Do you trade on E-bay, Amazon, GumTree or similar or know someone who does?
Did you know that the tax man has been collecting information from E-bay to identify traders who are not declaring their income?
HMRC have gathered names, ID’s and transactional information and are cross referencing this to self assessment records to identify individuals who should be registered as self employed.
Penalties are greater where HMRC discover the income before you declare it to them, so if you are already a client of Defacto and have been trading in this way but have not yet told us about it let us know as soon as possible – and remember that even if you are not making a profit the income should be declared and the losses recorded.
If you know someone who has been trading through one of these sites and may not have registered for self assessment then please pass on our details and let them know that we can help them to register and prepare their return.
Showing posts with label personal tax return. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal tax return. Show all posts
Monday, 4 August 2014
Commission Refunds
If you invest through a firm of financial advisers, you may well receive a repayment of commission from that firm each year. In previous years any refunded commission was rolled into the earnings from your investments or set against charges, so you may not have been aware of it. However, from 6 April 2013 the financial adviser must deduct tax from any refunded commission and show the amounts paid and deducted separately on your annual statement .
You should look out for these refunded amounts on your investment statement for 2013/14, as it must be declared on your 2013/14 tax return. However, don't add it into your interest, or dividend income. The correct place to declare the refunded commission is in box 16 on your self-assessment tax return under "other taxable income", with an explanation of the income in box 20.
We will do this for you when we complete your tax return, but please remember to provide us a copy of your investment statement that shows the refunded commission.
You should look out for these refunded amounts on your investment statement for 2013/14, as it must be declared on your 2013/14 tax return. However, don't add it into your interest, or dividend income. The correct place to declare the refunded commission is in box 16 on your self-assessment tax return under "other taxable income", with an explanation of the income in box 20.
We will do this for you when we complete your tax return, but please remember to provide us a copy of your investment statement that shows the refunded commission.
Monday, 7 July 2014
PAYE Reconciliations
If most of your income is taxed under PAYE (Pay As You Earn) you may soon receive a reconciliation of the income tax you have paid compared to the amount that was due to be paid for 2013/14. This calculation arrives on a form P800, which should be checked very carefully for errors and omissions. If mistakes are missed they can be carried forward for several years, resulting in escalating amounts of tax over or under-paid.
For example the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) may be due where you earn over £50,000 and your family receives child benefit. But the HICBC will not be reflected in the P800 calculation, as HMRC can't accurately match child benefit claimants with the high earners in those families. If you believe you are due to pay the HICBC to claw-back the child benefit received, you need to register for a self-assessment and complete a tax return. We can help you with that.
Other common errors on the P800 arise from the changing value of taxable benefits, varying pension contributions, and estimated amounts of other income included in your PAYE code such as rents or interest.
If you have paid the right amount of tax under PAYE for 2013/14 you won't receive a communication from HMRC. If you have overpaid tax you should receive a cheque from HMRC within two weeks of the issue of the P800. Don't respond to emails promising a tax repayment - those are scams.
If the P800 shows you owe tax, that amount will normally be collected through your PAYE code for 2015/16. We can help you challenge the calculation if you think it's wrong, but we will need to see the P800 you have received, as HMRC don't send us a copy.
For example the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) may be due where you earn over £50,000 and your family receives child benefit. But the HICBC will not be reflected in the P800 calculation, as HMRC can't accurately match child benefit claimants with the high earners in those families. If you believe you are due to pay the HICBC to claw-back the child benefit received, you need to register for a self-assessment and complete a tax return. We can help you with that.
Other common errors on the P800 arise from the changing value of taxable benefits, varying pension contributions, and estimated amounts of other income included in your PAYE code such as rents or interest.
If you have paid the right amount of tax under PAYE for 2013/14 you won't receive a communication from HMRC. If you have overpaid tax you should receive a cheque from HMRC within two weeks of the issue of the P800. Don't respond to emails promising a tax repayment - those are scams.
If the P800 shows you owe tax, that amount will normally be collected through your PAYE code for 2015/16. We can help you challenge the calculation if you think it's wrong, but we will need to see the P800 you have received, as HMRC don't send us a copy.
Monday, 28 April 2014
Tax Nudge
A "nudge" in this context is a piece of advice or an arrangement designed to encourage you pick the option the Government wants you to choose, such as contributing to a pension, or eating healthier foods.
In this case the nudge is information about the average profit ratios businesses in your business sector make, as reported on their tax returns. Working out these average profit ratios is called "benchmarking".
