SME Finances Under Pressure: Study Reveals Alarming Figures
- Over 550,000 SMEs struggle with tax bills
- Rising cost-of-living adds pressure
- 10% of UK’s 5.5 million SMEs have struggled in the past 10 years
- Average bill value: £45k, 10% with bills over £100k
- Corporation tax and VAT are main issues
- 24% may dismiss staff, 30% seek investors, 26% look for new ones
- 29% consider payment plan with HMRC, 21% borrow from family/friends
- Premium Credit Specialist Lending suggests spreading costs to avoid fines
A study by Premium Credit reveals that over 550,000 small and medium-sized businesses are struggling to pay tax bills, with the cost-of-living crisis exacerbating the issue. The research found that corporation tax and VAT are the main concerns for these companies. To cope, some may consider dismissing staff or seeking new investors. Premium Credit Specialist Lending suggests spreading costs to avoid fines.
Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information based on research conducted by Premium Credit, cites specific statistics, and offers expert commentary from the company’s chief commercial officer. It discusses the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on small and medium-sized businesses and their tax obligations. The article is focused on the main topic without any significant digressions or irrelevant details.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about small and medium-sized businesses struggling with tax payments due to rising costs and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. It also offers some insights into potential solutions for companies facing these issues. However, it could benefit from more in-depth analysis or discussion on the broader economic implications of this trend.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: SMEs struggling to pay tax bills may impact HMRC’s revenue and potentially lead to fines, affecting their financial situation.
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses in paying tax bills, which can affect government revenue and potentially lead to fines. This has implications for the financial sector as well as individual companies.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article.
