The Taxman is asking all employers to spring-clean their payroll data to prepare for RTI. What does RTI stand for? It stands for Real Time Information, and within the next 18 months it will become as familiar to you as PAYE.
RTI is a new way of submitting payroll data to the Tax Office. Instead of sending the PAYE information in annually after the end of the tax year, all employers will have to submit the payroll data online on every occasion the payroll is run. This will allow the Taxman to understand who is being paid what amounts, and what PAYE is due, on a real-time basis. The details of employees' pay will be passed to the Department for Work & Pensions, to allow the amount of Universal Credits (which are replacing Tax Credits from October 2013) paid to workers to be adjusted on a monthly basis.
RTI will be compulsory for all employers and pension providers by October 2013.
Before payroll data can be accepted under the RTI system it must be 'clean'. That means having an accurate date of birth, full official name (not just initials or nick-name) and correct National Insurance number, for each and every employee. If the data for one of your employees does not agree to that on the Tax Office computer, the submission of the payroll data under RTI may fail, and you may get fined.
It will take some time to check the details of every employee on a large payroll, so it would be best to start this task as soon as possible.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Online VAT Filing Compulsory
Are you already filing your VAT returns online? If not, then you need to prepare to switch to online filing as this will be compulsory for all VAT registered businesses from 1 April 2012. Don't leave this task until the last minute as it can take a few weeks to receive the unique user ID you need from the Tax Office. You will also have to create a password and set up a system to pay the VAT you owe.
You will no longer be able to pay the VAT due by cheque. You have to pay by electronic means. This includes using a direct debit, bank-transfer such as CHAPS or BACS, a personalised bank giro payment slip paid in at a bank (these need to be ordered in advance), or a debit card or credit card over the internet.
The good news is that Tax Office has now instructed its bank to accept tax payments by the faster payment service. This means the tax or VAT due will take less than a day to clear from your account to the Taxman's bank account. Before relying on this shorter timescale, check whether your bank account is set-up to use the faster payment service and if any money limits apply. Many bank accounts can only pay out up to £10,000 by electronic payments in one day. If your VAT bill exceeds that cap you may have to spread the payment over several days, or talk to your bank about other transfer methods.
We can file your VAT electronically on your behalf once you have completed the necessary authority forms from HMRC. We will also require all your VAT information in good time before the due date for the VAT return, so we can calculate the VAT due and tell you what to pay to ensure the return and payment is received by HMRC before the deadline.
You will no longer be able to pay the VAT due by cheque. You have to pay by electronic means. This includes using a direct debit, bank-transfer such as CHAPS or BACS, a personalised bank giro payment slip paid in at a bank (these need to be ordered in advance), or a debit card or credit card over the internet.
The good news is that Tax Office has now instructed its bank to accept tax payments by the faster payment service. This means the tax or VAT due will take less than a day to clear from your account to the Taxman's bank account. Before relying on this shorter timescale, check whether your bank account is set-up to use the faster payment service and if any money limits apply. Many bank accounts can only pay out up to £10,000 by electronic payments in one day. If your VAT bill exceeds that cap you may have to spread the payment over several days, or talk to your bank about other transfer methods.
We can file your VAT electronically on your behalf once you have completed the necessary authority forms from HMRC. We will also require all your VAT information in good time before the due date for the VAT return, so we can calculate the VAT due and tell you what to pay to ensure the return and payment is received by HMRC before the deadline.
Are You On The Taxman's Target List?
The Taxman has formed a number of task forces to investigate certain business sectors, where he believes tax rules are being ignored.
A summary of the current work of those task forces is listed below, but bear in mind that each task force will move on to a new geographical area once the first area has been investigated.
London Properties
This task force is investigating commercial property deals in Greater London, where the VAT rules may not have been applied correctly. Where they find such a case, the tax officers will review the entire tax compliance of the property owner, across all taxes.
Landlords
HMRC are targeting landlords with three or more let properties in the North West of England and North Wales. Have you or your family correctly declared all of your rental income?
Construction Industry
The targets are self-employed builders (including small companies) in the North West of England and North Wales. The task force is looking for under-declared sales (such as cash jobs) and over-claimed expenses (where there are no supporting invoices). Remember to keep every receipt for purchases and keep a log of all business mileage. We can help you by advising what expenses are allowable to claim against your income.
No Tax Return Submitted
This task force is currently operating in the South East of England, looking for businesses who have not submitted tax returns for corporation tax, VAT, PAYE or income tax.
A summary of the current work of those task forces is listed below, but bear in mind that each task force will move on to a new geographical area once the first area has been investigated.
London Properties
This task force is investigating commercial property deals in Greater London, where the VAT rules may not have been applied correctly. Where they find such a case, the tax officers will review the entire tax compliance of the property owner, across all taxes.
Landlords
HMRC are targeting landlords with three or more let properties in the North West of England and North Wales. Have you or your family correctly declared all of your rental income?
Construction Industry
The targets are self-employed builders (including small companies) in the North West of England and North Wales. The task force is looking for under-declared sales (such as cash jobs) and over-claimed expenses (where there are no supporting invoices). Remember to keep every receipt for purchases and keep a log of all business mileage. We can help you by advising what expenses are allowable to claim against your income.
