Budget 2010: Summary for businesses
All of the key points relating to the Budget announcement on March 24th, as they affect local businesses

Small firms need training not advice, says Doug Richard
"Start up businesses can expect little help from the "extraordinarily ineffective" Government support on offer"

HMRC introduces failure to notify penalties across tax system
From 1 April 2010, the failure to notify penalty will cover 20 taxes, including Capital Gains Tax, and Corporation Tax

Taxman targets property amateurs, claim accountants
HMRC is looking at Land Registry details to try and identify people who have bought and sold properties without telling them

Budget date announced for 24 March
Predictions that VAT will remain at 17.5%, while Corporation Tax will stay at 21% and the planned increase to 22% will be delayed until 2011

Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay to rise from April
From 4 April 2010, the standard rate of SMP, SPP and SAP will increase from £123.06 per week to £124.88 per week

Less than a month left to claim backdated business rates
Less than a month left to claim backdated business rates

Business groups unite against National Insurance increase
The 1% increase to NICs, which will take effect from April 2011, should be scrapped according to the coalition