The Treasury is being urged to consider a late U-turn on introducing the National Insurance contributions (NICs) increase next month to boost apprenticeships. All NICs rates will increase by 1.25% from April 2022 to help fund the development of the new health-and-social-care levy, which kicks in from April 2023. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) … Continued
HMRC eyes reform of stamp taxes and multiple dwellings
Changes to reform multiple dwellings relief and how stamp duty land tax is calculated on purchases of mixed-use properties could be in the pipeline. A 12-week consultation closed last month, after HMRC sought feedback on proposals to crack down on abuse by restricting homeowners from obtaining the relief. Multiple dwellings relief is available when at … Continued
£50m shot in the arm for the UK’s creative businesses
Film-makers and video-game developers will be among the creative firms that can benefit from a new £50 million pot. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced a multi-year UK global screen fund will open soon. That will provide £21m towards promoting UK films globally over the next three years, following a successful … Continued
Two million people missed self-assessment deadline
More than two million people missed a self-assessment tax return deadline on 31 January 2022, according to HMRC. The tax authority said more than 10.2 million returns were filed ahead of the original deadline, leaving 2.3 million still to file. Late-filers had until 28 February 2022 to file their 2020/21 tax returns online before being … Continued
Deadline looms for new hospitality and leisure grants
Eligible businesses in England have until the end of this month to apply for the new Omicron hospitality and leisure grants. The Treasury announced more support for hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses before Christmas last year. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said at that time the new grant scheme was part of a new support package worth … Continued
Treasury’s pensions tax relief bill soars past £42bn
The costs involved with providing pensions tax relief are predicted to have increased to £42.7 billion in 2020/21, according to HMRC. Forecasts for the 2020/21 tax year showed another steady annual rise, following estimates of £41.3bn in 2019/20 and £38.2bn in 2018/19. The 2020/21 figure of £42.7bn was split between £22.9bn in income tax and … Continued
Omicron-hit employers can reclaim statutory sick pay
Small and medium-sized employers can reclaim money from the Treasury to cover statutory sick pay (SSP) paid to employees with COVID-19. Chancellor Rishi Sunak reintroduced the SSP rebate scheme last month, after it initially closed on 30 September 2021. It forms part of a series of measures announced to support businesses affected by the new … Continued
HMRC waives penalties again for late self-assessment
Anyone who missed last month’s self-assessment deadline has until 28 February 2022 to file their tax returns online before being fined. HMRC said last month that fines would not be enforced on taxpayers who missed the 2020/21 deadline at midnight on 31 January 2022. The tax authority said COVID-19 had piled added pressure on individuals … Continued
Report sheds more light on changes to R&D regime
More details have emerged on upcoming changes to the UK’s research and development (R&D) regime, which will take effect from April 2023. The Treasury published a report on R&D following last year’s Autumn Budget, in which Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced several new measures. “If we want greater private-sector innovation, we need to make our R&D … Continued
More red tape for importers as new EU checks kick in
Most UK importers were unprepared for the recent introduction of import controls on EU goods, according to a report from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Full customs declarations and controls took effect from 1 January 2022, although safety and security declarations are not required until 1 July 2022. Before 1 January 2022, full customs … Continued