The Taxman is writing to a sample of traders in selected trade sectors quoting benchmarked profit ratios for those sectors. He asks the trader to review his turnover and expense figures before completing the 2013/14 tax return, with a view to ensuring the reported net profit (also known as bottom line) lies in a range around the benchmarked net profit ratio.
If you receive one of these benchmark letters, please send us a copy as the Taxman is unlikely to have copied us in. We can help you review your income and expenses to be reported on your tax return.
Don't take the letter as a sign that the Taxman has any evidence that your reported figures are wrong. There are many valid reasons why your business may not be typical. For example you operate in a difficult geographical location, or your business may open for different hours than other similar businesses.
However, if you have been hiding sales which have been paid by credit or debit cards, the Taxman can now easily prove that your sales are understated. This is because he can request details of all transactions processed by debit and credit card companies.
That sales data can be broken down by trader, and compared to the VAT and tax returns you have submitted. However, remember the credit and debit card data could contain errors.So if you are challenged on the basis of your credit card sales don't assume the Taxmans information is 100% correct.
In this case the nudge is information about the average profit ratios businesses in your business sector make, as reported on their tax returns. Working out these average profit ratios is called "benchmarking".
The Taxman is writing to a sample of traders in selected trade sectors quoting benchmarked profit ratios for those sectors. He asks the trader to review his turnover and expense figures before completing the 2013/14 tax return, with a view to ensuring the reported net profit (also known as bottom line) lies in a range around the benchmarked net profit ratio.
If you receive one of these benchmark letters, please send us a copy as the Taxman is unlikely to have copied us in. We can help you review your income and expenses to be reported on your tax return.
Don't take the letter as a sign that the Taxman has any evidence that your reported figures are wrong. There are many valid reasons why your business may not be typical. For example you operate in a difficult geographical location, or your business may open for different hours than other similar businesses.
However, if you have been hiding sales which have been paid by credit or debit cards, the Taxman can now easily prove that your sales are understated. This is because he can request details of all transactions processed by debit and credit card companies.
That sales data can be broken down by trader, and compared to the VAT and tax returns you have submitted. However, remember the credit and debit card data could contain errors.So if you are challenged on the basis of your credit card sales don't assume the Taxmans information is 100% correct.
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Child Benefits When Turn 16
If you have a child aged 16, check whether you are still receiving all the child benefit and child tax credits you expect to.
Child benefit and child tax credit both stop automatically on 31st August on or after the child's 16th birthday, but where the child is in approved education or training, the parent who claims the child benefit is entitled to extend that claim until the child reaches their 20th birthday. 'Approved education' means at least 12 hours of supervised study per week, and the training can include an apprenticeship.
From September 2013 children who live in England (the rules are different in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland) are required by law to remain in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17. So there are a lot of families out there with 16 years olds who are in approved education, but who have lost their child benefit.
If you are one of those parents, and you want to continue to receive the child benefit, you need to contact the Child Benefit office at HMRC, to inform them that your child is still in approved education or training.
Similar rules apply for child tax credit. In that case the claimant must contact the Tax Credit office.
Although child benefit and child tax credit are both administered by HMRC, you need to inform them twice, as one section of HMRC cannot pass the relevant information to another part!
You may prefer not to receive the child benefit if you or your partner/spouse earns £50,000 or more. In that case all or part of the child benefit paid to your family is clawed-back through the operation of the high income child benefit charge (HICBC). HMRC has written to some of the parents who may be due to pay the HICBC, but not all, as they cannot correctly identify every person who may be liable to pay the charge.
If you are the highest earner in a family that has claimed child benefit since 7 January 2013, and your total income is £50,000 or more, you need to declare that child benefit on your tax return form. If you don't normally complete a self-assessment tax return form, you need to ask HMRC to set you up on the self-assessment tax return system. We can help you with that, but don't delay, as if you fail to complete the tax return form on time there will be automatic penalties to pay.
Child benefit and child tax credit both stop automatically on 31st August on or after the child's 16th birthday, but where the child is in approved education or training, the parent who claims the child benefit is entitled to extend that claim until the child reaches their 20th birthday. 'Approved education' means at least 12 hours of supervised study per week, and the training can include an apprenticeship.
From September 2013 children who live in England (the rules are different in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland) are required by law to remain in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17. So there are a lot of families out there with 16 years olds who are in approved education, but who have lost their child benefit.
If you are one of those parents, and you want to continue to receive the child benefit, you need to contact the Child Benefit office at HMRC, to inform them that your child is still in approved education or training.
Similar rules apply for child tax credit. In that case the claimant must contact the Tax Credit office.
Although child benefit and child tax credit are both administered by HMRC, you need to inform them twice, as one section of HMRC cannot pass the relevant information to another part!
