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By Dr Philip Dunn In this case study, Head of Education, Dr Philip Dunn talks us through the Break Even Analysis to enable the bookkeeper to provide business owners with vital information on when they will break even. This is particularly useful for managing resources in the current economic climate. Break Even Analysis - Case Study.pdf Look out for our monthly case studies covering vital information to help you and your business. This will be a regular feature in ICB's newsletter, InVoice...

With the 2012 focus sharply on ICB Regional Meetings (see Region of the Month article for more details), ICB is delighted to invite students and members to attend a special CPD and networking event in Edinburgh planned for Wednesday 28th March.In 2012, the annual CPD Seminars will be an opportunity for ICB central office to support the work of the twelve Regions which make up the UK, and the CPD Seminar programme will be arranged following consultation with each of ICB's twelve Regi...

ICB January Newsletter - 46,171 Subscribers *Issued on 3rd Wednesday of Every Month!*      Scottish Parliament welcomes ICB this March With the 2012 focus sharply on ICB Regional Meetings (see Region of the Month article for more details), ICB is delighted to invite students and members to attend a special CPD and networking event...

  'There are lots of members out there who need local meetings to network,  socialise, develop confidence and knowledge.'  Kenneth Bell, ICB Head of Regions   With the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, 2012 is set to be an extremely exciting year for Britain. ICB regional meetings have given our members an opportunity to assist each other with their professional development. With the help of the forum, and enthusiastic members uniting together to represe...

Interview with Jay Dhamelia MICB CB.Dip PM.Dip - completed all stages of examinations within 2 months of joining ICB. “I had been working within the profession since 1980, starting as clerk in a Chartered Accountants office. I quickly progressed to doing accounts and eventually became an Audit Manager. I moved around, gaining experience in different firms, within different industries until I became a financial controller of an entertainment company. Around 1999, I joined a group of co...

Payroll legislation is constantly changing and if you currently offer payroll services to clients, or are thinking of doing so in the future, it is important that you are aware of forthcoming requirements.  The following article has been prepared for ICB by EARNIE; Payroll Software producers who exhibited at the Bookkeepers Summit 2011 in London.  If you were unable to attend Summit 2011, you may also wish to refer to the presentation slides which can be downloaded here. If you use...

  Support available to help you move from paper to online VAT Returns Submitting your VAT Returns online is straightforward, but if you need help, there’s plenty available - both from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and from third parties. The support described below covers: Signing up for VAT Online services (which you do only once, but must do before you can submit your VAT Returns online) Submitting the online returns themselves (assuming you are using HMRC’s free ...

  Diana Bruce Senior Policy Liaison Officer for the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals   In 2010 we saw the new coalition government take residence in Downing Street and since then have come a whole host of legislative reviews and consultations.  Their aim, they state, is to reduce regulatory burdens for businesses; however en route to that aim the volume and complexity of the changes being introduced may initially be having the opposite effect and are impa...

    HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is introducing tougher procedures for civil fraud investigations later this month, the department has announced.   As part of the Government’s commitment to tackle fraud, HMRC’s new Contractual Disclosure Facility (CDF) will be launched on 31 January 2012, and follows consultation with interested parties in the autumn.Under the new facility, HMRC will contact a taxpayer, in writing, to inform them that they are suspected of ...

    HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is warning taxpayers not to fall victim to ‘phishing’ emails sent out by fraudsters in the run-up to the self-assessment deadline of 31 January.   The email tells the recipient they are due a tax rebate, and provides a link to a clone of HMRC’s website where the recipient is asked to give their credit card or bank details. Fraudsters then try to take money from the account using the details provided. Victims risk havin...

      Lin Homer is appointed Chief Executive Officer of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).   Ms Homer, who takes up her post this month, is currently Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport.  She takes over from Lesley Strathie, who stepped down last month on health grounds.   The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, said:“I welcome Lin Homer’s appointment and am delighted that we will continue to have a strong team at HMRC...

      Fashion houses are the latest targets of an HM Revenue & Customs campaign aimed at ending the exploitation of interns.   HMRC has written to a number of fashion houses and designer labels warning them about non-payment of the National Minimum Wage.   The letters are being sent to fashion houses that exhibited at London Fashion Week in September 2011, and are expected to do so again at the capital’s Fashion Week in February.   Michelle Wye...

  Two sisters from Colwyn Bay, whose systematic frauds funded lavish lifestyles filled with luxury property, fast cars and private schooling, were jailed recently after attempting a £161m fake VAT repayment scam.   The women’s dream was brought to a halt when HMRC launched an investigation into the employment agency the sisters claimed to be running. Enquiries led to their arrest in January 2009, and they were charged in December 2009 with nine offences includi...

New Year   I wish everyone a Happy and Successful New Year.   I can’t say that I particularly enjoy January.  It’s probably just because it is such a let-down after the festive celebrations.  For most businesses it’s also a time when cash is tight – it is surprising how many companies in this wonderful, electronic age, still can’t seem to issue payments after about the middle of December.  And it is really annoying when, having left t...

  The 2009/10 Payroll Examination has been discontinued as from 31st December 2011. As from the 1st January 2012, years 2010/11 and 2011/12 are available.

URGENT NOTICE - BEWARE ICB members should be aware that companies purporting to be supported by ICB are approaching members to take advertising space in a range of diaries, year books or other publications.  These are often for seemingly good causes, such as the Police Federation Year Book, but please be aware that these advertising sales organisations do not have ICB support. ICB does not release contact details to any third party, other than if required so to do by law or if it has p...

  ICB November/December Newsletter45,674 Subscribers    ICB named as Professional Institute of the Year   ICB was honoured to receive an award for Professional Institute of the Year at this year's BKN Bookkeeping Awards; 'the benchmark for excellence throughout the bookkeeping profession in the UK.' Each of the winners has been 'nominated and v...

The Bookkeepers Summit was pleased to welcome three HMRC representatives who were able to answer questions and respond to feedback from the ICB.  Two of the speakers were from HMRC's proactive Agent Support Team who were keen to engage with ICB members and assist them in the work they do. Please click the link below to open the most recent Agent Update which provides some information on how best to manage the fast approaching 31st January Self Assessment deadline and an update...

Tuesday 1st November 2011 marked the 15th Anniversary of ICB's service to bookkeepers and the bookkeeping profession. To celebrate our 15th Anniversary, we gave free conference tickets to one member who has been with us since the very beginning. Lynne Cartwright, who passed her advanced examination in 1998, was selected, at random, and joined us in London for The Bookkeepers Summit.   What prompted you to join the ICB? I was a student at the time and switched from IAB to ICB as I...