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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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).

Non-resident Landlord Scheme

There is an obligation on letting agents and tenants to operate the non-resident landlord scheme (NRL scheme) under certain conditions.

Appeal provisions

Changes to appeal provisions for out of time reviews.

Agency workers

HMRC has issued guidance on the status of workers supplied via intermediaries called Agency workers: changes to treatment of workers supplied through UK based agencies, employment businesses or other intermediaries.

Travel costs – deductible or not?

The Samadian case outlines the key considerations when considering what relief is available for travel and when travel to work is not travel to work.

HMRC Agent Dedicated Line - Debt Management and Banking

HMRC has introduced a new priority service

Pension protection

From August those with pension savings on 5 April 2014 valued at over £1.25 million can apply for Individual Protection.

Fees and subscriptions

Which professional fees and subscriptions are allowable for income tax purposes.

Tax Credit Award Renewals – Changes

Following the introduction of RTI, HMRC has announced some changes to the procedure for calculating Tax Credit renewal awards for 2014-15.

Social investment tax relief

Following a consultation last year, Finance Act 2014 introduces a new form of tax relief onto the statute books, called social investment tax relief.

HMRC’s alternative dispute resolution

HMRC's Alternative Dispute Resolution Service has now been made nationwide and permanent and offers a simpler way of resolving tax disputes.

Construction industry scheme repayment

Guidance and information is being produced by HMRC to help ease the time and cashflow burden faced by subcontractors. ACCA and other professional bodies have provided input.

HMRC powers: pension schemes

HMRC gains new powers relating to pension schemes.

Unpaid Class 2 national insurance contributions

Unpaid Class 2 National Insurance Contributions to be collected from PAYE tax codes from 6 April 2014.

Limited liability partnerships - salaried members

Following the consultation and feedback the new LLP rules regarding disguised employment are now in force, with effect from 6 April 2014.

HMRC Agents Blog

As part of its Tax Agent Strategy, HMRC has introduced a new agents blog, providing useful information for agents.

Partnership tax changes

Partnership tax is changing; Finance Act 2013 made some changes and Finance Bill 2014 is making further changes.

Scottish rate of income tax

Legislative changes resulting from the introduction of the Scottish rate of income tax.

Artificial dual contracts of non-domiciles

New measures will tax the overseas employment income of non-domiciles on the arising basis, rather than on the remittance basis, in the case of artificially arranged contracts with the same or associated employers.

Accelerated payments "tax-follower" cases

New legislation will place greater emphasis on previously decided tax cases.

HMRC powers extended - Direct collection from bank accounts

The government plans to give HMRC the power to recover tax directly from debtors’ bank accounts.

Starting tax rate for savings

From 6 April 2015, the starting tax rate for savings will be reduced from 10% to zero, and the limit will be increased from £2,880 to £5,000.

Upfront payment of tax associated with avoidance schemes

Taxpayers will be required to pay upfront tax disputed under schemes that fall within the DOTAS rules or are counteracted under the GAAR.

Transferable tax allowances

The transfer of a portion of personal allowances between spouses or civil partners has been announced.

Childcare boost for parents

The Tax-Free Childcare Scheme includes an increased costs cap and will support working families with children under 12.

New ISA

Changes will make ISAs more flexible and increase the annual subscription limit.