Category: Tax

HMRC has had to return nearly half-a-billion pounds to taxpayers since April 2015, claims analysis of government statistics. Royal London reports the Revenue is overcharging on two areas of the tax system, and has had to refund £493 million as a result. Savers using the new pension freedoms are among the hardest hit, as income … Continued

Vulnerable and elderly people are being told they owe large amounts of tax which they can only pay off through digital vouchers and gift cards. HMRC has issued a warning over fraudsters who are preying on victims by cold-calling them and impersonating members of staff from the Revenue. Figures from Action Fraud, the national fraud … Continued

Disincorporation relief will not be extended beyond its 31 March 2018 expiry date. The relief was introduced in April 2013 in a bid to remove the tax burdens when small business owners want to change from a limited company to a sole trader or partnership. It allows companies to transfer certain assets, such as land, … Continued

.Small businesses breathed a collective sigh of relief when chancellor Philip Hammond resisted calls to lower the VAT registration threshold in Autumn Budget 2017. The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) made eight core recommendations for the government to clarify the VAT system ahead of the chancellor’s speech on 22 November 2017. It called the current … Continued

The Chancellor reminded us that the government are committed to increasing the personal allowance to £12,500 in 2020 and the higher rate tax threshold to £50,000.However,the personal allowance for 2018/19 was only increased in line with inflation to £11,850 and the higher rate threshold to £46,350. Note that up to 10% of the personal allowance … Continued

Chancellor Philip Hammond has delayed the decision to abolish class 2 national insurance contributions (NICs) by 12 months. The policy, which was first announced by Hammond’s predecessor George Osborne in 2016, would have seen class 2 NICs incorporated in reformed class 4 NICs from April 2018. Self-employed workers earning less than £6,025 in 2017/18 can … Continued

HMRC have advised that from 13 January 2018, they will no longer be accepting payments from personal credit cards. HMRC have accepted credit card payments from individuals, but from 13 January 2018, this method of payment will no longer be available. HMRC’s hand has been forced due to a change in EU law, which prohibits … Continued

Legislation providing for new corporate criminal offences of failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion is now in effect. The new offences, contained in the Criminal Finances Act 2017, will make businesses vicariously liable if an employee or other ‘associated’ person criminally facilitates tax evasion whilst acting in that capacity for the business, even … Continued

Over recent years, HMRC has adopted a zero-tolerance attitude towards offshore tax evasion. It has sent a clear message that the days of any safe havens for tax evaders are numbered. In December 2016, the government published draft legislation for Finance Bill 2017 and its response to the consultation document Tackling Offshore Tax Evasion: a … Continued

Landlords are increasing rent prices due to the recent introduction of buy-to-let tax regulations, according to a study. Estate agent Your Move analysed rental prices on around 20,000 properties and found the average rent in England and Wales rose by 3.1% in the past year to £874. The rise in rental prices can be attributed … Continued