EQ Agriculture is recognised as one of the leading providers of accountancy, taxation and business advisory services in the Scottish rural sector.
Farming businesses, like all other businesses, require annual accounts and tax returns to be prepared. On the face of it, this would appear to be a straightforward task that any accountant can undertake.
In reality, farming businesses present unique issues when preparing accounts and tax returns, and the treatment of these issues can have a significant impact on the tax liabilities that result from their preparation. Our expertise can help make tax savings when it comes to considering:
The structure of a business, and the way in which the owners/participants are remunerated can alter the overall tax payable significantly. We encourage our clients to regularly consider whether their existing business structure is appropriate for their current and future plans.
“Asset rich, and cash poor” is how many people operating in the rural economy would describe themselves. Planning to mitigate capital gains tax on asset sales and transfers, and to mitigate inheritance tax on death, is essential to prevent large tax bills from interfering with plans for the future. Those involved in farming enjoy the benefits of specific reliefs against capital taxes, and we ensure that our clients’ affairs are organised in such a way as to take full advantage.
Our specialist agricultural knowledge, hand in hand with our taxation expertise, enables us to offer the best advice to our clients in this sector.
Forward budgeting and cashflow monitoring is central to modern farm business management and to maintaining or achieving stability. We can assist in this area by:
Our advisers regularly provide advice to clients who are considering some form of reorganisation, expansion or diversification to their farm business operations. We always find that our clients are glad to have taken our early advice, as proposed changes often have implications, practical or taxation, which they had not always, at first, considered. EQ Agriculture can provide advice on the following:
A business appraisal that is tailored to your specific needs and objectives will provide you with an analysis of current systems and help you to identify key areas for change. Typically, an appraisal will include:
An appraisal offers an opportunity for you to take a fresh look at your business, have it appraised, and consider alternative options, with the help of an accredited farm business adviser. EQ Agriculture’s adviser will develop an action plan to improve your business performance, and make the most of the resources available to you – business, environmental, and skills.
We act for many Scottish landed estates and enjoy working with those clients to address the range of issues involved in owning and managing an estate over generations.
Tax planning advice and strategic thinking underpin our involvement and we provide a personal service to estate owning families to ensure that we know and understand their business and their aims and aspirations for the future. Meeting our clients regularly and working closely with other professional advisors such as land agents and solicitors ensures a cohesive, comprehensive approach to the advice given.
We have clients involved in wind, hydro, solar, anaerobic digestion and biomass projects, and understand the key issues pertaining to each. We also work with manufacturers of green products and those looking at innovative new technologies.
Creating the appropriate structure through which to develop or operate a renewable energy project is critical, and there are practical and taxation issues to consider when doing so. Each situation should be assessed on the circumstances of those involved, the risks, the capital requirements, and the likely income streams. The wrong structure may give rise to significant unnecessary capital tax liabilities. Professional advice at an early stage is essential to avoid the pitfalls.
Our team is well placed to advise clients and prospects on all of the above issues.
EQ are delighted to be recognised as Gold Partners with cloud farm financial management provider – Figured.
The software integrates with the UK’s market leading cloud accounting software package, Xero and allows businesses and their advisors to monitor and manage their operations using real time financial information. Figured allows users to see all financial, stock and crop information in one place. It can track crop and livestock movements and provides farm budgeting and forecasting functionality that works hand in hand with Xero.
We are already using Figured with clients and our Gold Partner status demonstrates our expertise and commitment to using Figured to help clients manage their farm finances.
We are always on the lookout for enthusiastic members of the agriculture community who want to remain involved in farming but are keen to learn new skills.
Not only are we looking for people taking their first steps towards a career in rural business, but we would be delighted to hear from those with experience, ranging from the newly qualified to those with considerable accountancy and taxation expertise.
EQ have achieved extraordinary growth in the rural sector over the last few years, and we believe we can offer exciting and fresh opportunities to those looking for a new challenge. We provide an excellent training package and with our knowledge sharing culture, all staff are encouraged to actively help and support one another wherever possible.
If you have a passion for all things agriculture and want to make a real difference to the agriculture community then apply to join our team here.
I've been impressed with EQ's specialist agriculture and tax knowledge, which are relevant to my businesses. Their people are easy to communicate with and explain everything clearly. The diverse nature of my business activities means that various unconnected issues need to be considered, but EQ are able to see the whole picture and advise accordingly.
Duncan Hunter D & I Hunter, Hunter Holiday Cottages, Kintyre Country Homes Ltd
EQ were recommended to us a number of years ago and we certainly have no regrets moving to them. Work is carried out efficiently, professionally and to a very high standard. We are happy in the knowledge that EQ will always do their best to look after our business and drive it forward. Anyone in the farming industry looking for excellent customer service should look no further.
J & I Wilson Carskerdo Farm
I started to deal with EQ following their merger with Carters in 2015. To date I have been very impressed by the service provided by EQ. They combine an in depth knowledge of the agricultural sector with proactive tax planning. I have found their input to be extremely useful in relation to managing my finances and helping me realise my financial objectives.
Alastair Peddie Messrs A B Peddie
I deal with Mark Wilken and Scott Greig, who are both specialists in the agricultural sector and take a genuine interest in the success of my business and family’s wider financial objectives. They understand farming and I very much value their advice.
Frank W Niven Frank Niven Farms
Since joining EQ Accountants back in 2007, as a farming business we have built up a great relationship with EQ. We value their advice and support and have found them to be very approachable, have in depth knowledge of the agricultural industry, trustworthy and reliable, something which we value very highly. Their knowledge and experience has helped us diversify into a haulage company and a variety of wind renewable projects. We look forward to building our business to the next level with their help in the years to come.
The Allan Family Melrose Farms
The summer agricultural show season this year has been fantastic, and a real celebration of the best of Scottish farming. Come rain or shine, our EQ Agriculture team enjoyed meeting with clients and ... more
From 6 April 2023, HMRC implemented reforms to the basis period method of assessment which will affect all sole traders, partnerships and LLPs that currently do not prepare their annual accounts to a ... more
Agriculture News – Winter 2023
Agriculture News - Autumn 2023
Agriculture News - Summer 2023
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