Victoria Atkins: In order to provide certainty for businesses and to continue to support the Northern Ireland second-hand car market, the Government introduced the Second-Hand Motor Vehicle Payment Scheme on 1 May 2023. The scheme ensures that for cars moved after May 1 2023, businesses selling in NI will pay the same net amount of VAT as if they had continued access to the VAT margin scheme for these cars. ...
Victoria Atkins: On 2 October, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a value for money audit of all EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) spending in the Civil Service. The audit will coincide with the public sector productivity review, aiming at delivering a leaner, more efficient government. The audit forms part of our drive to improve productivity across the public sector by driving down waste and...
Victoria Atkins: VAT has been designed as a broad-based tax on consumption, and the twenty per cent standard rate applies to the majority of goods and services. While there are exceptions to the standard rate, these have always been strictly limited by both legal and fiscal considerations; one exception being certain supplies of education, which are generally exempt from VAT when certain conditions are met. ...
Victoria Atkins: There are times when it is appropriate for HMRC to make payments to individuals in return for providing information that helps tackle tax avoidance and evasion. Such payments are discretionary and are based on the quality of the information provided, the extent and value to which the information contributed to HMRC assigned matters, and what is achieved as a result.
Victoria Atkins: The Government believes that pubs make an important contribution to our culture, fostering a sense of place and community, and to the UK economy. The Government is aware that the high street faces long-term challenges and is committed to supporting the businesses that make our high streets and town centres successful. Therefore, at Autumn Statement 2022, the Government announced a package...
Victoria Atkins: Whilst there are currently no plans to remove VAT on motorcycle air vests, the Government remains committed to ensuring the safety of motorcyclists. For example, motorcycle helmets, which satisfy the requirements of regulation 8(2) of the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002, are zero-rated for VAT. Further information can be found here: Protective equipment (VAT Notice 701/23) -...
Victoria Atkins: The Government understands the vital role the hospitality industry plays in the UK economy. This is why, for example, the Government announced a package of business rates support at Autumn Statement 2022 which means businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, including pubs, will receive a tax cut worth over £2 billion in 2023-24. Eligible properties will receive 75 per cent...
Victoria Atkins: HMRC issues Self Assessment (SA) tax returns to customers when the information they hold suggests that the customer meets the published criteria for completing one. HMRC often cannot determine someone’s tax liability until they have sent in a tax return, therefore they need the return to establish whether there is tax due or not. Late filing and payment penalties are charged to...
Victoria Atkins: There are a wide range of factors to consider when introducing new tax reliefs as they can add significant complexity to the tax system. Tax reliefs are also difficult to target effectively; for example, they do not benefit individuals with income below the income tax Personal Allowance at all. The current care system already provides support to those who need it most. People with...
Victoria Atkins: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services, including alcohol sold at both pubs and supermarkets. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited by both legal and fiscal considerations. The Government understands the vital role the hospitality industry plays in the UK economy. We have implemented a new alcohol duty...
Victoria Atkins: HMRC published an independent review about what it’s like to work at HMRC, Respect at Work Review in 2019. The review made a series of recommendations that HMRC implemented including significant changes to departmental policy, processes and practice. The programme closed at the end of March 2023 and ongoing work was absorbed into business as usual. As reported (on page 50) of HMRC’s...
Victoria Atkins: Businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level within their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrative burden. The information requested is therefore not available.
Victoria Atkins: The Government introduced the Marriage Allowance (MA) in April 2015 to recognise marriage and civil partnerships in the tax system. It allows a spouse or civil partner to transfer 10 per cent of their Personal Allowance (PA) if their partner is a basic rate taxpayer. At Autumn Statement 2022, the Chancellor announced that the PA would be maintained at 2021-22 levels up to and including...
Victoria Atkins: The Government was grateful to the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) for their suggestions for how the individual’s experience of Child Benefit and the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) could be improved. The OTS acknowledged that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has made progress following their ‘Simplifying everyday tax for smaller businesses’ and the ‘Life events review:...
Victoria Atkins: The Government currently provides various VAT reliefs to aid the purchase of defibrillators and other first aid equipment. For example, when an AED is purchased with funds provided by a charity or by voluntary contributions, and then donated to an eligible body (such as an NHS body or a charitable care institution), this purchase can then be zero rated, meaning no VAT is charged. Otherwise,...
Victoria Atkins: The Government currently provides various VAT reliefs to aid the purchase of defibrillators and other first aid equipment. For example, when an AED is purchased with funds provided by a charity or by voluntary contributions, and then donated to an eligible body (such as an NHS body or a charitable care institution), this purchase can then be zero rated, meaning no VAT is charged. Otherwise,...
Victoria Atkins: HMRC continually upgrades IT systems as part of ongoing maintenance. HMRC has 24/7 support operation in place with established processes for early identification of incidents and respond to these appropriately. Customer data is subject to high levels of protection and HMRC takes data protection seriously.
Victoria Atkins: HMRC continually upgrades IT systems as part of ongoing maintenance. HMRC has 24/7 support operation in place with established processes for early identification of incidents and respond to these appropriately. Customer data is subject to high levels of protection and HMRC takes data protection seriously.
Victoria Atkins: The off-payroll working rules are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees but through their own company pay broadly the same income tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) as those who are directly employed. The government and HMRC remain committed to understanding the impacts of changes made to the rules in April 2021, and have published external research and...
Victoria Atkins: The Government does not hold information on the amount of revenue raised through VAT paid on cladding and other building safety remediation projects carried out between June 2017 and June 2023. This is because this type of work is likely to be completed by businesses that undertake a variety of construction-related projects, and HMRC do not require businesses to provide a breakdown on their...