think green

HMRC tax calculator

A new service has been launched to help us understand what is actually happening in regards of payments of income tax and national insurance.

"...This calculator can be used to estimate the amount of Income Tax (not other taxes such as Capital Gains Tax) and National Insurance contributions you can expect to pay on your income – and find out how this money gets spent by the Government. It is aimed at people who pay tax through Pay As You Earn (the system used by employers and pension providers to deduct tax from your wages or pension). It's free and easy to use..." 

So, according to your situation you can choose what calcultation is (more) suitable.

Last year the Treasury announced that in 2014-15 each taxpayer would be sent a document showing exactly how much tax and national insurance they paid and how it had been spent.

Because all in taken directly from their wages over half of taxpayers do not know how much income tax and national insurance they pay in a year. As in France, everyone has to declare in February what they have earned the previous year and according to the amount, there is a type of bracket in which you need to refer to and consequently pay that percentage. It is called "Déclaration d'impôts". This fiscal duty is compulsory for all.

If not completed in time: a fine is applicable.

 

 

 

Velodrome magic design

JamFactory is behind Böikzmoïnd documentary...most of us cyclists are aware of this by now.

But before putting things together, it was necessary to do test shoots to see and imagine how the footage would look, once edited.

The video below has no sound (don't panic).

 

 

To get this smooth panning, a dolly system by Glidetrack was used.

But to be even more accurate and discover who Gavin Strange really is - here is an interview.

 

In need of legal advice?

How do you know if you can deal with the situation on your own, or if you need to seek legal help?

Almost everyone will need legal advice or the help of a lawyer at some point in their lives in this complex society, such as when writing a will, buying a home, or making a business deal.

Only lawyers may give legal advice in these situations and it is better to seek legal advice before you have a legal problem rather than hire a lawyer as a last resort when something goes wrong. Seeking legal advice before you proceed can help you avoid costly and complicated legal hassles.

There are a few situations in life when you should always seek legal advice and hire the services of a lawyer, such as:

• When buying or selling real estate.
• When signing major financial contracts.
• If you have been injured in an accident which is not your fault.
• When organizing your own business.
• When you are married, divorced or adopt a child.
• When you are being sued or you want to sue someone.

How Do You Know When You Should Hire a Lawyer

Sometimes it’s easy to tell that you need a lawyer, such as when you are being sued or arrested.

However, other times you might not be sure whether you should hire someone to help you with your legal matters. While you might be able to deal with the legal problem on your own, representing yourself can be very risky if you don’t know what you are doing.

If there is a lot at stake in the situation, this is one indicator that you should hire a lawyer. If your finances are seriously in jeopardy or you are in danger of going to prison, you should always get legal help.

However, if the problem is no more than a parking ticket you don’t need to consult a solicitor to fight the fine.

Is There an Alternate Solution?

If you have a legal problem and you don’t know how to resolve it, the best thing will be to talk to a lawyer. Most will usually give you a free consultation to help you figure out what to do about the situation. However, you don’t have to hire a lawyer right away if there is another way to solve the problem.

For example, if you can do your own research and find the information that you need you might not need the services of a lawyer. Also, you can contact elder associations, civil rights groups and other organizations to give you the legal help and information that you need. However, if you become confused and you don’t understand the legal situation that you are dealing with, it is better to hire the services of someone who is an expert on the law to help you make sense of it.

When you need legal advice, a solicitor will help you take control of the situation and get the outcome that you desire.

Victoria Pendleton explains track cycling

With the Summer Olympics 2012 just round the corner - track cycling is a major event especially with the fantastic new velodrome in London.

Victoria Pendleton is part of TeamGB and explains the tactics of this discipline.

 

Rules Defining a Mortgage Calculator Process?

If you have used a mortgage calculator to figure out the monthly payments and interest on your home loan, you might be wondering how this process works.

If you are looking to buy a home, you have probably seen a mortgage calculator before on the website of your bank or estate agent. These handy tools allow you to input a few numbers and find out what the monthly payments and total interest would be on a mortgage. You can adjust the amount of the mortgage and the number of years to see how the totals would change.

Mortgage calculators are a very helpful resource because they allow you to plan your mortgage payments and predict how they will fit with your budget and lifestyle. Some mortgage calculators will even give you a table that you can print out so that you can see the breakdown of the interest and the principal as it is charged on each payment and the amount remaining after every payment has been made.

How does it Work?

A mortgage calculator is actually very simple under the surface. It contains a mathematical formula which is programmed into its code. When you input the numbers such as the amount of your mortgage, the interest rate and the number of years you will take to pay it off, it automatically calculates your monthly payments and other numbers. It works in a similar way to using formulas in an Excel spreadsheet, but it is laid out in the form of a calculator in order to make it easier for the home buyer to use.

Using a mortgage calculator means that you don’t have to be a brilliant mathematician to understand how your mortgage payments will add up and how much you will have to pay over the length of your mortgage. All of the hard work of calculating your payments is done for you so that can know the total with a click of a button. 