You may prefer not to receive the child benefit if you or your partner/spouse earns £50,000 or more. In that case all or part of the child benefit paid to your family is clawed-back through the operation of the high income child benefit charge (HICBC). HMRC has written to some of the parents who may be due to pay the HICBC, but not all, as they cannot correctly identify every person who may be liable to pay the charge.
If you are the highest earner in a family that has claimed child benefit since 7 January 2013, and your total income is £50,000 or more, you need to declare that child benefit on your tax return form. If you don't normally complete a self-assessment tax return form, you need to ask HMRC to set you up on the self-assessment tax return system. We can help you with that, but don't delay, as if you fail to complete the tax return form on time there will be automatic penalties to pay.
Monday, 16 September 2013
High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)
You may recall we told you about the new HICBC in November 2012 tax tips. It came into effect on 7th January 2013 and as we prepare the 2012/13 income tax returns, many of you are beginning to see this new rule take effect.
If you and your partner’s joint income for the tax year is £50,000 or more and one of you receives child benefit then the HICBC could affect you: The charge is 1% of child benefit for every £100 above £50,000 and if household income exceeds £60,000 then the HICBC will be 100% of the child benefit for that period.
In 2012/13 the charge is based on the amount of child benefit you were entitled to receive for the period 7th January 13 to 5th April 2013 (i.e. 13 weeks worth). From April 13 the charge will be based on the full year’s entitlement to child benefit.
It is included within the self assessment income tax calculation and will be payable to HMRC along with any income tax due – so the HICBC for 2012/13 is payable by 31st January 2014.
You will be asked about child benefit on your Defacto self assessment income tax checklist – if you or your partner receives child benefit then you must answer yes to this section. We will then contact you regarding additional information needed. As HICBC is paid by the higher earner we may need to ask for details of your partner’s income so that we can establish who should incur the charge.
If you and your partner’s joint income for the tax year is £50,000 or more and one of you receives child benefit then the HICBC could affect you: The charge is 1% of child benefit for every £100 above £50,000 and if household income exceeds £60,000 then the HICBC will be 100% of the child benefit for that period.
In 2012/13 the charge is based on the amount of child benefit you were entitled to receive for the period 7th January 13 to 5th April 2013 (i.e. 13 weeks worth). From April 13 the charge will be based on the full year’s entitlement to child benefit.
It is included within the self assessment income tax calculation and will be payable to HMRC along with any income tax due – so the HICBC for 2012/13 is payable by 31st January 2014.
You will be asked about child benefit on your Defacto self assessment income tax checklist – if you or your partner receives child benefit then you must answer yes to this section. We will then contact you regarding additional information needed. As HICBC is paid by the higher earner we may need to ask for details of your partner’s income so that we can establish who should incur the charge.
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
My Tax Return Catch-up
The Taxman has launched a campaign to persuade tardy taxpayers to submit their over-due tax returns for 2011/12 or earlier years. If you have a personal tax return form (or notice to complete a tax return) sitting in a drawer, and have been putting off the tedious task of completing it, now is the time to act.
The Taxman's campaign is called: My tax return catch-up. It was launched in July and will run to 15 October 2013. It is not open to those who operate outside the tax system in the so-called 'black economy', and have never received a tax return form or notice to submit a tax return.
All the outstanding tax returns must be submitted by 15 October 2013, which is also the due date for paying any tax due. If you can't pay all your outstanding tax by that date, you can ask for a time to pay agreement to spread the tax payment over several months.
The incentives for joining the tax return catch-up campaign include lower penalties for late submission of returns and late payment of tax. Just how much lower those penalties will be is not specified, the actual discount will depend on your circumstances.
If you, or a friend or relative, want to take part in the tax return campaign, that taxpayer first has to tell HMRC they want to join. This can be done online, by phone or post and we can do this on your behalf. We can also help with completing the outstanding tax returns, calculating the tax due, and negotiating for time to pay outstanding tax with the tax office. Remember submitting an overdue tax return can sometimes result in a tax repayment!
The Taxman's campaign is called: My tax return catch-up. It was launched in July and will run to 15 October 2013. It is not open to those who operate outside the tax system in the so-called 'black economy', and have never received a tax return form or notice to submit a tax return.
All the outstanding tax returns must be submitted by 15 October 2013, which is also the due date for paying any tax due. If you can't pay all your outstanding tax by that date, you can ask for a time to pay agreement to spread the tax payment over several months.
The incentives for joining the tax return catch-up campaign include lower penalties for late submission of returns and late payment of tax. Just how much lower those penalties will be is not specified, the actual discount will depend on your circumstances.
