Penalties –  what HMRC is saying

Read HMRC's statement on the issue of penalties

Peer-to-peer bad debt relief

Lenders can set loss against income received on other P2P loans

Subscriptions and flat-rate deductions

The list of allowable fees and subscriptions, including journals for professional organisations has been updated

Expenses and benefits

A number of changes came into force on 6 April

HMRC sets out payroll penalties approach

Employers that have received an in-year late filing penalty for the period 6 October 2014 to 5 January 2015 and were three days late or less should appeal online.

Tax penalty regime, mitigation, suspension and current developments

HMRC is examining its tax penalty regime. Learn how and have your say.

Finance Bill 2015

A summary of the key provisions included in the Finance Bill 2015 and measures that have an immediate effect.

Consultation: penalties

HMRC has issued HMRC Penalties: a Discussion Document which is open for comment until 11 May.

Double taxation

This page brings together information on double tax treaties in force, along with details of recent changes.

Self Assessment Hints and Tips

This article pulls together various items from the Technical Advisory website which may prove useful in the run-up to the self assessment filing deadline.

What is FATCA?

FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) is an American provision enacted in March 2010 and aimed at foreign financial institutions. It is part of a larger piece of legislation: Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, designed to ensure that American citizens are fully disclosing their worldwide income to the US Internal Revenue Service.

Clamping down on tax avoidance

The Finance Act 2014 contains a number of measures to minimise tax avoidance.

Tax return white space

The tax return white space is the innocuous looking ‘any other information’ space at box 19 of the main SA100 tax return. It is more important than it looks, as the case of Charlton and Others v HMRC illustrates.

High income child benefit charge

The high income child benefit tax charge is a unique tax, in that it seeks to claw back a state benefit, namely child benefit through the self-assessment tax system.

Accrued income scheme

Understanding the accrued income scheme.

Ten common tax elections and claims

How to make claims under common tax elections.

Annual Allowance of Pension Contributions

A tax charge may arise to an individual if the amount saved in that individuals’ various pension schemes exceeds the annual allowance for that year.

Self-assessment tax return – HMRC useful links

A list of most relevant HMRC links that includes:How to fill in your tax return, residence, remittance basis etc. notes,Capital gains summary notes, UK property notes, Additional information notes, and many more

HMRC turn its attention to horsebox owners

Owners of high-end horseboxes are a new target for HMRC in their march against tax evasion.

Solicitors Tax Campaign

In this campaign solicitors have until 9 March to contact HMRC and tell them they want to bring their tax affairs up to date.

Scottish taxpayers

Residence for Scottish income tax purposes.

Gift Aid: which donations can charities and community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) claim relief on?

New HMRC publication outlines the types of payment that Gift Aid can and cannot be claimed on.

Tax inquiry closure: HMRC consultation

HMRC consultation Tax enquiries: closure rules proposes a change from the current joint taxpayer/HMRC referral to first tier tribunal by allowing HMRC a right of sole referral.

Contractors loan settlement opportunity

The opportunity to disclose loan settlements has been extended to 30 June with HMRC stating that any settlement “should be agreed by 30 September 2015 at the latest.

Draft Finance Bill 2015 published

The government has published the draft 2015 Finance Bill.

HMRC agent updates

HMRC issues regular updates for accountants, or tax agents. The latest (number 42, published in July 2014) and previous issues are available here.

State pensions

Changes are coming on state pensions.

National Insurance contributions and under 21 year-olds

From the 6 April 2015, for certain employees under the age of 21, an employer will no longer need to pay employer Class 1 secondary NICs for them.

Scottish Taxpayers

As previously highlighted, when the Scottish Rate of Income Tax is introduced in 2016 the focus will be on where that individual resides.

Revenue Scotland

The Revenue Scotland website is up and running with its initial focus on the administration of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and Scottish Landfill Tax (SLfT).

Autumn statement highlights

A collection of snippets from the Autumn Statement.

HMRC Let property campaign - The first 12 months

HMRC issues report on "first 12 months" of let property campaign.

Limit on income tax relief takes effect

New legislation limited to amount of income tax relief available from tax year 2013-14 onwards.

Legal fees and Court costs

We go 'back to basics' as we examine what can be allowed in terms of legal costs.

Collecting overdue tax through tax codes

From April 2015 HMRC is increasing the amount of overdue tax it can recover through a taxpayer's Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax code.

HMRC direct debt recovery - Additional safeguards announced

Following consultation, HMRC announces additional safeguards as part of the controversial direct debt recovery proposals.

IR35: HMRC withdraws business entity tests

HMRC is to withdraw the IR35 Business Entity Tests after the IR35 forum concludes that they are little used and not fulfilling their intended purpose.

Offshore tax evasion

The government continues its crackdown on those seeking to illegally evade their UK tax liability by using offshore tax shelters.

Office of Tax Simplification report on the competitiveness of the UK’s tax administration

The OTS has published the final report on its review of the competitiveness of UK tax administration, making 50 recommendations for improvements.

The changing landscape around tax avoidance

How accountants can guard against claims from clients surrounding tax avoidance issues. [Simon Mason - Partner in DWF Fishburns]

HMRC Agent Online Self Service Strategy Update

Throughout the summer the Agent Online Self Serve (AOSS) project team has been conducting interviews with agents to inform the initial design and development of an alpha prototype. Here’s an update on this work and our progress with the developing Agents Strategy.

Pension Schemes, Relaxing of the Rules

Pension “death tax” to be abolished.

Employee benefits trusts - settlement opportunity

HMRC has announced that the settlement opportunity will close for applications on 31 March 2015, with settlements to be finalised and payments made by 31 July 2015.

Tax return reminder - travel costs

A reminder of the effects of the Samadian case on travelling costs.

Tax return reminder - Fees and Subscriptions

What fees and subscriptions are allowable for an employee for tax purposes?

Autumn Statement

The Autumn Statement will take place on Wednesday 3 December 2014.

HMRC withdraws concession on remittance basis

In August changes took effect around how money brought into the UK or used in the UK under a loan facility secured by foreign income or gains is treated.

Offshore loan schemes

Offshore loan schemes used by contractors are under attack by HMRC, following the successful outcome for HMRC in the case of Philip Boyle v HMRC at the First-Tier Tribunal.

Jointly owned property and form 17

Guidance on how and when to use form 17 with regards to jointly owned property.

Construction Industry Scheme consultation

A Summer consultation is on the way which will consider ways to improve the CIS scheme.