Monthly GDP fell by 0.1% in May after growth of 0.2% in April, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), suggesting the economy remains on shaky ground. In the three months to May 2023, GDP has “shown no growth” when compared with the three months to February, the ONS added. The services sector also … Continued
R&D tax relief crackdown ‘deterring genuine claims’
The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) is warning that HMRC’s efforts to tackle abuse of the R&D tax relief system are resulting in them rejecting legitimate claims and stone-walling others. In a letter to HMRC, the CIOT wrote that the ‘volume compliance’ approach adopted by the tax authority since the second half of 2022 does … Continued
LITRG warns of ineffective tax refund companies
Tax specialists at the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) have warned taxpayers who use third-party companies to claim tax refunds from HMRC to do so cautiously. Although taxpayers can apply for a refund directly from the Government, some prefer to use agents to do so on their behalf. If HMRC decides at a later … Continued
Self-assessment threshold increases to £150,000
HMRC has revealed that the self-assessment threshold for PAYE taxpayers will increase from £100,000 to £150,000 for the 2023/24 tax year. Currently, individuals taxed through PAYE only are legally required to file a self-assessment tax return if they make more than £100,000 annually. The threshold change means that fewer taxpayers will need to submit their … Continued
Employee share schemes under review
The Government is running a call for evidence on how to simplify and widen accessibility to employee share schemes. The Treasury is inviting comments on ‘save as you earn’ (SAYE), the company share option plan (CSOP) and the share incentive plan (SIP) until 25 August 2023. Through the call for evidence, ministers aim to improve … Continued
Tax return helpline to close for three months
The self-assessment telephone helpline has been closed by HMRC for the entirety of summer. Taxpayers hoping to contact HMRC for help with their self-assessment will now have to use digital services until 4 September 2023. During this time, HMRC says it will trial prioritising online guidance, digital assistance and web chat. According to HMRC, the … Continued
Government extends VAT exemption for pharmacists
The VAT exemption for pharmacists has been extended to medical services carried out by supervised, non-registered staff as of 1 May. Prior to the measure, the exemption only applied to medical services carried out by registered health professionals. The new zero-rating rules now mean that all staff can provide their service exempt from VAT under … Continued
ICAEW calls MTD quarterly reporting “disproportionate”
The Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales (ICAEW) is urging HMRC to rethink the quarterly reporting model for Making Tax Digital for income tax self-assessment (MTD for ITSA). In a letter to HMRC, the representative body is asking the Government to review the quarterly reporting process for the upcoming extension of MTD. According … Continued
Tax take soars by almost 10%
Recent HMRC data shows that the Treasury collected £786.6 billion in taxes in 2022/23 – a 9.9% increase on last year’s total of £715.3bn. Receipts from income tax, capital gains tax and National Insurance contributions hit £47bn – accounting for over half (57%) of the total tax take. Meanwhile, property price increases mean more families … Continued
Government launches cryptoassets consultation
The Government has launched a consultation to modify the tax treatment of cryptoassets used in decentralised finance (DeFi) lending and staking transactions. The law currently treats many of these transactions as disposals for tax purposes. This usually triggers a capital gains tax (CGT) charge, despite the owner still having an economic interest in the asset. … Continued