If you, or a friend or relative, want to take part in the tax return campaign, that taxpayer first has to tell HMRC they want to join. This can be done online, by phone or post and we can do this on your behalf. We can also help with completing the outstanding tax returns, calculating the tax due, and negotiating for time to pay outstanding tax with the tax office. Remember submitting an overdue tax return can sometimes result in a tax repayment!
Monday, 1 October 2012
Taxman on the Hunt Again
The Taxman has run a number of campaigns designed to encourage certain classes of taxpayer to declare their untaxed income. In the past we have seen campaigns aimed at medics, plumbers, tutors, electricians and e-traders.
A new campaign started on 26 September 2012, this time targeting direct sellers. These are people who sell products on a commission basis in customers' homes. These sellers often earn very little from their efforts, but they still need to declare those small amounts of income to the Tax Office. The campaign will primarily focus on helping the door-to-door sellers understand their obligations to register for tax and to file tax returns.
Following swiftly on will be a campaign targeting builders and tradesmen who provide home maintenance, repair or home improvement services.
These tradesmen may not be registered with HMRC under the construction industry scheme (CIS) if they only work for householders. If you are such a builder or trades-person, now would be a good time to talk to us about any tax related worries you have.
The Taxman has also formed some new taskforce teams to door-step particular businesses in defined areas. The latest list of potential 'tax cheats' now includes: grocers & retail traders, restaurants, motor-traders, hairdressers & beauticians, and London-based lawyers! If your business is on that list, please talk to us ASAP.
A new campaign started on 26 September 2012, this time targeting direct sellers. These are people who sell products on a commission basis in customers' homes. These sellers often earn very little from their efforts, but they still need to declare those small amounts of income to the Tax Office. The campaign will primarily focus on helping the door-to-door sellers understand their obligations to register for tax and to file tax returns.
Following swiftly on will be a campaign targeting builders and tradesmen who provide home maintenance, repair or home improvement services.
These tradesmen may not be registered with HMRC under the construction industry scheme (CIS) if they only work for householders. If you are such a builder or trades-person, now would be a good time to talk to us about any tax related worries you have.
The Taxman has also formed some new taskforce teams to door-step particular businesses in defined areas. The latest list of potential 'tax cheats' now includes: grocers & retail traders, restaurants, motor-traders, hairdressers & beauticians, and London-based lawyers! If your business is on that list, please talk to us ASAP.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Web Bots Are Out to Get You!
The Taxman has announced he is going to start targeting tax evasion by online traders, private tutors, personal trainers and life coaches.
In order to find out who is failing to pay tax on all their income the Taxman is to send out web bots (automatic search programmes), to trawl the internet for data on sales and services advertised by UK residents. This data will then be compared to sources the Tax Office holds such as bank interest and tax returns.
If you declare all of your profits and earnings on your tax return you have nothing to fear. But you may have friends or family members who earn a little bit on the side by selling stuff or advertising their services online, so please pass on this advance warning.
For example, a hobby making decorative items could lead to selling the products at a market or through a website. A common misconception is that if no profit is made the income source does not need to be declared. Unfortunately the Taxman is unlikely to agree. Where the costs are not recorded any income will be treated as profit, and thus will amount to taxable income. The same applies to private tuition; even if the turnover is very small it must be declared where there is intent to make a profit from the activity.
Those online traders or private tutors who have not declared this source of income to the Taxman and who are not registered for self assessment, should contact the Tax Office by 5 October 2011 to notify them there is income received during the 2010/11 tax year. The best way to do this is to complete the self assessment registration form CWF1, either online or in paper form. We can do this for you. The Taxman will then issue the individual with a tax return form to complete for 2010/11.
Where the individual has traded online for several years without declaring the income, a more detailed disclosure to the Tax Office will be required. Please talk to us before approaching the Tax Office, as such a situation needs to be handled very carefully!
In order to find out who is failing to pay tax on all their income the Taxman is to send out web bots (automatic search programmes), to trawl the internet for data on sales and services advertised by UK residents. This data will then be compared to sources the Tax Office holds such as bank interest and tax returns.
If you declare all of your profits and earnings on your tax return you have nothing to fear. But you may have friends or family members who earn a little bit on the side by selling stuff or advertising their services online, so please pass on this advance warning.
For example, a hobby making decorative items could lead to selling the products at a market or through a website. A common misconception is that if no profit is made the income source does not need to be declared. Unfortunately the Taxman is unlikely to agree. Where the costs are not recorded any income will be treated as profit, and thus will amount to taxable income. The same applies to private tuition; even if the turnover is very small it must be declared where there is intent to make a profit from the activity.
