It's hard to believe that it's only 6 weeks until Christmas.

If you'd like to show your staff how much you appreciate their hard work, but aren't sure what it might cost you and the tax implications, read on.....

The Chancellor delivered a lot of changes that were relatively favourable to small businesses, but in the background a few important adverse changes were made which seem to be because too much money was leaving the Treasury. This is therefore not a bold post-Brexit Budget. 

As accountants looking after owner-managed SMEs needing to make a step change in their growth, we are often asked how they should do this. A common solution is to recruit a good senior person to help the owner grow the business further.

However, it's difficult to attract the right calibre person with the budget you have available, so let the tax system help you.....

The detail behind today's speech offered a lot of new consultations and delayed implementation dates to beyond 2019, which seems to me a 'wait and see' how the Brexit negotiations go before finalising a lot of changes.

The speech itself ended with a grand finale announcing the abolition of stamp duty for first time buyers of residential property purchases up to £300k.