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How to create a marketing plan for your small business - build a brand, target customers and set prices that will maximise sales.

The internet has transformed business marketing. No matter what you do, the internet is likely to be at the heart of your marketing strategy.

Social media is firmly established as a marketing tool. Having a presence opens up new lines of communication with existing and potential customers.

Good advertising puts the right marketing message in front of the right people at the right time, raising awareness of your business.

Customer care is at the heart of all successful companies. It can help you develop customer loyalty and improve relationships with your customers.

Sales bring in the money that enables your business to survive and grow. Your sales strategy will be driven by your sales objectives.

Market research exists to guide your business decisions by giving you insight into your market, competitors, products, marketing and your customers.

Exhibitions and events are valuable for businesses because they allow face-to-face communication and offer opportunities for networking.

Taxpayers get longer to top up their NI contributions

14 March 2023

The government is extending the 5 April deadline to pay voluntary NICs to 31 July this year after a surge of interest from taxpayers.

Taxpayers will now have until 31 July 2023 to make voluntary National Insurance contributions (NICs) going back to April 2006.

From April 2013, the government permitted individuals to retrospectively build their April 2006 to April 2016 NICs record through voluntary contributions as part of transitional arrangements introduced alongside the new State Pension.

The deadline for voluntary contributions was originally set for 5 April 2023. However, it seems that HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have experienced a recent surge in customer enquiries about NI payments. To ensure customers do not miss out, the government has extended the 5 April deadline to pay voluntary NICs to 31 July this year. This applies to years that would otherwise have been out of time to pay, up to and including the 2016/17 tax year. All voluntary NICs payments will be accepted at the existing 2022/23 rates until 31 July.

How to maximise your state pension

Making voluntary NI contributions for previous tax years can allow individuals to fill gaps in their NI contributions history and potentially boost their state pension.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) says: "To qualify for the maximum new state pension (received by those retiring on or after 6 April 2016) a person must have 35 qualifying years of NI contributions. For part payment of the new state pension a person must have contributed for at least ten years. For those whose NI record started before 6 April 2016, different rules may apply; the number of required years of NI contributions/credits to obtain the full state pension may be higher. If individuals have not contributed enough prior to reaching state pension age, they may not be able to claim state pension, or receive the full state pension amount."

Taxpayers can check their NI record on the government website.

Written by Rachel Miller.

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