Paul Webb, tax partner at Robert James Partnership, rounds-up the key measures affecting small businesses in this year's budget.
This was such a boring budget and did nothing to address the concerns that SMEs have. These days utility bills are increasing, staff wages are going up, we pay more fuel and road duty on cars. And now, corporation tax is being increased - right at the level which hits smaller businesses the hardest. Other than announcing measures like the female entrepreneurs fund and enhancing the relief available on R&D tax credits, this was not a good budget for SMEs.
Income shifting postponed for further consultation
The postponement of legislation relating to income shifting is probably the biggest announcement to come out of the budget. As with the corporation tax increase for SMEs highlighted below, it wasn't mentioned in the main speech. Personally, I think this is because the announcement of the delay and a further consultation period represented a climb down following draft legislation introduced after the Revenue lost the Arctic Systems case.
Join our social media discussion group and share your Twitter username with other BusinessZone members. 
We're putting together a list of business owners' must-haves. 
Dragons' Den judges James Caan and Deborah Meaden and social entrepreneur Karen Darby are some of the successful entrepreneurs who feature in our exclusive videos.