Author Archives: Chelle Thirsk

Back in July 1991 Chelle joined CGA and, today, as owner and Director, Chelle has helped shape CGA into a dynamic, paperless accountancy service that focuses on offering more: more ideas, more good advice, more care and attention. Responsible for the direction of CGA, Chelle brings an extra layer of consulting expertise across the challenges of running your own business and getting the balance and numbers right. Unofficially known as the ‘Head of Non-compliance’, Chelle can add pounds to your bottom line, over and above the more usual tax and accounting compliancy that comes as standard. Passionate about horse racing and Rugby Union, Chelle inhabits the Knavesmire and Twickenham, enjoys a good Zumba party and Fight Fit, as well as regular eye watering challenges ticked off her bucket list, including jumping out of planes, zorbing and aerial assault courses. If Chelle has to relax it’s with a good bottle of wine and and a thriller.

Joint Finances and Gifting – Whose Money Is It Anyway?

Ask any couple whose money it is, and you’ll probably get three answers: For day-to-day life, that works fine. But when it comes to Inheritance Tax, HMRC is far less romantic — they like things labelled neatly as “his” or “hers.” Whose account does the gift come from? For IHT purposes, the name on the […]

The Administrator’s Survival Guide

When there’s no will, the person handling the estate is called the Administrator.Their job: sort the mess, stay sane, and avoid personal liability. Step 1: Establish Your Right to Act Only certain relatives can apply for Letters of Administration — following the same order as the intestacy rules.If more than one person qualifies, they can […]

The Trickle-Down Explained

When the law divides an estate, it flows down the family tree like water — each generation taking its share, unless that branch has died out, in which case the share trickles down further. Basic Principle: “Per Stirpes” If a child of the deceased has already died, their own children inherit that child’s share. Example: […]

When There’s No Will

When there’s no will, the estate is distributed under the Rules of Intestacy — a set of laws last updated by people who clearly hadn’t spent Christmas with your family. How It Works The estate passes in a fixed order: Who Gets Nothing Real-World Chaos Imagine David dies leaving his partner of 25 years, Sue. […]

The Case of the Missing Will

If you think having a will automatically means you’ll avoid family chaos — think again. A will only helps if someone can actually find it. And since there’s no official “will database” in the UK, the search can quickly turn into a legal version of hide-and-seek. Step 1: The DIY Detective Work Start simple. Check: […]

HMRC’s Got Their Binoculars Out – And They’re Pointed at Your Expenses

HMRC’s digital blitz is catching sloppy expense claims—get “wholly & exclusively” right, split mixed-use costs, keep records… or expect a costly nudge. ⚠️ Quick Heads-Up: HMRC’s new digital crackdown pulled in £27m last year by catching dodgy expense claims. They’re now going after sole traders, partners, and landlords who: Keep solid records, be consistent, and […]