In safe hands: the future of financial services

Gill Ringland from SAMI Consulting discusses the findings of a scenario analysis project carried out by her firm and the Long Finance Forum of Futurists (L3F).

Novation of derivatives and continuation of hedge accounting

Comments from ACCA to the International Accounting Standards Board, 2 April 2013.

Clarification of acceptable methods of depreciation and amortisation: proposed amendments to IAS16 and IAS38

Comments from ACCA to the International Accounting Standards Board, April 2013.

A gathering force

Progress towards the adoption of integrated reporting around the world may be mixed, but momentum continues to build, says ACCA’s Rachel Jackson.

Termination payments - a refresher

The tax consequences of termination payments on cessation of employment

Beating the drum

With commercially minded investors joining in with ever louder calls for organisations to address sustainability issues, the Earth Summit in Rio highlights the subject’s growing importance to the business agenda.

Understanding investors: the changing landscape

ACCA, June 2013. This report is the first of a four-part project examining what investors want from corporate reporting and how organisations are responding to their needs. It reviews recent developments, trends and emerging issues in the investor landscape since the global financial crisis. While it uses the UK and Ireland investor base for its analysis, the trends it identifies have a wide international resonance.

Understanding investors: directions for corporate reporting

ACCA, June 2013. This report is the second of a four-part project examining what investors want from corporate reporting and how organisations are responding to their needs. It outlines the kind of information investors need to make their decisions, how they now like to receive that information (both the format and the communications channels), and their level of trust in what they receive.

Accession of Croatia to the European Union

HMRC has issued Excise Information Sheet (13) 04 Accession of Croatia to the European Union

Inheritance tax and quoted securities

The list of recognised stock exchanges for post-death IHT revaluations has been updated.

Insolvency

HMRC have re-issued Notice700/56 Insolvency.

Public sector reporting

International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) has issued Conceptual Framework Exposure Draft 4, Conceptual Framework for General Purpose Financial Reporting by Public Sector Entities: Presentation in General Purpose Financial Reports.

Carrier bag levy

HMRC have issued Revenue and Customs Brief 07/13 VAT: Introduction of a levy on 'single-use' carrier bags in Northern Ireland.

Class 2 NIC

HMRC are sending payment requests for outstanding Class 2 National Insurance contributions.

Stamp duty land tax - Transfer of going concern claims

HMRC inviting claims following Robinson Family TOGC case.

Disclosure facilities and campaigns

A summary of the current HMRC campaigns and disclosure facilities that are currently running

Pension and employer benefit consultants

HMRC issue briefing relating to pension and employee benefit consultants.

Repairs and renewals

HMRC have issued Revenue and Customs Brief 05/13 Direct tax: Guidance on repairs and renewals of assets, its draft guidance on what is a repair for direct tax purposes.

IASB: Acquisition of an interest in a joint operation - proposed amendment to IFRS 11

Comments from ACCA to the International Accounting Standards Board, April 2013.

Statutory Residence Test: Overview of the legislative changes

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Four automatic UK residence tests

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Four automatic overseas residence tests

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Residence

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Sufficient ties test

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Leaving the UK

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Arriving in the UK

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Temporary periods of non-residence

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Split-year treatment

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Residence and Domicile

Visit our dedicated section on Residence and Domicile following the introduction of the statutory residence test with effect from 6 April 2013.

Research & Development Tax Relief

An overview of the tax reliefs available on expenditure on research and development

Technical factsheet 179: guidance on pension scheme trustees duties and responsibilities

Guidance on pension scheme trustees duties and responsibilities

PCAOB rulemaking docket matter No. 40: proposed framework for reorganisation of PCAOB auditing standards

Comments from ACCA to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, May 2013.

IAASB: A framework for audit quality

Comments from ACCA to the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), May 2013.

Data protection - current position and future changes

An update on current data protection legislation and future development

Back to basics: loan interest relief

A look at the rules relating to tax relief on loan interest.

VAT: European changes

A summary of the latest changes to VAT across Europe.

Above-the-line credit

Budget 2013 announced the introduction of an above-the-line credit for research and development (R&D) expenditure incurred by large companies on or after 1 April 2013.

VAT consultations: a roundup

Details of VAT updates.

General anti-abuse rule

After much speculation a general anti-avoidance rule – the General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR) – has emerged within the Finance Bill 2013

Changes to class 2 and class 4 NICs

Sleeping and inactive partners will be affected by changes introduced by HMRC this month.

Technology trends: their impact on the global accountancy profession

This paper presents propositions which are based on available, established and emerging technologies, and the ways in which they could potentially impact on the profession over the next five to 10 years and beyond.

FSA: high-level proposals for an FCA regime for consumer credit

Comments from ACCA to the Financial Services Authority, April 2013.

BIS: A new approach to financial regulation

Comments from ACCA to the Department for Business Innovation & Skills, April 2013.

The accountability mechanisms and needs of external charity stakeholders

ACCA research report 132, by C. Connolly, A. Dhanani and Noel Hyndman.

The 40th anniversary of VAT in the UK

Chas Roy-Chowdhury, May 2013. This paper provides a high-level review of the first 40 years of VAT in the UK, its context in the European Union and its future prospects. We see in the paper the general trend towards governments using VAT to a much greater extent as a significant revenue raiser and the increasing pressures to broaden the VAT base by reducing exemptions and zero rates.

Hedging FX risk: taking stock of the challenge for mid-caps and SMEs

The first output from ACCA's 2013 Trade Finance project is a research report produced in association with Kantox FX.

FRC: Implementing the recommendations of the Sharman Panel

Comments from ACCA to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), 30 April 2013. A consultation on the revised Guidance on Going Concern and revised International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued for comment by the Financial Reporting Council.

FRC: Revision to ISA (UK and Ireland) 700, requiring the auditor’s report to address risks of material misstatement, materiality and a summary of the audit scope

Comments from ACCA to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), 30 April 2013.

Key health challenges in Ghana

Sharon Cannaby, April 2013. This report provides an oversight into some of the key issues facing the health sector in Ghana and describes the role professionally qualified accountants can play in achieving the country’s health goals.

Key health challenges for Zambia

Sharon Cannaby, April 2013. This paper provides an oversight into some of the key issues facing the health sector in Zambia and describes the role professionally qualified accountants can play in delivering the country’s health agenda.