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Establishing a successful recruitment process and clear written employment contracts for new employees can have a major impact on your business.

Every business needs to be aware of its obligations under minimum wage and equal pay laws, as well as recent pensions auto-enrolment changes.

You must comply with legal restrictions on employees' working hours and time off, or risk claims, enforcement action and even prosecution.

The right employment policies are an essential part of effective staff management. Make sure any policy is clear and well communicated to employees.

While sick employees need to be treated fairly, you need to ensure that 'sickness' is not being used as cover for unauthorised absence.

Most pregnant employees are entitled to maternity leave and maternity pay, while new fathers are entitled to paternity leave and paternity pay.

As well as undermining morale, illegal discrimination can lead to workplace grievances. Employee discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010.

Home, remote and lone workers are becoming increasingly commonplace. Key issues include communication and how to manage and motivate people remotely.

The right approach to consulting with and providing information to your employees can improve employee motivation and performance.

Disciplinary and grievance issues can be a major burden to employers. Putting in place and following the right procedures is essential.

Following the right dismissal and redundancy procedures helps protect your business and minimise the risk of a legal dispute at tribunal.

Employment tribunal claims are a worrying prospect for any employer. A tribunal case is a no-win situation – even if the claim is unjustified.

New VAT deferral scheme opens

23 February 2021

Over half a million businesses who deferred VAT payments last year can now pay the VAT they owe in smaller monthly instalments, thanks to a new government scheme.

The online VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme is aimed at UK businesses that deferred VAT payments between March and June 2020 under the VAT Payment Deferral Scheme and that still have payments to make. HMRC is now giving these firms the option to pay their deferred VAT in equal consecutive monthly instalments from March 2021.

Businesses also have the option to pay the deferred VAT in full, on or before 31 March 2021. Those that want to spread their payments will need to opt in to the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme. They can do this via the online service from 23 February; this service will close on 21 June 2021.

Any business that is struggling to pay, but has not contacted HMRC by 30 June 2021, could be charged interest or a penalty. Jesse Norman, financial secretary to the Treasury, said that the scheme would give businesses "the breathing space they may need to manage their cashflows in the weeks and months ahead".

Payments can be set up via the new payment scheme portal. Businesses can spread their payments with two to 11 equal monthly instalments starting in March, April, May or June 2021, without adding interest. The earlier businesses opt in the more instalments are available to help spread the cost.

Eligible businesses that are unable to use HMRC's online services can ring the HMRC Coronavirus Helpline on 0800 024 1222 to join the scheme until 30 June 2021.

HMRC has also announced more help for self assessment taxpayers. Taxpayers will now not be charged a 5% late payment penalty if they pay their tax or set up a payment plan by 1 April. Normally, a 5% late payment penalty is charged on any unpaid tax that is still outstanding on 3 March.

Taxpayers can either pay their tax bill or set up a monthly payment plan online. They need to do this by midnight on 1 April to avoid being charged a late payment penalty. The online Time to Pay facility allows taxpayers to spread the cost of their self assessment tax bill into monthly instalments until January 2022.

Written by Rachel Miller.

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