Revenue Scotland and Scottish taxpayers

Significant changes to land, landfill and income taxes in Scotland are on the horizon.

Estate planning, IHT and probate

A look at areas where probate laws in Scotland differ from those that apply in England and Wales.

Out-of-time claims

HMRC has released comments following a recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) case regarding out-of-time claims.

Payroll changes: take the pain away

Preparing for PAYE real-time reporting.

HMRC issues guidance on two Scottish tax matters

HMRC has issued a note on how the Scotland Act 2012 impacts on its administration of Stamp Duty Landfill Tax. It has also stated what it will do to help identify Scottish taxpayers in respect of a variable rate of income tax.

Director's Remuneration Reports

A look at the requirements for a directors' remuneration report as laid out by the Companies Act 2006.

Purchasing a company from an unconnected party

A look at the considerations in buying a company from an unconnected party.

New ways to register for taxes online

HMRC has launched an online tax registration service to allow registration for all main business taxes (self assessment, corporation tax, PAYE for employers and VAT) in a single website visit.

Real time information and PAYE

RTI is a new way of reporting PAYE information. It will enable employers and pension providers to tell HMRC about payments to employees/pensioners as they are made rather than at the end of the tax year.

EU consultation on insolvency law

Comments from ACCA to the European Commission, June 2012

How to grow your practice – part 1

In this, the first of a two-part article on growing your accountancy practice, Jill Wyatt talks to two firms who are exploiting what they see as gaps in the services offered by their competitors.

How to grow your practice – part 2

In the second part of our series on how to grow your practice, Jill Wyatt talks to partners in two firms who believe they can steal a march on their competitors by adding real value to the services they offer.

VAT update - June 2012

A look at recent VAT changes as at June 2012.

Charities - fraud

The Charity Commission has updated its guidance on trustee duties to protect charities from fraud and financial abuse

HMRC iXBRL commitment

HMRC agrees that no extension should be made to iXBRL tagging requirements in April 2013

Taxpayers in Scotland

Guidance on what constitutes a Scottish Taxpayer for the purposes of The Scotland Act 2012.

IR 35 – new business entity tests

HMRC publishes guidance on its new approach to dealing with potential IR35 cases.

EIS/SEIS - Advance Assurance Application

Details on obtaining advance qualification assurance for investments under the EIS and SEIS schemes.

HMRC campaigns

HMRC campaigns updates.

Alternative dispute resolution scheme

HMRC extends its alternative dispute resolution service trial nationwide.

Gift Aid - an update

HMRC issues new form R68(i) - Gift Aid and tax repayment claims form, which replaced all previous versions of this claim form.

An FRC update for directors of listed companies

The FRC has provided a very useful update on heightened country and currency risk for the interim financial reporting season

Enhancing sustainability and competitiveness: the role of auditing in the Caribbean

ACCA, June 2012. In April 2012, ACCA Caribbean held a series of three events in Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica to assess the role and future of audit.

The cancellation of contracts made in a consumer's home or place of work etc. regulations 2008

Details of The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008 which came into force on 1 October 2008.

Keith Gordon: Challenging Sharkey v Wernher

Keith Gordon offer advice on challenging the Sharkey v Wernher principle of appropriations from trading stock at market value.

EFRAG: Improving the financial reporting of income taxes

Comments from ACCA to the Urgent Issues Task Force, July 2012

Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000

Details of the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 (DSRs).

Consultation on Provision of Legal Framework for Entering into Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs)

Comments from ACCA Hong Kong to The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Hong Kong, June 2012

Simpler income tax for the smallest businesses

Comments from ACCA to the Office of Tax Simplification, June 2012

IAESB: IES 4, professional values, ethics and attitudes

Comments from ACCA to the International Accounting Education Standards Board, July 2011

Making capital markets work in emerging and frontier economies: case studies

This paper presents five case studies on the development of capital markets in emerging and frontier economies. These first-hand accounts reveal the crucial human, social and regulatory capital that capital markets rely on and demonstrate how much local regulators and operators around the world can learn from each other.

Access to finance for SMEs: a global agenda

ACCA, June 2012. This paper presents ACCA’s’ recommendations for the development of a visible and consistent global agenda on SME access to finance. It calls for intergovernmental organisations to develop and support a consistent platform for sharing best practice. It also encourages national governments to engage in this process, developing a long-lasting change in SME financing across the world.

Carbon taxation and corporate behaviour

ACCA, May 2012. This report summarises the breakfast briefing held by ACCA on 23 February 2012. The session looked at the role of carbon taxation in mitigating climate change and its value when compared with other market mechanisms.

Investor round table: EC audit proposals

ACCA, May 2012. With work progressing in Europe on the development of legislation to strengthen statutory audit requirements for public interest entities, ACCA and Grant Thornton held a round-table event in London on 14 May to enable investors to express their views.

EC: Assessment of the suitability of International public sector accounting standards for the member states – public consultation

Comments from ACCA to the European Commission (EUROSTAT), May 2012

In search of innovative solutions: report of the discussions from the FEE roundtable series 'access to finance for SMEs'

FEE SMP Task Force. This document reflects the outcome of debates held in expert roundtables organised by FEE, the Federation of European Accountants.

Making a difference at Rio+20

ACCA, May 2012. This paper provides some background to Rio+20 and the 'zero draft' of the summit agreement, explains the importance of paragraph 24 - concerning the integration of sustainability information into corporate reports - of the zero draft, the possible changes to paragraph 24 from zero draft to final agreement, and ACCA and others' opinions.

Proposals for a Public Audit (Wales) Bill

Comments from ACCA to the Public Audit (Wales) Bill Team, Welsh Government, 15 May 2012

Charity Commission publishes new strategy on combating fraud

The Charity Commission is calling for charities to better protect themselves against fraud and financial crime.

Expert panels on diversity in business

Alison Maitland summarises ACCA's Expert Panel events and their views on diversity in business.

Driving business performance through diversity

This joint ACCA–ESRC report summarises the views of three expert panels on diversity in business held in London, Shanghai and Delhi between November 2011 and January 2012.

VAT: addressing borderline anomalies

Comments from ACCA to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), 4 May 2012

SMEs and their advisers: measuring trust and confidence

ACCA research report 127, by E. Schizas, R. Jarvis and N. Daskalakis.

Finance leaders on sourcing success

This report presents the results of a global survey of finance leaders on the aims and effectiveness of finance shared services and outsourcing programmes. It explores the initial drivers behind adopting finance shared services and outsourcing finance operations, considers how these are evolving, and the success of current approaches.

Self-employment ready reckoner

HMRC have produced a basic ready-reckoner to assist those in self-employment to calculate their tax provisions.

Putting investors at the heart of the financial system

ACCA and Grant Thornton, April 2012. This report presents insights from a discussion among a group of global investors. It explores the views of investors and investor representatives in relation to existing global financial and accounting standards, and their opinions on the direction of change, and the opportunities and challenges facing investors. It also addresses how investors can be more central to the process of change.

Accounting for business combinations under common control

Comments from ACCA to the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), 30 April 2012

HMRC toolkits

The Expenses and Benefits from Employment Toolkit and the National Insurance Contributions and Statutory Payments Toolkit have been updated and can be used for 2011/12 tax returns. Access the HMRC toolkits via the link on this page.

Finance (No.4) Bill 2010-12

In the Budget the Chancellor challenged business. He has challenged it to invest, to export, to build the economy. In return, he has set out the further actions the government will take in order to help to build the appropriate environment.

Shareholder voting rights

Comments from ACCA to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, 24 April 2012