John’s Autumn Blog 2021

It seems a long time since I wrote a blog, and it is difficult to know where to start. The last 18 months of pandemic have been an extraordinarily hard time for all, whether you run your own business, employed, or even retired. I see many people struggle, not only with financial hardship but loneliness and a sense of bewilderment as to what has happened to our society. Even now with the lockdown behind us and the end of furlough payments etc, we are only just beginning to see the real long-term effects of Covid whether it is a financial issue or a mental health issue.

In many ways I have been amazed at the resilience of so many as they struggle through these difficult days. Much without complaint, just grateful to receive what they can from HMRC.

I recall one of my clients crying over the telephone to me saying “how are they going to save their business”. That has certainly prompted me to pray every day, not only for my staff and family but for my clients that they will be given the strength and resources to cope. I remember the Bible versus “God gives Grace sufficient for the day”, that has certainly been the case and the Lord has certainly protected us during this time.

I remember the early days of lockdown with the great majority of my staff working from home, with just myself, a secretary and one other in the office, trying to coordinate everything and keep the business going and serve our clients. Thankfully the firm has not been hit so hard by all that is happening around us, as very few of our clients are within the leisure, hospitality or tourism industry, however, the lockdown has meant that I have had to work even harder than I have ever done before just to try to do the same amount of work.

Everything seems to take longer, certainly not helped with much of the public sector working from home, difficulties in getting through to HMRC, Charity Commission or whatever. Difficulty in getting responses and then seeing posts going astray, is all frustrating, time consuming and testing.

It now seems we have other problems to cope with, shortages of food and petrol, not enough drivers, certainly our society is changing and has been affected by all that is going on around us and matters will never be the same, but I trust in the God who is the same yesterday, today and forever and who watches over us.

The good news this week is that HMRC have announced that Making Tax Digital has been delayed a further year. So now from April 2024 Sole Traders and Landlords have to register under MTD and Partnerships from April 2025.

If your business records have not yet been digitalised then this is something you need to consider, although we do have a couple of years in hand as yet. Do not hesitate to speak to Colin at colin@caladine.co.uk or Liam at liam@caladine.co.uk for help in these matters.

The Government are also promising a new Charities bill and a new SORP for Charities so that will keep us all busy, let alone the various tax changes due new year.

From a staffing point of view, I am pleased to say Gemma Stace has joined the firm from a large local firm as Charity Manager and specifically also to help me with my workload. Gemma is a chartered accountant and holds a diploma in Charity Accounting.

Lydia, our trainee, is only one exam away from qualifying as a chartered accountant, so hopefully by Christmas this would have happened.

Talking of Christmas, we are now fast approaching the tax return season and if you have not already supplied us with your tax return details for the year ended 5th April 2021 I would urge you to do this as soon as possible.

My best wishes to you all,

John Caladine, 

Caladine Ltd