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Lucinda Watkinson

Lucinda Watkinson

Lucinda is our Head of Accounting and has been helping startups and small businesses with their accounting for over 12 years. Since Lucinda joined the Crunch team in August 2015, she’s worked tirelessly to ensure our industry-leading accounting processes are streamlined and accurate.

Accreditations & Qualifications

  • Fully qualified FCCA accredited accountant
Lucinda Watkinson

Name

Lucinda Watkinson

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Lucinda Watkinson

HMRC & Companies House late filing & payment penalties for 2023/24, image of an hourglass beside money | Crunch
Tax

How to stay on top of the deadlines for your tax filings as a freelancer, contractor or small business in the UK.

Subcontracting abroad
Tax

Small businesses and freelancers alike need to wise up to the tax implications of subcontracting to workers abroad. We explore.

Volunteers
Tax

We all agree that donating to a charity is good for everyone but did you know that there are tax-efficient benefits to donating? We take a look.

Managing business expenses: How to record, store and back-up your receipts, image of someone at a laptop | Crunch
Tax

Expenses are great. By claiming all your allowable expenses, you reduce your company profits, meaning less tax to pay on them. Here's what to do.

Tax rates, thresholds, and allowances, image of a pound coin | Crunch
Tax

There are many different tax rates in the UK affecting both individuals and businesses - we've pulled them all together so you can keep on top of them.

Can I make pension contributions through my limited company?
Tax

Payment on account is not something that is widely known about among people who have never been part of the Self Assessment system. Learn more now!

What is a P11d - Crunch. Image of a woman on a laptop
Tax

Confused by P11D forms? Unsure whether you need to file one? Want to avoid the common mistakes? Read our articles and you'll be an expert in no time.

How to claim business expenses you paid for personally (image of a man using an ipad).
Tax

If you pay for something for your business with your own money don't forget to claim it back as a business expense, we show you how.

New tax year new you - Crunch - image of fireworks
Tax

Want to make this tax year the most profitable yet? Our top financial resolutions and guidance will set you on the course to success.

Freelancing on the side, image of a woman doing taxes | Crunch
Tax

Here's how to make sure you're paying the right amount of tax when deciding to freelance on the side, and how to stay in HMRC's good books!|Here's how to make sure you're paying the right amount of tax when deciding to freelance on the side, and how to stay in HMRC's good books.

Crunch
Tax

Thinking about contracting in Europe or further afield? Learn all about your tax liabilities and how to maximise your take home pay working abroad.

What is a director’s loan account, and what are the tax implications? | A freelancer hard at work | Crunch
Tax

This article will cover exactly what a director’s loan is, the HMRC rules, and your tax obligations. So you'll avoid any problems or unexpected tax bills.

VAT registration and reporting explained, image of a man working out tax on a calculator | Crunch
Tax

Although the ins & outs may be tricky to grasp for first-timers, the sooner you get your head around the HMRC VAT system the sooner you can benefit from it.

Image of UK parliament with a Union Jack
News and opinion

Find out how the Spring Statement 2023, made by Jeremy Hunt, will affect you or your business

Dividends - What Are They and What Taxes Do I Pay on Them? Image of someone working on a tablet | Crunch
Tax

Dividends are payments made to company shareholders from company profits after corporation tax. If you run a ltd company they can be really tax-efficient.

How much should I take as a salary? British pound coins | Crunch
Tax

What's the most tax-efficient salary to take as a company director? Here are the benefits of taking a high or a low salary, without the jargon.

Business mileage rates – who can claim and how much does HMRC allow? Image of a driver on a dark night | Crunch
Tax

When you are self-employed, or director of your own Limited Company, it can be baffling to know how to claim back business mileage.

Is my contract inside our outside IR5 - Crunch - image of a man looking at papers
Tax

If HMRC decide your contract is inside IR35, it can be a costly and time consuming. We look at the best ways to ensure you're not caught out.

Self Assessment: What happens if I miss the deadline?, image of coins on a table | Crunch
Tax

If you don’t file your Self Assessment and pay any tax due by the deadline you’ll face fines – and potential extra penalties. Here's all the info.

A tattooed freelancer doing their taxes
Tax

We take a closer look at how the new Flat Rate VAT scheme and the Limited Cost Trader test will affect you if you’re a VAT registered small business.