No Tax Return Submitted
This task force is currently operating in the South East of England, looking for businesses who have not submitted tax returns for corporation tax, VAT, PAYE or income tax.
Tax Numbers for 2012/13
Tax rates and thresholds for 2012/13 have been announced as follows:
Income Tax Personal Allowances
Under 65: £8,105
65-75: £10,500
75 and over: £10,660
Minimum marriage allowance: £2,960
Maximum marriage allowance: £7,705
Blind person's allowance: £2,100
Income limit for those aged 65 or more: £25,400
Income limit for under 65 personal allowance: £100,000
Income Tax Rates
Savings rate* (10%): £0 - 2,710
Basic rate (20%): £0 - 34,370
Higher rate (40%): £34,371 to 150,000
Additional rate (50%): Over £150,000
* Rate does not apply where other income exceeds the savings rate threshold.
Different tax rates apply for dividend income as follows:
Basic rate (10%): £0 - 34,370
Higher rate (32.5%): £34,371 to 150,000
Additional rate (42.5%): Over £150,000
NI
The rates and weekly thresholds for NI contributions will be:
Employer's class 1 above primary threshold (above £144): 13.8%
Employee's class 1 not contracted out (from £146 to £817): 12%
Employee's additional class 1 (above £817): 2%
Self-employed class 4 (annual figures from £7,605 to £42,475): 9%
Self-employed class 4 additional rate (above £42,475 per year): 2%
Self-employed class 2: £2.65 per week
Voluntary contributions class 3: £13.25 per week
Capital Gains Tax
Tax rates for individuals
Up to basic rate band: 18%
Above basic rate band: 28%
Annual exemption: £10,600
Corporation Tax
From 1 April 2012:
Profit of £0 - £300,000: 20%
Profit of £300,000- £1,500,000: 26.25%
Profit of £1,500,000 and over: 25%
These rates apply where there are no associated companies.
Income Tax Personal Allowances
Under 65: £8,105
65-75: £10,500
75 and over: £10,660
Minimum marriage allowance: £2,960
Maximum marriage allowance: £7,705
Blind person's allowance: £2,100
Income limit for those aged 65 or more: £25,400
Income limit for under 65 personal allowance: £100,000
Income Tax Rates
Savings rate* (10%): £0 - 2,710
Basic rate (20%): £0 - 34,370
Higher rate (40%): £34,371 to 150,000
Additional rate (50%): Over £150,000
* Rate does not apply where other income exceeds the savings rate threshold.
Different tax rates apply for dividend income as follows:
Basic rate (10%): £0 - 34,370
Higher rate (32.5%): £34,371 to 150,000
Additional rate (42.5%): Over £150,000
NI
The rates and weekly thresholds for NI contributions will be:
Employer's class 1 above primary threshold (above £144): 13.8%
Employee's class 1 not contracted out (from £146 to £817): 12%
Employee's additional class 1 (above £817): 2%
Self-employed class 4 (annual figures from £7,605 to £42,475): 9%
Self-employed class 4 additional rate (above £42,475 per year): 2%
Self-employed class 2: £2.65 per week
Voluntary contributions class 3: £13.25 per week
Capital Gains Tax
Tax rates for individuals
Up to basic rate band: 18%
Above basic rate band: 28%
Annual exemption: £10,600
Corporation Tax
From 1 April 2012:
Profit of £0 - £300,000: 20%
Profit of £300,000- £1,500,000: 26.25%
Profit of £1,500,000 and over: 25%
These rates apply where there are no associated companies.
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Autumn Statement Tax Summary
George Osborne did not have great tidings to impart when he presented his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons on 29 November 2011. The best he could offer the ordinary taxpayer was a freeze in road fuel duty until 1 August 2012, when it will increase by 3.02p per litre. Train and tube fares were due to rise by a whopping 8.2% next year, but this rise will be limited to (wait for it...) 6.2%.
Businesses who occupy small commercial premises receive some generosity with an extension to the business rates relief scheme to 1 April 2013 (already extended for a year to 1 October 2012). Different business rates relief schemes apply in England, Wales and Scotland so ask your local authority what relief applies to your building. Occupiers of larger business premises may be able to defer payment of up to 60% of the increase in business rates for up to two years.
Other key tax announcements for businesses and individuals were:
- New anti-avoidance rules for employer asset backed pension contributions, effective from 29 November 2011.
- State pension age rises to 67, to be phased in over two years from April 2026.
- Freeze in the couple and loan parent elements of working tax credit in 2012/13.
- No increase in child tax credit above the rate of inflation, as had been announced.
- Capital gains exemption to be frozen for 2012/13.
- Research & Development tax credit for larger companies given above the profit line rather than as a tax reduction, to apply from 2013.
- New Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) from April 2012, giving income tax relief of 50% for investments of up to £100,000 in start-up businesses.
- Exemption from CGT when gains realised in 2012/13 are reinvested under SEIS in the same tax year.
- 100% capital allowances in certain new Enterprise Zones, not in all zones.
