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Corporate Finance and Deal Advisory
We offer a dedicated team of experienced individuals with a focus on successfully executing transactions for corporates and financial institutions. We offer an integrated approach, with our corporate finance specialists working seamlessly with tax and other specialists to ensure that every angle is covered.
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Digital Risk
Grant Thornton offers solutions to the digital risk issues you are sure to face. Our skilled and experienced security team can helping by advising and consulting, giving you peace of mind, clear value for money and an enhanced ability to react to attacks.
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Technology Consulting
Motivating and assisting our clients to pursue, maintain and secure the benefits of digital solutions is at the core of our Digital Transformation teams' agenda and goals. We work with business leaders to deliver efficient digital strategies and operating models that provide new or enhanced capabilities.
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Economic Advisory
Our all-island Economics Advisory team combines expertise in economics and business with a wealth of experience across the public and private sectors.
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Forensic Accounting
We have a different way of doing business by delivering real insight through a combination of technical rigour, commercial experience and intuitive judgment. We take pride in delivering responsive and tailored solutions to all our clients, capitalising on the wealth of experience housed within our Belfast and wider Forensics team
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People and Change Consulting
The Grant Thornton People & Change Consulting practice works with clients on these issues as well as on all aspects of how they attract, retain, engage develop, deploy and lead their people.
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Restructuring
We work with a wide variety of clients and stakeholders such as high street banks, private equity funds, directors, government agencies and creditors to implement solutions which provide the best possible outcomes.
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Corporate and International Tax
Northern Ireland businesses face further challenges as they operate in the only part of the UK that has a land border with a country offering a lower tax rate.
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Employer Solutions
Our team specialises in remuneration and incentive planning and works closely with employers, shareholders and employees to ensure that business strategies are aligned and goals achieved in the most tax efficient, cost-effective manner.
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Entrepreneur and Private Client Taxes
Our team of experienced advisors are on hand to guide you through any decision or transaction ranging from the establishment of new business ventures, to realising value on exit, to succession planning and providing for loved ones.
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Global Mobility Services
Grant Thornton Ireland offer a different approach to managing global mobility. We have brought together specialists from our tax, global payroll, people and change and financial accounting teams across Ireland and Northern Ireland, while drawing on the knowledge and insights of our global network of over 143 offices of mobility professionals to provide you with a holistic approach to managing global mobility.
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Outsourced Payroll
Our outsourced service provides valued service to over 150 separate PAYE schemes. These ranging from 1 to 1000 employees, working for micro, SME and global employers. The service is supported by the integrated network of tax and global mobility teams and the wider Grant Thornton network delivering a seamless service. Experienced staff deliver a personal service built around your business needs.
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Tax Disputes and Investigations
Our Tax Disputes and Investigation team is made up of tax experts and former HMRC investigators who have years of experience in dealing with a variety of tax investigations. Our expertise and insight can guide you through all interactions, keeping your cost at a minimum while allowing you to continue with the day to day running of your business.
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VAT and Indirect Taxes
At Grant Thornton (NI) LLP, our team helps Northern Ireland businesses manage their UK and global indirect tax risks which, as transactional taxes, can quickly become big liabilities.
Key personal tax related announcements introduced in Budget 2015.
Personal savings allowance
The introduction of a new personal savings allowance from 6 April 2016 will allow a tax free allowance of £500 for higher rate taxpayers, and a generous £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers on interest generated from savings income. This new allowance is expected to benefit 95% of taxpayers, making them exempt from paying any tax on the interest element of their savings income.
Pensions savings
From 6 April 2016, individuals who already have an annuity will be able to effectively sell it on and be chargeable to income tax at their marginal rates, instead of paying tax of 55% on the cash lump sum. This is an extension to last year’s Budget announcements which provides greater freedom for individuals accessing their pension savings. This new announcement will benefit up to five million pensioners.
On a less encouraging note, from 6 April 2016, the lifetime allowance for pensions tax relief will reduce from
£1.25 million to £1 million, but will be indexed to increase by the rate of inflation from April 2018.
Individual Savings Account (ISA) flexibility
Following a technical consultation with ISA providers, the Government will introduce new rules in autumn 2015 which will provide greater freedom to individuals making savings into and drawings out of their ISA account. Individuals will be able to make drawings out of their cash ISA account and make deposits back into their account without losing their ISA tax benefits, as long as the money is deposited within the same financial year up to the maximum limit, which is £15,240 in 2015/16.
Help to buy ISA
In order to help first time buyers save for a deposit, the Government will introduce a Help to Buy ISA from Autumn 2015. The Help to Buy ISA effectively provides a 25% top-up for first time buyers, and is undoubtedly welcome news to aspiring homeowners. The top-up is capped at £3,000 (for those saving £12,000). Beneficially, the help to buy ISA is per person and not per property, therefore a couple can each have the ISA and take advantage of a double uplift.
Unfortunately, the measure fails to deal with the current housing shortage and the lack of supply of suitable housing. Therefore, we are concerned the boost provided through these measures could result in higher demand and ultimately lead to higher house prices.