Company year end accounts checklist for limited companies, image of a woman typing at laptop | Crunch
Tax

A company year end can be a daunting undertaking for first-time limited company directors. However it needn't be the end of the world. Here's what you need to know to get your year end accounts sorted.

Piggybank surrounded by leaves.
News and opinion

Find out the details on the Autumn statement 2022 and the whole raft of changes affecting individuals (employees, directors and self-employed) and businesses.

Sole Trader vs Limited company or umbrella - what's best. Image of a team of people working on a project | Crunch
Becoming self-employed

There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach, particularly when it comes to tax issues. Here's what you need to know!

Crunch
Tax

Are you planning on hosting a summer party for your employees this year? We look at the exemptions that are awarded to you by HMRC and the rules.

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, delivered his annual Spring Statement on 23rd March 2022. 
News and opinion

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, delivered his annual Spring Statement on 23rd March 2022. Major changes to UK taxes and allowances are usually announced in the Autumn Budget.

Can’t repay a COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan? Here’s what to do, image of a shop reopening after COVID | Crunch
Personal finance

Professional support is available if repaying a COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan is proving tricky.

Follow-up inquiry into off-payroll working (IR35) rules launched, image of a GDPR stamp | Crunch
News and opinion

A new inquiry on the implementation of IR35 rules in the private sector, and how these rules are working in practice, has been launched.

Autumn Budget 2021: Everything you need to know, image of Chancellor Rishi Sunak | Crunch
News and opinion

Changes to the National Living Wage, dividend tax rates and Universal Credit were all announced in the Autumn Budget 2021.

Someone at a computer - MTD for ITSA pushed back to 2024 | Crunch
Tax

The government has delayed MTD for ITSA until 6 April 2024, with MTD for general partnerships postponed to 2025 in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Increase in National Insurance and Dividend Tax from April 2022, image of a nurse tending to an elderly person | Crunch
News and opinion

The UK government have announced an increase to National Insurance and Dividend Tax, which come into effect in 2020.

How to claim the fifth Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant, image of someone wiping a table | Crunch
Personal finance

HMRC will allow you to apply for the fifth and final COVID-19 Self-Employed Income Support Scheme grant (SEISS) in July 2021.

Crunch Free - Simple Online Bookkeeping
Tax

Freelancer, contractor, or small business owner looking to reduce outgoings and increase productivity? There’s a new solution - Crunch Free!

Crunch - Image of someone struggling with bookkeeping - The value of bookkeeping software for small businesses
Tax

Bookkeeping software may not be able to make bookkeeping fun, but it can definitely make it much easier. Here's a few ways how.

File you Self Assessment early - Crunch - image of hands and a calculator
Tax

Filing early will mean you avoid the mid-January dread felt by many freelancers & contractors, and enjoy a well-earned worry-free rest over the holidays.

Grants, loans and freebies: financial help for your business
Get paid

A handy side-effect of the entrepreneurial zeal sweeping the country is that there are now many schemes in place specifically to help small businesses.

Benefits of an online accountant - Crunch
Tax

Why use online accounting software when you can download an Excel spreadsheet for free? Well, the reasons are numerous.

What is a limited company? Crunch - image of people looking at computer screens
Limited company

Limited companies are governed by the regulations contained in the Companies Act 2006. All company registration & records are managed by Companies House.

Tax

So, you're a small business owner who is VAT registered. Therefore, you have to add VAT onto your invoices or the goods you sell.

Employment intermediaries rules: how to work out if you're affected, image of co-workers talking | Crunch
Employment law

When is a business classed as an intermediary, and what does this mean for intermediary businesses and contractors? Our article has the information you need to know about employment intermediaries, whether your business is one, and what is expected of you if you are.

Changes to off-payroll working (IR35) rules effective from April 2020
News and opinion

Get your small business insured in minutes. With our low premiums & low excesses, you’ll be amazed how affordable business insurance can be. Contact us now!

Someone registering as self-employed
Becoming self-employed

Planning on registering yourself as self-employed? Here are the boxes you need to tick to make sure you stay in HMRC’s good books.

