News

Childcare

HMRC are seeking views on options for in-house delivery of the new tax-free childcare scheme, either through National Savings and Investments or the Revenue.  Responses should be emailed no later than 27 June, using the cover sheet provided online.

HMRC anticipates in-year fines for late-filed returns

ATP decison sparks new review

HMRC have announced new fuel rates for company cars, to apply to all journeys on or after 1 June 2014 until further notice. Employers may use either the previous or new rates for one month from the date of change, and therefore make or require supplementary payments, but are under no obligation to do either. Petrol hybrid cars are treated as petrol cars for this purpose. The amounts can be used for VAT, but employers will need to retain receipts.

HMRC have issued detailed guidance to help businesses prepare for VAT changes in relation to supplies of digital services, set to take effect on 1 January 2015. It supplements European Union information published last month.

HMRC’s clampdown on tax dodging marked a new high during 2013/14, official statistics show.

An parallelled £23.9bn – raised in addition to revenue collected from compliant taxpayers – was £3.2bn more than in the previous 12 months, and almost £1bn above the target set at last year’s autumn statement.

Work history

HMRC ask that taxpayers help keep department phone lines clear by refraining from calling for employment history request updates before the 40-day deadline.

Toolkits

HMRC have updated the income tax losses and private and personal expenditure toolkits. They include new functionality that allows users to save electronically or print client information.

Defaulters

On 20 May, HMRC published the fifth list of deliberate defaulters.

HMRC should design all future services with agents in mind, says review

HMRC have improved the information and supporting guidance on the business tax dashboard PAYE screens in light of taxpayer feedback.

The main changes can be seen on both the service’s “current position” screens and in the details employers can find using the question mark icons.

Screen changes and revised assistance for “amount paid in period” and “amount due in period” now provide extra detail on:

HMRC have sent letters intended to discourage taxpayers’ use of avoidance measures.

The taxman wrote to those whose names appeared on client lists of schemes for the period October 2013 to December 2013, the contact details having been provided by promoters as part of DOTAS requirements.

HMRC are offering online tutorials to help landlords understand when and how to pay tax on property they let out.

The digital training pack is part of the Revenue’s let property campaign launched in September.

The disclosure opportunity aims at people who rent out residential property and have either not registered to pay tax, under-declared their earnings or under-paid tax.

RPI

The value of the retail prices index for March 2014 is 254.8.

Tax credits

HMRC will be sending text messages to some tax credit claimants between 20 May and 5 August 2014. The messages will acknowledge receipt of claims and renewals made by post.

VAT changes

The VAT Notes 1 2014 Budget supplement gives details of the changes to VAT announced on 19 March.