Dear Miss Meakin,

Welcome to the latest edition of the FPB’s eNewsletter!

The taxman is at it again, giving with one hand and taking with the other.

This week, we look at the recent changes to tax, including Inheritance Tax and how to avoid it. We also take a closer look at what the new penalty regime for incorrect tax returns will mean for business owners.

Claw some of that money back by checking that your business rates are correct. See how much you could save by taking advantage of our free appraisals.* *Available to full members.

If you fancy some FREE PUBLICITY for your company in this newsletter, all you have to do is join our growing ranks of hot tips contributors. Click here to find out more.

Fighting your corner 

Advertise with the FPB

Inheritance Tax and how to avoid it 

The rules on Inheritance Tax have changed, as announced in the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report. But what are the changes and who do they affect? And what can you do to protect your business assets from the Taxman?

In the second follow-up to our recent seminar entitled Love, Death and Taxes, Peter Houghton, a specialist in trust tax and estates at Mace & Jones, explains how to protect your finances and business interests through the preparation of a tax-efficient will.

We are petitioning the Chancellor to ease the tax burden on small businesses following the announcements in his Pre-Budget Report. Sign our petition and let your views be known!

Did you know that you could place a member offer in two issues of this newsletter for as little as £95*? With more than 15,500 subscribers, your business can reach a massive potential audience for a minimal outlay. To find out more, click here.                                                              *Member rate.

The FPB is urging the Government to rethink its tax regime to help smaller firms compete on a level playing field with big businesses. It follows a statement by the Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR), the Rt Hon John Hutton MP, in which he argued that recent tax changes had proved competitive on an international scale.

The FPB is advising its members to shop around to find the best deals for their utilities, following research carried out for the gas and electricity watchdog energywatch, which revealed that many small businesses are dissatisfied with the six big electricity suppliers.

Businesses forced to relocate as part of the Edgar Street Grid (ESG) development must be given adequate compensation, says the FPB, following Herefordshire County Council's concession that firms in the city centre will be compulsorily purchased.