3 days ago

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: In my last piece I talked about the danger of adapting business agreements and contracts when we do not have the specialist knowledge as lawyers, or indeed as (in my case) a tax practitioner. I suspect that those who are driven to do this are either out to impress their clients or are motivated by [...]. (Read More)

7 days ago

Submitted by Jon Stow: IF you build it, they will come. At least that’s what developers in the Caribbean seem to think, especially in trendy areas like St. Lucia, Anguilla, the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos, where grand ambitions and a large dose of positive thinking have buoyed high-end resort development for yet another year.Despite a (Read More)

Nov 08, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: One of the most irritating cliches I hear is “I don't want to reinvent the wheel”. It is a favourite refrain amongst many well-meaning business owners and business advisers who will typically ask for a template for a sale agreement, partnership agreement, shareholders' agreement or some such thing. (Read More)

Nov 01, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: I have been reflecting recently about the danger of arrogance in our business lives. I think it can come to some people through complacency. They feel that they know what they are doing, they have been doing it a fair time, and they know best. An attitude like that may lead to bullying too. An [...]. (Read More)

Oct 31, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: I had a telephone call this week from a chap who said “I am phoning because I want to start a company”. My immediate reaction after thanking him for the call was to ask why he needed a company, if he meant a limited company. This is because from the tax point of view it is not necessarily a good idea to have a company, and (Read More)

Oct 31, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: It was reported this last week that 1.5 million UK pensioners are paying too much tax which is because too much is being deducted from their occupational and private pensions and from any employment earnings they have. Once upon a time of course, most pensioners with taxable income of any sort had to complete tax returns. S (Read More)

Oct 27, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow: What do French gendarmes, Andalucian school children, Wikipedia and San Francisco International airport have in common?. (Read More)

Oct 23, 2009

Ecademy: user blogs A couple of months ago I wrote an article in another place which in summary asserted that it is no good expecting instant results from networking. However, people are so impatient and many tend to be hunters looking to sell and being surprised when they don't get results. Only the other day I went into an estate and letti (Read More)

Oct 22, 2009

Sydney Morning Herald IMAGINE if instead of just praying for an empty seat next to you in a long economy flight, you could guarantee it. Take that dream further and configure your two economy seats so it is possible to lie down and sleep. (Read More)

Oct 22, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: Have you ever been confused by a marketing message or an advertisement that seemed out of place with the product? I believe that when we market our business by whatever means, we need to keep our product or service clear and distinct. (Read More)

Oct 12, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: There is a new phishing scam going round in the form of an email that purports to come from HM Revenue & Customs. This is just to warn you not to click on the link in any such email you receive. HM Revenue & Customs will never email a taxpayer concerning a tax refund or any other matter. Part of the text of the current "phi (Read More)

Oct 10, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: I was shopping in our village this morning and found the butcher’s shop was closed. There was a notice in the window, presumably put there by the shop landlord, which announced that the shop owners had paid no rent since they started trading last April, six months ago. I always try to support our local shopkeepers, [...]. (Read More)

Oct 10, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: The Revenue is introducing a new requirement to force agents to submit company accounts on-line in XBRL format from April 2011. Let me quote from their website:“Company Tax Returns and XBRLXBRL stands for Extensible Business Reporting Language, which is an international standard designed for business financial reporting. At (Read More)

Oct 10, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: The word “expert” is not a word I am comfortable with. One of the sites to which I am contributor, and for which I am grateful because of the additional exposure does describe me as an expert author. Whilst this is a sort of compliment, I write about what I know through experience. After all, I write this blog about small b (Read More)

Oct 01, 2009

Submitted by Jon Stow from blog: I heard something this week in the course of business that really upset me, and it has spared you, until I get around to it, a commentary on what activity might constitute trading and what might not.I saw one of my clients this week to collect her books and those of her husband as they are both self-employed. Mrs. Y works (Read More)

Jon Stow

Independent tax-adviser, small business owner, business helper with wealth of money saving resources, business friend and companion. Married with three cats!