What Is A Shareholders Agreement And Why You Need One. Image of a man reading a book in a cafe.
Becoming self-employed

If you are running a limited company without a shareholder's agreement, you'll want to read on about this important legal documentation and why you need it.

Contracts

We take a look at the pro's and con's of subcontracting and how it can be utilised by freelancers who need a bit more help with projects.

HMRC
Tax

HMRC's systems can be a little tricky to navigate, and you might not always know which department you're looking for. Thankfully, we've compiled a handy guide to point you in the right direction.

What is a zombie company - Crunch - image of a pound coin and a graph
Get paid

What are zombie companies and are they necessarily bad for business and the economy? We take a close look at them and what to do if you become one.

A meeting with a lawyer
Becoming self-employed

Freelancers need all the legal advice they can get. Here are six things you need to know (but might be afraid to ask your lawyer).

Non-compete clauses: Advice for freelancers and contractors, image of a business meeting | Crunch
Running a business

Some clients insert non-compete clauses into contracts, curbing your freedom to work. But you don’t need to be held captive. We explain without the jargon.

People discussing advisor concept
Running a business

What are your options when you are working as a contractor? We take a look at the pro's and con's of both agency work and finding clients directly.

Leasing through your limited company
Tax

What is leasing? And how do you go about leasing through your limited company? We explore your options and the pro's and con's.

Can I claim lunch expenses?
Tax

Claiming back money spent is one of the biggest perks of being self-employed - but you can't just claim everything. What's the deal with lunch expenses?

What sort of travel can I claim for as a limited company? | Crunch, image of someone on a bus
Tax

As a limited company, your travel expenses are generally allowed as a business expense where all of the following conditions apply you are responsible for paying the travel costs, the travel is necessary for your work. Find out more here!

Crunch
Tax

Find out what's actually on a Limited Company Statement of Financial Position (formerly referred to as a Balance Sheet), and why you might need one.

International currency
Get paid

If possible, you should always asked to be paid in your native currency, as an appropriate rate elsewhere can be a very low rate in the UK.

Tax

If you’re hoping to start the new tax year afresh, a full check-up like this will give you some sound knowledge of your business and what you could be achieving, leaving you confident and assured about the future.

Worker conducting some research, image of someone working at a desk | Crunch
Tax

If you've undertaken some R&D work, or even if you’ve worked for another company on a project, you could be due Research and Development tax relief.

Crunch
Running a business

From 6th April 2020, all new agency workers must be given a ‘key information document’ (KID) before agreeing terms with an employment business or agency.

RTI How-To: Filing for free with Basic PAYE Tools, image of someone working | Crunch
Tax

Do you find Real Time Information confusing? We show you how you can download PAYE tools and how to use them in order to make your filing simpler.

Holding a bank card and typing
Expenses

Recent changes to the way you claim travel and subsistence expenses have left small business owners bewildered. We take a close look.

Traffic
Expenses

HMRC set rules which will determine whether you have the right to claim travel and subsistence expenses whilst you work - check out our guide.

HMRC
Tax

In the 2014 Budget, the government revealed they were handing new powers to HMRC to recover debts. We look at the legislation and what this means.

Crunch
Tax

Received an email about a tax refund and not sure it's real? We'll teach you how to recognise and deal with HMRC tax refund email scams quickly and easily.

Why business owners love us

Rik

July 7, 2023

I have been with Crunch for many years. I wanted to express my appreciation for the exceptional services provided by Crunch. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and expertise have been invaluable in managing my finances effectively. Working with them has been a pleasure, and I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking reliable and knowledgeable accountants.

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Stew L

July 6, 2023

As someone that’s new to being self employed, Crunch made the whole set up process easy. From my initial call to understand the process, the check ins to see how I was doing to actually going ahead. Once I was set up the support team were amazing at answering the millions of questions I had and they’re always at the end of the phone or email if I need them. I even had a full 45 minute call to walk through the full system which was amazing.

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June 29, 2023

I really appreciated the way the Crunch staff member adjusted to my knowledge and confidence level - which was relatively low. She helped me work out what I needed to do and was incredibly helpful and patient as I went through my interminable snagging list. This has been my experience with Crunch staff in general - but when tasks build up, it's easy to put off direct contact - when, in fact, this makes all the difference.

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