Those online traders or private tutors who have not declared this source of income to the Taxman and who are not registered for self assessment, should contact the Tax Office by 5 October 2011 to notify them there is income received during the 2010/11 tax year. The best way to do this is to complete the self assessment registration form CWF1, either online or in paper form. We can do this for you. The Taxman will then issue the individual with a tax return form to complete for 2010/11.
Where the individual has traded online for several years without declaring the income, a more detailed disclosure to the Tax Office will be required. Please talk to us before approaching the Tax Office, as such a situation needs to be handled very carefully!
Monday, 9 May 2011
Higher Penalties for Late Returns
Your personal self-assessment tax return for the tax year to 5 April 2011 must be submitted to HMRC by 31 January 2012, or by 31 October 2011 if it is submitted in paper form. These deadlines also apply to your separate partnership tax return where you are a member of a partnership.
For tax returns for earlier years you would receive a penalty of £100 if you submitted it later than those dates, but that penalty would be reduced to nil if you were due a tax repayment, or all the tax due was paid by 31 January. There was however no reduction for penalties relating to late partnership returns. For 2010/11 tax returns and later years, the penalties for submitting the return late will not be reduced even if all the tax due has been paid on time.
As well as the initial £100 penalty, there are additional penalties!
If you are...
- More than three months late submitting your return the penalty is charged on a daily basis at £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900.
- Over 6 months late with your tax return you will be hit with an additional penalty calculated as the higher of: £300 and 5% of the tax due.
- Over 12 months late, the same penalty is imposed again.
When a partnership tax return is submitted late those penalties apply to each partner in the partnership.
If you are also late in paying the correct amount of tax you will receive a penalty for paying the tax late. These penalties are calculated as 5% of the outstanding tax due at the following intervals: 30 days late, 6 months late, and 12 months late.
In view of these high penalties it is essential that we work with you to get your tax bill calculated in good time, so you can make the correct payments due and get your return done on time. Please send us the information to complete your accounts and tax return as soon as possible!
For tax returns for earlier years you would receive a penalty of £100 if you submitted it later than those dates, but that penalty would be reduced to nil if you were due a tax repayment, or all the tax due was paid by 31 January. There was however no reduction for penalties relating to late partnership returns. For 2010/11 tax returns and later years, the penalties for submitting the return late will not be reduced even if all the tax due has been paid on time.
As well as the initial £100 penalty, there are additional penalties!
If you are...
- More than three months late submitting your return the penalty is charged on a daily basis at £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900.
- Over 6 months late with your tax return you will be hit with an additional penalty calculated as the higher of: £300 and 5% of the tax due.
- Over 12 months late, the same penalty is imposed again.
When a partnership tax return is submitted late those penalties apply to each partner in the partnership.
If you are also late in paying the correct amount of tax you will receive a penalty for paying the tax late. These penalties are calculated as 5% of the outstanding tax due at the following intervals: 30 days late, 6 months late, and 12 months late.
In view of these high penalties it is essential that we work with you to get your tax bill calculated in good time, so you can make the correct payments due and get your return done on time. Please send us the information to complete your accounts and tax return as soon as possible!
Thursday, 13 May 2010
How to Keep Accounting Records
The Taxman is very keen for all businesses and individuals who need to submit a tax return, to keep complete and accurate records. He has recently issued a new leaflet that summarises all the records different types of businesses should keep, and those they are required to keep by law. See: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/factsheet/record-keeping.pdf
If you do not keep complete and accurate records of all your income, sales, gains, expenses, and business costs, you will not be able to prove the figures reported on your tax return are correct. If the Taxman challenges the entries on your tax return, and you cannot produce the evidence to back up those figures, he will assume they are incorrect. The Taxman will then think up a more reasonable figure (in his eyes), and look to tax you on that. You may then have to pay the additional tax, interest for late paid tax, and a penalty of up to 100% of the underpaid tax.
You can avoid such a nightmare if you keep accurate and complete records. Talk to us if you are uncertain about what paper and electronic records you should keep.
If you do not keep complete and accurate records of all your income, sales, gains, expenses, and business costs, you will not be able to prove the figures reported on your tax return are correct. If the Taxman challenges the entries on your tax return, and you cannot produce the evidence to back up those figures, he will assume they are incorrect. The Taxman will then think up a more reasonable figure (in his eyes), and look to tax you on that. You may then have to pay the additional tax, interest for late paid tax, and a penalty of up to 100% of the underpaid tax.
You can avoid such a nightmare if you keep accurate and complete records. Talk to us if you are uncertain about what paper and electronic records you should keep.
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