Bringing last year’s accounts up to date is urgent for practices with a 31 March year-end. In an ideal world, financial records would be updated throughout the year, but they often fall to the bottom of the ‘to do’ list and end up being a big job for many practices at this time of year. AISMA Chairman Bob Senior outlines three key mistakes GPs make when filing accounts. Go to the Pulse website to find out more

Everywhere in general practice, the talk seems to be about federations. So, should your practice be involved or not? What are the pros and cons? AISMA accountant Deborah Wood pieces together the essential pattern to forming a federation. Download article

The new pension lifetime allowance of £1.25m will mean that generally, any GP retiring from the 1995 section of the NHS pension scheme with a pension of over £54,347 will have to pay a lifetime allowance (LTA) tax charge. AISMA accountant Faye Armstrong weighs up the pros and cons for GPs thinking of working fewer hours to reduce the risk of incurring the LTA pension tax charge. Go to the Pulse website to find out more.

With a 40% reduction in QOF points, an 11% rise in the value of the global sum and the MPIG being phased out over the next seven years and distributed among all practices, GPs will find major changes to their cash-flow throughout the year. AISMA accountant Melanie Thomas gives her advice on how seven different types of GP practice can navigate major changes in practice funding this year. Read more on the Pulse website

Tax inquiries into GPs remain relatively rare. Most GPs occasionally receive a request from HMRC for information on aspects such as an interest or pension payment and the accountant normally deals with these. GPs who experience these relatively passive inquiries should have little to fear provided they stay on top of their financial affairs. AISMA accountant Anthony Brand has some advice for GPs who run the risk of unintentionally falling prey to a tax inquiry. Read more

An up-to-date partnership agreement will ensure your practice is well placed to withstand potential upheaval. AISMA chairman Bob Senior has some advice for GPs on how to future-proof the practice against partnership changes. Go to the Pulse web site

Recent cases from AISMA accountants prove that specialist legal and accountancy advice always pays its way. Read more

The government’s decision on GP pay received wide-spread coverage in the GP press. Read the reaction from AISMA committee members Luke Bennett and Bob Senior as published on the Pulse website.

As the 2013/14 QOF year draws to a close, GPs are doing all they can to maximise their achievement, writes Bob Senior. Read Work hard and smart in the great QOF chase on the Pulse website

Should you make a partner pay for losses resulting from the poor implementation of a DES they were leading on? The local area team has refused to pay your practice income due from work on a DES. When you discuss what went wrong, it transpires one partner made critical mistakes. Another partner argues they should personally meet the costs lost. AISMA Chairman Bob Senior joins the debate. Read more.