Latest on COVID restrictions in England

The government has published its latest guidance on COVID restrictions and specifically on the new phase we have entered of ‘Living with COVID-19’. This has effectively moved the country into a new phase of living with COVID and marked the end of legal restrictions in England (since 24 February). 

These changes include the removal of the legal requirement to self-isolate although adults and children who test positive continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people in line with the existing rules. There are different timescales for the removal of restrictions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The other main changes that have taken or will take effect are as follows:

  • No longer asking fully vaccinated close contacts and those under the age of 18 to test daily for 7 days and removing the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate.
  • The end of self-isolation support payments and national funding for practical support. The medicine delivery service will no longer be available. People who were instructed to self-isolate before 24 February can still claim support payments until early April.
  • The revoking of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 3) Regulations. Local authorities will continue to manage local outbreaks of COVID-19 in high-risk settings as they do with other infectious diseases.
  • From 24 March, the COVID-19 provisions within Statutory Sick Pay and Employment and Support Allowance regulations will end. 
  • From 1 April, the government will update guidance setting out the ongoing steps that people with COVID-19 should take to minimise contact with other people.
Source: HM Revenue & Customs Tue, 01 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100

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Breaking even – checking the numbers

In previous newsfeeds we have described how you can calculate the level of turnover you need to create in order to meet all your costs whether they be fixed costs (rent, rates etc.,) or variable costs (goods you need to buy to convert into goods you sell).

For example, if your fixed costs are £50,000 per annum and your variable costs are 25% of your turnover, the annual turnover you need to breakeven will be £200,000. The formula is:

Annual fixed costs divided by 25 (the gross profit)

Bereavement Support Payment

The amount of Bereavement Support Payment you can claim will depend on your relationship to the person who died and when you make your claim.

Your payments will be paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.

If you were married or in a registered civil partnership with the person who died

If you were receiving Child Benefit when your partner died (or did not get it but were entitled to it), you will get the higher rate.

This is made up of:

a first payment of £3,500;

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In these circumstances, HMRC can take the view that unless the landlord charges a full market rent for a property and imposes normal market lease conditions, it is unlikely that the expenses of the property are

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