Technical resources

HMRC direct debt recovery - Additional safeguards announced

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

Hong Kong programme for Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement

Hong Kong’s programme for Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) and Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) Consultation issued by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, Hong Kong

Tackling offshore tax evasion: strengthening civil deterrents

Comments from ACCA to HM Revenue & Customs.

Tackling offshore tax evasion: a new criminal offence

Comments from ACCA to HM Revenue & Customs.

Annual Investment Allowance (AIA)

There is a short time remaining if you wish to take advantage of the temporary increase in the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA).

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.

ECJ ruling and the treatment of VAT

Could the VAT treatment of financial services be significantly widened?

Changes to Discretionary Trusts

The Finance Act 2014, Schedule 25 contains four separate provisions relating to inheritance tax on discretionary trusts, effective from 6 April 2014.

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.

Strengthening the tax avoidance disclosure regimes

Comments from ACCA to HM Revenue & Customs.

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.

Inheritance Tax: a new Act

The Inheritance Tax and Trustees’ Powers Act 2014 came into force on 1 October 2014.

Pension Schemes, Relaxing of the Rules

Pension “death tax” to be abolished.

VAT Notices - September 2014

A summary of the VAT Notices in force as at September 2014.

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?

VAT Update - November 2014

A round-up of the latest changes to VAT notices and briefings.

Autumn Statement

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

VAT changes around the EU

The latest changes to VAT rates from countries within the European Union.

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.

Transfer of a going concern

HMRC has had a change of policy following the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) decision in Robinson Family Ltd [2012] UKFTT 360 (TC). The changes are three-fold and are discussed here policy change by policy change.

Construction Industry Scheme consultation

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

Enhanced capital allowances increases: green technology

New legislation will extend the list of energy-saving and environmentally beneficial technologies and products that benefit from enhanced capital allowances.

Business premises renovations allowance

The Finance Act 2014 will clarify the scope of Business Premises Renovation Allowance.

Annual investment allowance increased to £500,000

Temporary increase sees AIA double to £500,000.

Tax Evasion and Avoidance

Three new consultations have been launched on the subject of tax evasion.

Transfer pricing documentation

Comments from ACCA to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

2014 Autumn Statement

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

Intermediaries and workers

Updates have been issued on when an intermediary must treat a worker they provide to a UK-based client as an employee for Income Tax and National Insurance purposes.

VAT Update - October 2014

An update of the latest changes to HMRC's VAT notices and guidance.

RTI Penalties: HMRC at a glance guide

HMRC has produced a handy at-a-glance guide to RTI penalties.

Consultation: Tackling offshore tax evasion

HMRC's Offshore Evasion and Strategy Team has initiated its first consultation documents on tackling offshore tax evasion, which are open for comment until 31 October 2014.

RTI: Disputed PAYE liabilities

HMRC have started to send letters to employers who are disputing a PAYE charge.

PAYE RTI penalties

HMRC announces a change to the proposed penalty regime for RTI with the phasing in of in-year penalties. Find out more here.

Latest news and announcements from HMRC

HM Revenue & Customs latest news August 2014 can be accessed on the link below.

HMRC guidance-Reconciling PAYE charges

HMRC has issued guidance that allows employers to understand how HMRC works out what is owed and identify reasons for an inconsistence. There may be occasions where there is an inconsistency between the amount HMRC say is owed and what employers believe they owe. Employers may become aware of these inconsistencies when checking the Business Tax Dashboard and cannot reconcile a charge shown with their records, or when HMRC contacts them about an unpaid amount or an unexplained credit

Reasonable excuse

Generally, a 'reasonable excuse' is when some unforeseeable or unusual event beyond somebody's control has prevented that person from filing the return on time. For example: a failure in the HMRC computer system,a serious illness, disability or serious mental health condition has made the taxpayer incapable of filing the tax return etc.

Childcare payments

Tax-free childcare - Childcare Payments (Eligibility) Regulations and draft Childcare Payments Regulations 2015 have been issued for comment.

HMRC New Debt Recovery Powers

HMRC to be given powers to collect tax debts from salary; not just bank accounts?

Direct recovery of debts

Comments from ACCA to HM Revenue & Customs.

Tax avoidance schemes and accelerated payments

HMRC has today published a list of those avoidance scheme reference numbers (SRNs) whose users may be issued with an accelerated payment notice (APN).

Tax implications of the new UK GAAP

The transition to UK GAAP will bring with it some tax changes. Read more here.

A challenge to filing VAT online

It has been mandatory for businesses to file online VAT returns from 1 April 2012 – but not every business agreed.

Changes to HMRC VAT toolkits

HMRC updates three VAT toolkits.

Substantial shareholding exemption

The substantial shareholding exemption exempts the disposal of certain shares in subsidiaries from corporation tax on any capital gain.