Skip to main content

COVID-19: Exemption for reimbursed home office equipment

14 May: Organisations reimbursing staff for equipment purchases enabling them to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic will not have to pay tax, confirms Treasury minister.

The government is introducing a year-long exemption that means employers will not have to pay tax or national insurance contributions (NIC) on reimbursement of staff expenses for home office equipment purchased to enable them to work from home during the COVID-19 crisis.

In a written statement , Jesse Norman, The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, confirmed that the measure is being legislated. It will have effect from 16 March 2020 to 5 April 2021. 

To qualify for the exemption, the office equipment must have been purchased for the “sole purpose of enabling the employee to work from home as a result of coronavirus” and the provision of such equipment would have been tax exempt if it had been provided directly to the employee (so is subject to the proviso that private use is not significant). This could include: computer equipment, office furniture or internet access, for example.

Under the normal procedure, employers have to account for tax and NIC on reimbursed expenses of this type via a PAYE settlement agreement. ICAEW’s Tax Faculty, alongside other professional bodies, has been urging the government to make an exemption since the start of the lockdown and welcomed the news.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Japan's economy falls into recession

Japan's economy falls into recession as virus takes its toll 18 May 2020   62 comments Share this with Facebook   Share this with Messenger   Share this with Twitter   Share this with Email   Share Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic Image copyright GETTY IMAGES Japan has fallen into recession for the first time since 2015 as the financial toll of the coronavirus continues to escalate. The world's third biggest economy shrank at an annual pace of 3.4% in the first three months of 2020. The coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the global economy with  an estimated cost of up to $8.8tn (£7.1tn) . Last week, Germany slipped into recession as more major economies face the impact of sustained lockdowns. Japan did not go into full national lockdown, but issued a state of emergency in April which severely affected supply chains and businesses in the trade-reliant nation. Coronavirus pushes German economy into recession What shape will the coronavirus recession be? Cor...
Post a Comment
Read more

Meet five advisers who’ll help your business become ‘fit for finance’

Meet five advisers who’ll help your business become ‘fit for finance’ Charlie Gilbert Content Manager Enterprise Nation   In our previous post, we covered the topic of  how to use any money you raise  – with the services of advisers being a crucial area small businesses should consider investing in. These services, however, are often needed before a business applies for funding. Take financial advisers and accountants, for example. Their job isn’t solely about helping you keep on top of your incomings and outgoings; it’s also about making you ‘fit for finance’ – in other words, helping position you as an attractive prospect to lenders or investors. They do this in myriad ways – from increasing profitability by helping you run your business more efficiently, to improving cashflow by advising on, and helping you implement, processes that keep cash in your business (automated payment collections, for example, or credit control). Some advisers will ensure you’re set up to sca...
8 comments
Read more

Employees fearful about return to work

Employees fearful about return to work - survey More than half of the UK’s workforce is not ready to return to work - with many being anxious or deeply concerned, according to a new survey. In a new report by workplace wellbeing specialists, BHSF, 45 per vent described their feelings about the return to work negatively. Only five per cent of employers have put in extra employee support services for those returning to a more normal work pattern. Challenges facing businesses are compounded by the fact that not all staff are comfortable raising health concerns with their line managers. Almost one-third (30 per cent) confirmed they would not feel comfortable discussing any mental health, physical health, grief or financial concerns with their line manager. When looking at concerns where workers are comfortable disclosing with their line managers, the reading is equally alarming. Only 41 per cent said they would discuss mental health concerns with their manager, while even fewer would discu...
Post a Comment
Read more