Chancellor George Osborne has launched a new Office for Tax Simplification (OTS), with the task of identifying areas where complexities in the tax system for businesses and individuals can be reduced. Launching the OTS on 20 July, Mr Osborne said: “Simpler, more competitive taxes will help us show the world that Britain is open for […]

New guidance on the fit and proper persons test for managers of charities has been issued. The guidance replaces the original version published in April 2010 and incorporates significant revisions, in particular on which managers charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) should notify HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) about. The Finance Act 2010 introduced […]

PAYE could be on course for significant change following the launch of a major consultation. The consultation, announced by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on 27 July, says that the business processes behind PAYE have remained unchanged since it was introduced in 1944. The consultation is designed to explore whether there are alternative ways of […]

Businesses need to act now if they have not already registered for online filing of VAT returns. Under new rules, existing VAT-registered businesses with annual turnovers of £100,000 or more (excluding VAT), and any businesses that registered for VAT from 1 April 2010 must now file their VAT returns online and pay their VAT electronically. […]

Businesses are reminded that a seven-day grace period for late employers’ and contractors’ returns will cease from 31 March 2011. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced that the Extra Statutory Concession B46 (ESC B46) would be scrapped next March. Introduced in 1995, ESC B46 established the principle that penalties would not be charged when […]

The head of the National Audit Office has criticised HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for failing to make enough progress in reducing a backlog of 18.2 million cases where there is potentially overpaid or underpaid income tax. The report on the 2009-2010 accounts of HMRC, issued by Amyas Morse, the Controller and Auditor General on […]

HM Revenue & Customs has issued a new security warning over an email currently in circulation. The email, which comes from “HMRC Online services – test@test.com” states that the recipient has one new ALERT message and should log into their Online Account to read the message. The email contains a link to a fraudulent website […]

New guidance is now available for businesses to help them manage the performance of their workforce more effectively. With statistics showing that poor performance was raised as an issue in nine out of ten disciplinary hearings*, employment service Acas had produced the How to manage performance guide. It provides advice on how businesses can set […]

Time is ticking away for businesses to review their policies and practices to make sure they are in line with the new Equality Act. Most of the Equality Act will become law on 1 October 2010, bringing together and replacing previous discrimination legislation. It covers a range of groups that have protected characteristics relating to: […]