- "In the last 20 years our business has changed considerably…and as the focus of our business has changed, Bird Luckin have moved with us."
Alex Tanner, George Tanner (Shalford) Ltd - "Bird Luckin has looked after us incredibly well for over 60 years, they are pro-active and innovational - meeting all our needs to help us achieve our aims."
Richard Stubbings, Cliffords Limited - "I can honestly say that Bird Luckin are the best firm of accountants and auditors I have ever dealt with - and I don't say that lightly!"
Colin Webb, Walthamstow Stadium - "It's important for us to know that we will always be able to contact the right people to give us the right advice and support."
Jane Bennett, Bennetts Funeral Directors - "Although we deal mainly with one Partner … we also know that if we need to contact someone else who is a specialist in another area, we can get the advice we need quickly and easily"
Jeremy Ruggles, J.S. Wright & Sons Ltd - "Bird Luckin got us to a stage which would have taken us months - if not years - to reach on our own, and they got us there in a matter of weeks"
Matthew Sullivan, SNC Ltd - "You can be a good accountant, but if you don't have an understanding of the industry it can be very difficult. "There are two or three people we have regular contact with at Bird Luckin who know our business well, and it makes a difference.""
Robert Church, W A Church (Bures) Ltd - "The work which Bird Luckin has done for Boddingtons over the past few months has helped shape our future direction for the better."
John Warner, Chief Executive, Boddingtons Ltd - "Bird Luckin has acted for us since our inception 10 years ago. They have a very 'can do' yet highly professional attitude - we are very appreciative of their support and advice over the years."
Marlon Fox, Outlook Property Ltd
The tax treatment of mobile phones and computers
In 1991, the Conservative Government introduced a taxable benefit of £200 on employees who used their business mobile telephones for private calls. In those days, mobile phones were the size of bricks and only a few highly paid employees carried them. By the end of the 1990s, mobiles had reduced to a more practical size, were increasingly ubiquitous and had become a business necessity.
Under Labour, Chancellor Gordon Brown abolished the £200 taxable benefit, and since 1999 employers have been able to provide any number of mobile phones to their employees completely tax-free. Even if an employee's spouse or child uses the phone, the employer can pick up the phone bill with no liability to tax.
However, according to the government the tax break was abused, so as of 6 April 2006, employers have been able to provide only one tax-free mobile phone per employee, and that phone cannot be given to a member of the employee's family.
The changes did not affect mobile phones provided before 6 April 2006.
Top-up cards
Regarding the tax treatment of phone top-up cards and other phone related vouchers, where an employer gives employees top-up cards to pay for calls on their business provided mobiles, the employee is taxed on the value of those vouchers. This tax charge was removed on 6 April 2006 if the mobile itself is tax-free.
Computer equipment
The Government also withdrew the tax-free status of computer equipment lent to employees. Although this scheme had been viewed as an excellent way to improve workers' computing skills and to encourage home-learning generally, the Government felt it had been abused.
Since 6 April 2006 businesses have no longer been able to provide any more computers to their employees to be used for non-business purposes. Any computer equipment loaned to employees before 5 April 2006 was not taxed, but computers provided to employees under agreements made after 5 April 2006 are taxed as a benefit-in-kind.