What Numbers and Rules are they Based On?

Most mortgage calculators are based on three factors: amortization, rate and loan amount. Once you know these three numbers the mortgage calculator will be able to give you a monthly mortgage payment amount.

Once you have this total, don’t forget to add the taxes and your insurance to get the total amount that you will be paying per month. This total is sometimes known as PITI which stands for principal, interest, taxes and insurance.

Keep in mind that a mortgage calculator is not always exactly accurate and it is designed to give you an estimate rather than a specific number.

To get a more exact number on your mortgage you will need to speak to your mortgage lender.

Brussels Express

A great film showing the danger of bike messengers in Brussels.

 

 

The skill of drafting like a boss [video]

Tips for Hiring No-Win No-Fee Solicitors

Are you thinking of hiring a solicitor on a “no win no fee” basis? Here are some tips which will help you.

If you need to hire a lawyer but you can’t afford expensive legal fees, you might want to consider hiring someone on a “no-win no-fee” basis. This essentially means that if the solicitor does not find success in winning your legal case you will not have to pay them and it can be a great way to avoid getting trapped by huge legal costs.

This type of arrangement can help people afford a lawyer when they otherwise could not.

How Does it Work?

When you hire a solicitor under this agreement, it is established that you only have to pay for their fees if you win your case. If you do win the case, the legal fees will be taken from the settlement that you receive from your opponent. Essentially this means that you have nothing to lose by hiring a “no win no fee” lawyer because you will never have to pay out of pocket; you only owe them if you receive the windfall of compensation that you were hoping for.

Another advantage is that if a solicitor takes on your case on a no-win no-fee basis you can be assured that they will be motivated to win the case. Their payment depends on you being successful, so there is a lot of motivation for them to do their very best to win.

If you are hiring a no-win no-fee solicitor for your legal case, here are some tips which can help:

• Speak to many different solicitors before you choose so that you can compare their different offers and arrangements.
• Be careful when looking for solicitors online and keep in mind that a genuine legal firm would not ask for your credit card details online before speaking with you. If you come across this is it likely a scam.
• Before hiring a solicitor, ask them a few questions to get an idea of how knowledgeable they are about this particular area of law. They should not hesitate and be able to answer your questions effectively and correctly. They should also use simple language which can easily be understood, as being able to communicate clearly is an important trait in a solicitor.
• Choose a solicitor who specializes in your area of law. For example, if you are putting in a personal injury claim you should choose someone who specializes in personal injury law so that they will be informed and experienced with this type of claim.
• Always negotiate your fee arrangement in advance so that there are no surprises later on. Make a contract which details the specifics of your “no win no fee” arrangement and make sure that all parties sign it.

These are just a few things to think about when hiring a solicitor on a “no win no fee” basis.

How Small Businesses Are Affected by the 2012 Budget

If you run a small business, how will the changes implemented by the 2012 Budget affect you?

Are you the owner of a small budget and are wondering what changes the 2012 budget will make to your life? There are several changes in the budget which will affect the operation of the UK’s small and medium sized businesses.

Here are a few of the most important changes:

Tax Simplifications

One of the biggest changes of all affects how small businesses will calculate their tax payments. As of April of next year, companies with sales of under £77,000 per year will be allowed to manage their accounting on a cash basis rather than the previous accrual method.

What exactly does this mean for businesses?

It means that these small firms will need only to pay tax on the amount of money that they have actually received. Previously under the accrual system they had to pay based on total orders. In the past, this would cause small firms to have to pay tax on orders for which they have not been paid for yet. Thanks to the changes, the firm will no longer have to pay this.

Although some have criticized that this will make tax evasion much easier, most firms have been pleased with this change as it will remove an unwanted financial pressure on them. Also, it will make it easier for these small firms to calculate their own tax returns by themselves.

The Patent Box

If your small firm has patented a product, you will be able to benefit from a new feature on this year’s Budget known as the "Patent Box".

It begins in April 2013 and it is a reduced level of tax on any corporation’s profits which are attributed to patents and other types of intellectual property. It will introduce a lower rate of 10% and it is likely to benefit sectors such as the software industry and the pharmaceutical industry.

Youth Enterprise Loans

The Budget is encouraging young entrepreneurs by giving them a new loan initiative. Now young people between the ages of 18 and 24 will be able to borrow between £5,000 and £10,000 in order to start up their own business and contact an investment banking experts for guidance. At the moment it has not been announced what the interest rates on these loans will be, but if they turn out to be a successful project the government intends to introduce them permanently.

Business Rates

One area where the Budget did not support small firms is that it did not bring in any reduction on business rates, which is the tax that small businesses have to pay on their property. These rates will be raised by 5.6%, which can hit some small businesses hard.

These are just a few of the ways that the new budget will affect you if you have a small business in the UK.

Cycle typography