THE countdown to the end of the tax year is well underway but it’s not too late to focus on tactics to minimise tax liabilities before the April 5 deadline. Simpkins Edwards’ respected team of Chartered Tax Advisers are set to provide top tax tips at its free ‘Spring Clean Your Tax Affairs’ event, which is being held on Thursday, March 22 at the Okehampton Business Centre, starting at 8am and ending at 9.30am. 

The session, which is aimed at individuals and all business owners, whether sole traders, partnerships or limited companies, is designed to help individuals and businesses make the most of tax planning opportunities, offering guidance on high level tax planning that can be implemented to maximise tax efficiencies.

Seb Beard, who is both a Chartered Tax Adviser and Chartered Accountant and Partner at the Okehampton office of Simpkins Edwards, will be speaking at the event. His combination of qualifications provides him with an awareness of broad business issues and puts him in a strong position to advise individuals and businesses on a wide range of often complex tax issues, such as making the most of capital allowances, maximising available tax reliefs, reducing capital gains tax, planning for retirement or business succession and the tax efficient extraction of business profits.

Seb said: ’Even if you’re already working with an accountant, whether you have complex requirements or think you have straight forward tax affairs, it’s wise to seek advice from a professional that can assist in maximising your tax efficiency at the highest level. The build-up to April 5 provides real opportunities for both individuals and businesses that should not be missed and our free event on March 22 aims to help all those attending make the most of tax planning options available to them.’

To book a place at the seminar email Sandy Bailey at [email protected] or call our Okehampton office on 01837 52485 or book online at www.simpkinsedwards.co.uk/category/events

Seb is part of Simpkins Edwards’ tax team, which has recently been put forward for the ‘Best Tax Practice in a Regional Firm’ category at the tax industry’s Oscars; the Tolley’s Taxation Awards. The nomination follows a record 12-month period in which Simpkins Edwards has seen a 70% increase in the number of Chartered Tax Advisers (CTAs) at the firm, and a 62% increase in referrals from existing clients.

Over the last year Simpkins Edwards has lifted the proportion of CTAs among its qualified staff from one in nine to one in five, with CTAs in each of the firm’s five full-time Barnstaple, Exeter, Heathfield, Holsworthy and Okehampton offices. Recognised as the premier UK qualification for those engaged in tax advice, the CTA is regarded as the pinnacle of UK taxation education.

The firm believes that its drive to provide on-the-ground accessibility to top level tax advice has given Simpkins Edwards one of the highest proportion of CTAs of any accountancy firm in Devon and the wider region, putting it in a strong position to do well at the annual Tolley’s Taxation Awards.

Chris Bowker, Tax Partner at Simpkins Edwards, said: ‘We’re delighted to be in the running for the ‘Best Tax Practice in a Regional Firm’ category. This endorses our commitment to increasing the number of Chartered Tax Advisers across the firm, which we aim to bolster further as more of our chartered accountants take the CTA exam in 2018. 

Chris added: ‘In recent years we’ve seen greater demand for high-end tax advice. With the phased introduction of the Government’s Making Tax Digital for Business initiative, which will require businesses to keep digital records updated quarterly, it’s clear that this requirement will only continue to trend upwards.’