Hi I am proposing to write bits which might interest people reading the magazine concerning any accounting, taxation or business issues.

Firstly therefore you need to know a bit about me so you can judge whether I can supply you with credible answers to any questions. I’m Jonathan Russell and I’m a chartered Accountant. I run two small accountancy practices one in Witney, Oxfordshire and one in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. These practices concentrate on advising small businesses including as you can imagine competitive riders, studs, livery yards and estates etc.

I am currently Vice president of the UK200Group which is the UK’s leading quality assured association of independent accountancy and legal practices. I have served on the Business and Management Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. I’m also a qualified Arbitrator and accredited Mediator and serve on the board of the ADR Group.

Hopefully therefore I will be able to answer questions or will know someone who can.

Secondly we have the health warning that all comments and answers I write will be on the basis of being general advice and if you want to act on any point you should take professional advice to be sure it suits your individual circumstances.

OK – so what sort of things might you want to ask? I’ll write pieces on any area that proves popular but also happy just to do Q & A’s.

1.I suspect many of you consider yourselves hobby breeders and outside the scope of tax etc – are you sure?

2.Are you self employed or do you in your business have some one who works for you who is self employed. The Treasury have announced that they are targeting the so called false self employment and the penalties are high if you get it wrong particularly as an employer.

3.Are you familiar with VAT regulations – there have been a number of changes recently. Some areas of thought:-

a.Do you trade outside the UK? The rules are just changing.

b.Do you have let residential property but are also running a VAT registered business?

c.Are you familiar with the secondhand scheme – it applies to horses?

4.The tax has changed re holiday lets – do you know how it might affect you for income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax.

There are just some ideas – if you want help on any of them or anything else just try me.

Email me on jrussell@reesrussell.co.uk

or call me 01993-702418.