The Positive Accountant - Vol 1 Ed 45
And the answer is....It's a moth.
(For those thinking What ?, have a look at the picture at the bottom of Ed 44.)
The score, incidentally, was a draw with exactly the same number of 'townies' getting it as 'farmers'. I didn't expect that.
The consensus is that the moth is an Ermine moth These are a family of micro-moths- who'd have thought it, even insects are getting on the tech bandwagon.
On another subject, I must confess to disappointment that the Chancellor (who up until now I thought an upbeat sort) was talking tonight about a looming recession, 'the like which we haven't seen'. Needless to say the media has seized this as headline and we all know where that leads. I think we should set Rebecca on him (see Ed 38)
Seriously, it makes it all the more important that 'us lot' at the coal face remain positive and up for the challenge.
Remember, if you have 'missed' any previous editions, they can be found at
http://www.positiveaccountant.com
What are my positives today:-:
1. I haven't had the misfortune of attending a Zoom call like this
We all know what students are like. Some of us may, conceivably, have been like it ourselves.
You don't have to travel to lectures anymore, so no excuses for being late.
Poor hapless guy, rolls out of bed in his student dorm, realises he is in danger of missing the start so opens the relevant Zoom page. Not realising his webcam is switched on, he continues getting (un)dressed.
For those who can't help but watch a car crash it's on
https://twitter.com/ZoomFail/status/1243693442846339072
2. I found something that dogs won't eat
Like most dogs, our two will eat anything, from long dead rabbit found in a hedge through to freshly roasted lamb found in the kitchen floor.
We were enjoying a Meditteranean platter on our patio tonight when a garlic stuffed olive fell on the floor. Before you could say 'leave' it had vanished .
10 seconds later it had been spat out and Buster was drinking eau de la pond
3.The SSP Scheme is open
This particular COVID scheme really is the poor relation. From memory it was the very first Government hep announced, right back in early days and it is the last to come to fruition.
To refresh your memories, the scheme is open for Employers if
they’re claiming for an employee who’s eligible for sick pay due to coronavirus
they had a PAYE payroll scheme in operation before 28 February 2020
they had fewer than 250 employees across all PAYE schemes on 28 February 2020
they’re eligible to receive State Aid under the EU Commission Temporary Framework.
The repayment will cover up to two weeks of the applicable rate of SSP, and is payable if a current or former employee was unable to work on or after 13 March 2020 and entitled to SSP, because they either:
have coronavirus
are self-isolating and unable to work from home
are shielding because they’ve been advised that they’re at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus.
Before getting carried away, remember that Statutory Sick (or even Sock) Pay is only £95.85 per week.
There is (another) new portal to claim for it, and it opens on 26th May.
What have I been talking to clients about today ?
Hoarding cash- Does anyone remember the old adage that 'Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity but cash is king'
It gets forgotten about in good times but it is coming to the fore again now. Businesses are borrowing in order to have cash in the bank (the good old Bounceback loans), they are looking to take advantage of the tax and VAT deferrals (even if they don't need to). Thing is, if things do get tight, those with cash will be the ones that survive and thrive.
Accelerating tax payments. When studying tax, we're taught that saving tax is good, and deferring tax until later is almost as good. Except when you think the tax payable later is going to be higher than the tax at stake now.
I think many if not most of us are expecting tax hikes to be around the corner. So maybe things like rollover relief, EIS deferral, even some capital allowances planning might not be such a good idea. If you save tax today at 40% to pay it in four-five years time at 50%, maybe it isn't such a good deal. It's worth taking advice on.
Until tomorrow, stay safe, stay positive
Adrian
07917 338342
Cathy's spaniels are always better groomed than ours This photo of one her pups has given a me clue why...