- Main rate of corporation tax will reduce to 25% from April 2012.
- Air passenger duty to be extended to private jets from 1 April 2013.
Further detail on the new tax rules and rates will be announced on 6 December 2011, so we will cover any significant items for small businesses in our January 2012 newsletter.
Businesses who occupy small commercial premises receive some generosity with an extension to the business rates relief scheme to 1 April 2013 (already extended for a year to 1 October 2012). Different business rates relief schemes apply in England, Wales and Scotland so ask your local authority what relief applies to your building. Occupiers of larger business premises may be able to defer payment of up to 60% of the increase in business rates for up to two years.
Other key tax announcements for businesses and individuals were:
- New anti-avoidance rules for employer asset backed pension contributions, effective from 29 November 2011.
- State pension age rises to 67, to be phased in over two years from April 2026.
- Freeze in the couple and loan parent elements of working tax credit in 2012/13.
- No increase in child tax credit above the rate of inflation, as had been announced.
- Capital gains exemption to be frozen for 2012/13.
- Research & Development tax credit for larger companies given above the profit line rather than as a tax reduction, to apply from 2013.
- New Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) from April 2012, giving income tax relief of 50% for investments of up to £100,000 in start-up businesses.
- Exemption from CGT when gains realised in 2012/13 are reinvested under SEIS in the same tax year.
- 100% capital allowances in certain new Enterprise Zones, not in all zones.
- Main rate of corporation tax will reduce to 25% from April 2012.
- Air passenger duty to be extended to private jets from 1 April 2013.
Further detail on the new tax rules and rates will be announced on 6 December 2011, so we will cover any significant items for small businesses in our January 2012 newsletter.
Low Value Consignment Changes
Businesses in the UK who sell small value items by mail order have long complained that they are undercut by shipments coming in from the Channel Islands. This is due to the operation of low value consignment relief (LVCR), which exempts from VAT parcels coming into the UK from outside the EU, where the value of the goods is less than a prescribed limit. The Channel Islands are outside the EU, but close enough to the UK to make shipping relatively cheap.
The limit per parcel for LVCR was £18 for years, but it was reduced to £15 from 1 November 2011. HMRC have just announced that the LVCR will be removed altogether from 1 April 2012 for goods imported from the Channel Islands. This change should help UK based businesses, but will not help the distribution centres and flower growers in the Channel Islands!
The limit per parcel for LVCR was £18 for years, but it was reduced to £15 from 1 November 2011. HMRC have just announced that the LVCR will be removed altogether from 1 April 2012 for goods imported from the Channel Islands. This change should help UK based businesses, but will not help the distribution centres and flower growers in the Channel Islands!
Pension Lifetime Allowance Decrease
There is another change due in April 2012 that will affect tax relief for pension contributions. The Lifetime Allowance, which is the maximum tax favoured fund you can have in a pension scheme, will reduce from £1.8 million to £1.5 million from 6 April 2012.
The maximum fund of £1.8 million will produce an indexed linked pension of around £75,000 p.a. for a man retiring at 65, using current annuity rates. So the new cap of £1.5 million is not helpful. If you already have pension funds, which in total are worth more than £1.5 million, you may need to apply to HMRC to ring-fence your existing pension savings for tax purposes, under what is called 'fixed protection'.
To work out whether fixed protection is required, you must add together the values of all your various pension funds. Most people will have accumulated funds in a number of schemes over their working life as they change jobs, or start contributing to new pension schemes for other reasons. If you are in this position, you will need to request a 'Lifetime Allowance Factor' (valuation of the fund), from all the companies with which you hold a pension scheme. Such requests normally take around eight weeks to process, so you need to get a move on.
The application for fixed protection must reach HMRC by 5 April 2012, and it must be made on the prescribed form. Late applications will not be accepted. Where fixed protection is granted you will not be able to make any further tax-allowable pension contributions to a registered pension scheme, or build-up further benefits in a defined benefits scheme. So if you are considering applying for fixed protection for your pension funds, you should first take expert pensions advice.
The maximum fund of £1.8 million will produce an indexed linked pension of around £75,000 p.a. for a man retiring at 65, using current annuity rates. So the new cap of £1.5 million is not helpful. If you already have pension funds, which in total are worth more than £1.5 million, you may need to apply to HMRC to ring-fence your existing pension savings for tax purposes, under what is called 'fixed protection'.
To work out whether fixed protection is required, you must add together the values of all your various pension funds. Most people will have accumulated funds in a number of schemes over their working life as they change jobs, or start contributing to new pension schemes for other reasons. If you are in this position, you will need to request a 'Lifetime Allowance Factor' (valuation of the fund), from all the companies with which you hold a pension scheme. Such requests normally take around eight weeks to process, so you need to get a move on.
The application for fixed protection must reach HMRC by 5 April 2012, and it must be made on the prescribed form. Late applications will not be accepted. Where fixed protection is granted you will not be able to make any further tax-allowable pension contributions to a registered pension scheme, or build-up further benefits in a defined benefits scheme. So if you are considering applying for fixed protection for your pension funds, you should first take expert pensions advice.
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