Blog
Provisional tax - for business owners
5/04/2022
As a new business owner, it's important you understand the provisional tax system as it affects your business. In your first year of business, you can receive a significant tax deferral. Your first year's tax bill is, in some cases, not payable until 7 April the following year. For example, if you went into business in June 2022, assuming you have a March balance date, your first year's tax bill may not be due and payable until 7 April 2024, which is quite some time away. Your provisional tax for the following year may not be payable until May 2024. The first two tax bills you sometimes receive in business - terminal tax for the previous year and provisional tax for the current year - are a ‘double whammy' that can be tough for new businesses. If you aren't aware of these impending tax bills, and if you don't plan for them, they can be a shock and have a serious effect on the cashflow of your business. We believe it is vital that six months into your new business, at the very latest, we should prepare a simple tax plan for you so you have a general idea of how much tax will be payable and when. We can then programme the likely payments into your cashflow plans. This is far better than waiting until the following year to find out your tax commitments. Discount for new businesses Newly self-employed people or people in partnerships can also make voluntary payments of provisional tax during that first year of business and receive a 6.7% discount on the first year’s tax. Is your business affected by COVID-19? Generally, if you are late with your tax payments, you may incur late payment penalties and use of money interest. Recognising the impact of COVID-19, Inland Revenue have discretion to remit penalties and interest for tax payments that were due on or after 14 February 2020 up until 7 April 2024 (including provisional tax). These businesses should contact Inland Revenue as soon as they know they will not be able to pay on time. Inland Revenue can come to an arrangement on the understanding affected businesses still pay the tax they owe as soon as they can. Please let us know if this is an issue for you and we can engage with Inland Revenue on your behalf. The provisional tax system is complex. The attached guide outlines the rules.
