January 20 Newsletter
December 31, 2019
BUSINESS UPDATE
Here are a few of our frequently asked questions...
Can employees who work from home receive some kind of rebate?
The trend of employees working from home for at least part of their working week is definitely increasing. If you are 'forcing' the employee to work from home then they can claim back marginal costs such as; refreshments, central heating that are 'wholly and exclusively used in the performance of their duties'. An easier calculation is a payment of a maximum of £4 per week to an employee as a tax free benefit in kind, employers also benefit by a reduction of Corporation Tax as it is a claimable expense.
I work from home, can I claim travel?
If you are self-employed, work from home but travel for work such as a plasterer or consultant the good news is that all travel and subsistence is allowable. If you own a limited company and you are an employee and you are required to travel to various locations, then all travel from your permanent workspace at home is allowable. But if you're permanent workplace is an office in London then you cannot claim the travel from home to the London office as this would be commuting.
What counts as a commercial vehicle?
This is tricky and is mainly queried in order to claim back vat. Here are a few criteria that could be considered for commerical vehicles; minibuses, camper vans, ambulances, prison vans, vehciles weighing more than 3 tonnes, special purpose vehicles (e.g. ice cream vans) and vehicles with a payload of one tonne more.
What are the advantages of trading as a limited company?
The personal assets of the business owners are protected, in case the company runs into financial difficulties. Many suppliers feel more confident when dealing with limited companies. The ownership can be easily divided by selling shares, this can also be used to raise additional capital in the future.
If you have a question, please get in touch and we'll try our best to answer it for you.
ACCOUNTING UPDATE
Personal Tax Return deadline is looming....
The deadline for filing your personal tax return for year ended 5th April 2019 is 31st January 2020 for an online return. Here is a checklist of information that you will need in order to complete it:
• Employment income (if you’re also employed)
• Dividends
• Partnership income
• Interest
• Rental income
• Foreign income
• Pensions contributions
• Gift Aid
• Pension income
• Payment on account
• Redundancy lump payment or unemployment benefit
• P11D
• Capital gains
• Your unique taxpayer reference number
Remember that you will also need to pay the tax liability by 31st January 2020. If the liability is greater than £1,000 you will also need to pay an extra 50% of the liability as a payment on account for 2020/21 tax year, with the additional 50% due by 31st July 2020.
Don't be late
Otherwise you'll receive a £100 penalty!
APP OF THE MONTH..... SPOTLIGHT
We love using Spotlight Reporting to show our clients their financial and non-financial information in one clear report, using bright colours and a mixture of charts, graphs and numbers.
We include any information that is important to our clients, making each report unique and a one-stop-shop for all management information. A popular plug in is Google Analytics, making it easy to see if marketing spend or your new website is making the impact you hoped for.
Visit the Spotlight website for more details.
Please get in touch to see our demo report, and see if it could give you the insight that you need to help you understand your business and the numbers.
TEAM NEWS
David asked his girlfriend Rachel to marry him... and she said 'Yes'!
We're so pleased for you David, let the wedding plans commence!
Until next month,
David & Katherine
In Part 1 of this series, Dr Anita Devi opened the conversation on the rising complexity of SEND and the need for intentional, values-driven provision. Her reflections focused on inclusive leadership, purposeful commissioning, and the principle that less can often be more . In this second part, I’d like to continue the conversation — but from a financial perspective. My name is Katherine Robertson. I’ve spent over 10 years working with organisations across sectors including the education sector, helping them to navigate their finances confidently and strategically. What I’ve learned over that time is simple: money follows priorities — but only when we lead with clarity . And now, with SEND needs rising faster than school income, we must work smarter than ever with the resources we have. ๐ฏ From Stockpiling to Strategic Spending In 2024, the Department for Education wrote to 64 academy trusts, concerned that some were holding onto reserves more than 100% of their annual income . These aren’t just large numbers — they are untapped opportunities. Of course, we know why these reserves exist: financial uncertainty, poor capital funding, and the understandable desire to protect future viability. But if money meant for today’s pupils is held for tomorrow’s problems , we risk doing a disservice to the very learners we aim to support. That’s why we’re asking an important question: Can schools and trusts use their reserves to strengthen inclusion and SEND support now, without compromising their long-term financial security? Our answer is yes — with the right approach. ๐งฉ Applying Financial Wisdom to Inclusive Practice We are not advocating reckless spending or draining reserves dry. On the contrary, we work with leaders to build a clear, defensible strategy for using reserves wisely , backed by robust modelling, compliance with DfE guidance, and an unwavering focus on improving outcomes for children with SEND. Together with Dr Anita Devi, we bring dual lens: educational insight and financial clarity. Here’s how we help to: โ Identify untapped funding within existing reserves โ Co-develop an evidence-led SEND investment plan โ Align to DfE expectations on reserve levels and financial health โ Build the narrative for governors, trustees, auditors and regulators โ Support ongoing evaluation to ensure value for money and impact It’s not about spending more. It’s about spending better . ๐ Releasing Funds. Reinforcing Purpose. SEND needs are not going away — and nor are the financial pressures. But when finance and inclusion experts work together, we can unlock solutions that support both pupil outcomes and institutional resilience . With careful planning, strategic reserve use can: โ Fund early intervention โ Invest in staff development โ Improve provision infrastructure โ And reduce future costs from reactive SEND placements or escalation It’s a long-term gain — and a value-led approach to financial governance. ๐ฌ Let’s Continue the Conversation If you’re sitting on reserves and wondering how best to use them — or if you’re just ready to rethink how your SEND resources are working for you — we’re here to help. We offer a tailored advisory service that helps schools and trusts plan, invest and lead with both head and heart. ๏ปฟ ๐ฉ Reach out at SEND_Finance@youtopia.co.uk to book a preliminary conversation. Because sometimes, the smartest way to save — is to spend with purpose. Author: Katherine Robertson Strategic Finance Expert and Education Consultant In partnership with Dr Anita Devi – Leading SEND Specialist
Optimize spending for better SEND outcomes. Contact Youtopia Ltd for expert finance support in Milton Keynes.
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