise, the holiday was lost
New laws are being passed as a result of what we're facing to allow employees the right to carry forward untaken holiday for two years.
It is also worth noting/remembering that even if staff are furloughed, they continue to accrue holiday entitlement.
This is potentially a huge hidden cost to furloughing.
2.Rates Grants - the grants that the local authorities are making to retail/hospitality/leisure businesses as well as those to businesses with small business rates relief are on their way. I've heard from clients that the councils have been in touch in the Forest Heath, Bury St Edmunds, East Cambs, East Suffolk and Mid Suffolk areas. I suspect other areas are active as well, it's just those ones that I've been talking to people in.
If you haven't heard from your local council then I suggest you get in touch to make sure you're in the queue. Remember that it isn't the payment of business rates that matters, it's being registered for them.
Until tomorrow, stay safe
Adrian Mole
07917 338342
When my Grandmother died, we raided her garden and took a small clump of her prized snowdrops and an even smaller batch of her much loved Arum lilies.
Not sure what to do with them we temporarily 'heeled' them in to an empty corner of our garden
Between them, they have now completely taken over - the snowdrops are blooming beautifully tn the sunshine his week, fourteen years to the day of their 'temporary' relocation.