What Did The Recent Spring Statement Have To Offer To Businesses - London Registrars

It
came ahead of the start of the new UK tax year on 6 April – and there is
no question that the present burden on businesses is substantial, as taxpayers
start paying for the Government’s costs incurred in its response to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
What
measures has the Government set out in support of UK firms?
In
its Business Support Factsheet, the Government said that it would “always stand
behind businesses in the UK, which is why we’ve announced further measures at
Spring Statement to support them in the uncertain months ahead.”
The
Government added that as part of its efforts to bolster UK-wide growth and
productivity, it had also outlined “plans to incentivise firms to train more,
invest more, and innovate more through cuts to tax”.
To
the end of achieving the above goals, the Government laid out the following
Spring Statement measures that it said would be of benefit to businesses in the
UK:
- A 12-month cut in fuel duty on
petrol and diesel, by 5p a litre,
taking effect from 6pm on 23rd March 2022
- An increase in Employment
Allowance from £4,000 to £5,000
– a move the Government said would benefit about 30% of all businesses
- An exemption on business rates
for green technology being brought forward; it means such green tech as solar panels and heat
pumps will be exempt from business rates from April 2022, for businesses
in England only
- Reformation to R&D tax
credits to help drive innovation.
From April next year, firms will be able to claim relief on the storage of
their vital data and pure maths research – a move intended to boost
sectors such as AI, robotics, manufacturing, and design
- Plans to encourage increased
business investment after the end of the super-deduction in 2023; this relates to a series of already-announced policy
changes to the existing capital allowances regime in the UK, with these to
be considered by Government before April 2023
The
Government said that these announcements would bolster the existing business
support package. Those existing measures include – but are not restricted to –
eligible firms now being able to receive a temporary business rates relief, and
the business rates multiplier being frozen for another year, saving businesses
some £4.6 billion over the coming five years.
What
has the reaction been from the business world?
Response
to the Spring Statement from representatives of UK business were mixed at best.
Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), perhaps
best summed up the sentiment, describing the announcement as a “missed
opportunity to rebuild and renew the economy and ensure business has the
resilience to weather the uncertain and volatile times ahead.”
Meanwhile,
the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)’s director general, Tony Danker,
said to the BBC that there was some good news in the Spring Statement from a
longer-term perspective, such as looking into how to bolster business
investment and improving the R&D tax credit.
But
in terms of more immediate challenges, he added: “We’re going to struggle to
help small business owners unless we tackle the energy problem. When it came to
help for small businesses, I’m not sure there was enough today.”
Looking
forward, make sure you have the right business support professionals by your
side
At
a time characterised by considerable business uncertainty and not always
predictable challenges, as a business owner yourself, you are likely to
appreciate advice, guidance and support that will assist your firm in surviving
and thriving over the months and years to come.
We
can provide such tailored business support solutions here at London Registrars, ranging from
directors’ service addresses and the preparation and submission of the annual
Confirmation Statement, to the maintenance
of statutory registers and the
minute book. Simply contact us now to learn more about all the ways our professionals could
help you.
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