Cheshire Independent Issue 197

FEBRUARY 2025 18 Independent BUSINESS MORE than 4,400 peo- ple avoided peeling the sprouts to file their tax return online on Christ- mas Day, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed. In total, 40,072 of us – as well as spending the three- day holiday indulging in usual Christmas pastimes of eating, drinking and watching festive favourites on the TV – found time to go online and wrap up our 2023 to 2024 tax return, well ahead of the January 31 deadline. Those who have already submitted their tax return online have until January 31 to pay the tax they owe. The quickest and easiest way to pay a self-assessment tax bill is via the HMRC app. For a full list of ways to pay, visit GOV.UK STOCKPORT headquar- tered accounting and busi- ness advisory firmHURST has bolstered its team with three new arrivals. Ed Craddock and Ammar Ysak have joined its business services team as an audit semi-senior and associate respectively. Libby Auld has joined the tax teamas a senior. The trio are the latest addi- tions to the firm’ ranks as it continues to expand. Last yar it moved its head office to a flagship development in Stockport to accommodate its growing team. HURST’s relocation to 3 Stockport Exchange, where it occupies 11,000sq ft, has paved the way for the firm to increase from 120 staff to around 170 over the next few years. Ed graduated in mathemat- ics and statistics at the Uni- versity of Liverpool in 2021 with first-class honours. He previously worked as a junior auditor and corporate assis- tant at Mazars. Ammar, who graduated in business finance and man- agement at the University of East Anglia in 2021, worked at Azets before continuing his training at Thompson Wright in Manchester. Libby, who has more than 10 years’ experience in the fields of personal and corpo- rate tax, has joined HURST from Xeinadin Manchester, where she managed a port- folio of clients. Before that she worked at Bennett Verby, TWJ Partnership and Simp- son Burgess Nash. Simon Brownbill, part- ner and director of practice development at HURST, said: “Each of our latest arrivals brings skills and experiences that will strengthen our exist- ing service offering and sup- port the continued growth of our practice. “Their fresh perspectives and enthusiasmwill play a key role in helping us stay ahead in “As a local to Hale, I’ve been a regular customer of Riva’s over the years so this is an especially exciting project to take on.” Other recent investments at the hands of Patrick include new nightlife sensa- tions, AMOK, on the island of Palma De Mallorca, which opened its first phase in sum- mer 2024. This year, the group is ear- marked to take over Cheshire pub favourite, The Swan with Two Knicks, and re-purchase Wilmslow’s Cheshire Smoke- house, which was previously in the brand’s portfolio before being sold internally. PEOPLE selling unwanted items online can continue to do so with confidence and without any new tax obligations, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed. The reminder comes as online platforms start shar- ing sales data with HMRC from January 2025 – a new process that, when announced last year, generated inaccu- rate claims that a new tax was being introduced. But whether selling last year’s festive jumper, get- ting some money back for a child’s outgrown baby clothes, or quietly offload- ing an unwanted Christmas present or two – absolutely nothing has changed for online sellers. For anyone who is unsure if their additional income could be taxable just search ‘online platform income’ on GOV.UK to use HMRC’s free online tool or download the HMRC app and go to the ‘news’ section under the ‘communica- tion’ tab for more information. Angela MacDona ld , HMRC’s second permanent secretary and deputy chief executive officer, said: “We cannot be clearer – if you are not trading and just occa- sionally sell unwanted items online – there is no tax due. “As has always been the case, some people who are trading through websites or selling services online may need to be paying tax and reg- istering for self assessment. The new reporting require- ments for digital platforms came into effect at the start of 2024. It is not a new tax and whether people are sell- ing personal items on eBay, renting homes out on Air- bnb or delivering takeaways through Just Eat – no tax rules have changed. Those who sold at least 30 items or earned roughly £1,700 (equivalent to ¤ 2,000), or provided a paid-for service, on a website or app in 2024 will be contacted by the dig- ital platform in January to say their sales data and some personal information will be sent to HMRC due to new legal obligations. The sharing of sales data does not automatically mean the individual needs to com- plete a tax return. However, those who may need to reg- ister for self assessment and pay tax, include those who: • buy goods for resale or make goods with the intention of selling them for a profit • offer a service through a digital platform – such as being a delivery driver or letting out a holiday home through a website • generate a total income from trading or providing services online of more than £1,000 before deducting expenses in any tax year HMRC says it is working alongside online platforms to ensure sellers receive clear guidance on their tax responsibilities. Channel is Mason Heys as business development man- ager. Mason brings eight years of financial services experience with him having worked at Create Finance and Stonebridge in addition to other institutions. A trio of new faces Appointments: Ed Craddock and Libby Auld an ever-evolving marketplace, and we are excited to welcome them to our team.” The firm focuses on advising entrepreneurial owner-managed businesses across all sectors. Clients include Kinaxia Logistics, M&I Materials, Beechfield Brands, Duerr’s, Oliver Valves, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Kro- nes UK, Creamline Dair- ies, Scapa Group and Hyde Group. Investment group buys celebs’ favourite Exciting project: Recardo Patrick TOP Hale bar and res- taurant Riva has been acquired by local invest- ment business Dunham Massey Investment Group. The sale, for an undisclosed sum, comes after a successful five years in operation under private owners. Its new owners have unveiled plans to develop the “well-loved concept” further, with minimal changes to the restaurant’s existing structure. Riva will remain under the same name with the same Michelin-star trained head chef, Daniel Kelly, but will now increase its opening to seven days a week, from five, and will offer a new arti- san breakfast. The new owners say Riva’s “iconic roast dinners” will stay put in its new phase, and the live entertainment will also remain, with an upgrade. The modern British restau- rant, which seats around 65 people, has proven popular with locals including football and reality TV stars. Dunham Massey Invest- ment Group currently oper- ates an expanding portfolio of hospitality andmanufacturing businesses in the UK, manag- ing more than £140million of assets across hospitality, engi- neering and manufacturing. Recardo Patrick, share- holder and chairman of Dun- ham Massey Investment Group, said: “The acquisition of Riva is the perfect way to begin 2025, as we’ve seen hos- pitality struggle throughout the past year, both regionally and nationally. “With the foray of restaurant closures that have happened recently, this comes as good news for the hospitality indus- try in Greater Manchester. “This next phase of Riva will be bigger and better than ever before. It is a big goal of ours to maintain the essence of Riva, that so many guests have loved. No change for online sellers A taxing time Together relaunches Premier proposition CHEADLE based prop- erty lender Together has announced the appoint- ment of Scott Clay to oversee the relaunch of a specialist division to cater for the funding needs of select high net worth (HNW) clients. Together Premier will spe- cialise in large, complex and usually time-sensitive resi- dential property mortgages as well as bridging loans. Scott has returned to the business as director of Pre- mier which will provide at concierge service for clients with significant levels of pri- vate wealth. He said: “It’s brilliant to be re-joining the team at Together right now and lead- ing a channel that I have a huge amount of passion for. “We are seeing increased optimism from high net worth customers as individu- als continue to look to invest and diversify their prop- erty portfolios. “Together Premier custom- ers are ambitious, entrepre- neurial, and in many cases self-employed founders of successful businesses. They often have complex com- pany structures and multi- ple income sources, which require a personal approach when assessing net worth and lending appetite.” Joining Scott in the relaunch of the Premier