UK: OTS report reviews change of tax year end
On 15 September 2021 the Office for Tax Simplification (OTS) issued a report outlining its views on the advantages and potential costs of moving the tax year end for individuals in the UK. The review looks in detail at the possibility of moving
See MoreUK: Tax Gap Statistics Published
On 16 September 2021 the UK government released the latest edition of Measuring Tax Gaps, estimating the tax gap for 2019/20 to be 5.3% of total theoretical tax liabilities, or GBP 35 billion. The tax gap is the difference between the tax that
See MoreUK: Survey Indicates Businesses are Unprepared for Plastic Packaging Tax
A study conducted by the waste management company Veolia on preparation for the plastic packaging tax has found that more than 80% of the businesses taking part in the survey were not aware that the tax is being introduced. The plastic packaging
See MoreUK: Professional Bodies Request a Delay to Introduction of Tax Changes
Professional bodies in the UK have criticised the speed of proposed reforms to the tax system and have written to the government advising a slower timetable for the next phase of tax administration changes known as Making Tax Digital, and for the
See MoreUK: Statistics on Creative Industries Tax Relief
On 24 August 2021 HMRC published updated statistics for creative industries tax relief for 2020/21, showing that GBP 1.31 billion was paid out in tax relief for creative industries in 2020/21. Almost half the relief given in the period related to
See MoreUK: Survey Indicates Support for Change of Tax Year End
A recent survey conducted by BDO in the UK revealed that more than 90% of the businesses surveyed were in favour of a change to the tax year end to 31 December. The survey included 500 UK companies whose annual revenue is between GBP 10 million and
See MoreUK: Annual capital gains tax statistics
On 5 August 2021 the UK released the latest annual statistics for capital gains tax (CGT). The statistics are based on self-assessment tax returns that report a CGT liability. In the 2019/20 tax year, the total UK CGT liability was GBP 9.9
See MoreUK: Modernisation of Stamp Taxes on Shares
On 20 July 2021 the UK government published a summary of the responses to the consultation document on the modernisation of stamp taxes on shares. The government had issued a call for evidence on the principles and design of a new stamp duty and
See MoreUK: Attitudes of online sellers in China to UK tax compliance
On 20 July 2021 HMRC published research that was commissioned to gain a better understanding of the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of Chinese online sellers in relation to their tax obligations from the sale of goods to the UK. The research
See MoreUK: New proposals to combat the promotion of tax avoidance schemes
On 20 July 2021 the UK government published for consultation new proposals aiming to restrict the activities of promoters of tax avoidance schemes, together with draft legislation. The consultation will close on 14 September 2021. The government
See MoreUK: Consultation on basis periods for income tax
HMRC has issued a consultation document setting out a proposed simplification of the income tax system in relation to basis periods for computing income tax. This would be intended to simplify compliance procedures for small unincorporated
See MoreUK: OTS to Consider Changing the Tax Year End
On 8 June 2021 it was reported that the UK’s Office for Tax Simplification (OTS) is to begin a review of the costs and benefits of moving the UK’s tax year end from 5 April to either 31 March or 31 December. The OTS has issued a review
See MoreUK: HMRC investigates the use of business support schemes
It was reported on 28 June 2021 that the UK tax authority HMRC has begun around 13,000 investigations concerning the use of the UK coronavirus business support schemes. The investigations relate to fraud and other breaches of rules. It is
See MoreUK: Employee Share Scheme Statistics for 2019/20
On 24 June 2021 the UK published the 2019/2020 statistics on employee share schemes. Employee Share Schemes (ESS) are available to companies that want to award shares directly to their employees or to grant them options to buy shares. There
See MoreUK: HMRC Research on Use of Cash by Small and Mid-size Businesses
On 24 June 2021 HMRC published research on the behaviour of small and medium sized businesses in relation to payment transactions. Most common online payment methods The most common online payment method accepted was by small and medium
See MoreUK: Finance Act 2021 increases corporate tax rate and extends loss carry-back provision
On 10 June 2021, the UK’s Finance Act 2021 received royal assent and was published in the Official Gazette. Some of the Key tax measures are following: The corporate tax rate will increase to 25% from April 2023 on profits over £250,000.The
See MoreUK: Statistics for Funds raised under EIS, SEIS and SITR
On 27 May 2021 the UK government published statistics for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR). The latest statistics set out the amount of funds raised by
See MoreUK: Research on Small Businesses Adopting MTD for VAT
On 23 March 2021 HMRC published the results of research carried out by an independent organisation into how Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT has affected small business, and to look at the costs and benefits of adopting MTD. The research focused
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