Category Archives: Uncategorized

HMRC to extend data gathering powers

HMRC has had considerable success in using third party data to better target compliance activity and to tackle the hidden economy. A current consultation by HMRC proposes that these data gathering powers be extended in order to combat tax evasion. We have extracted the following comments from the formal consultation document. Many businesses use intermediaries […]

HMRC roadside fuel testing

Treasury Minister Damian Hinds visited Belfast and Newry recently as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) unveiled new roadside fuel testing equipment to tackle the trade in illicit diesel. The hi-tech equipment has been introduced to allow officers to test vehicles at the roadside for the presence of the new fuel marker, which was introduced into […]

Home owners and IHT

One of the tax issues that the Conservative Party promised to legislate for, a promise they made during the recent election campaign, was the easing of the Inheritance Tax charge for home owners in the UK. The much publicised change was to take family homes of up to £1m out of Inheritance Tax charge completely. […]

Landlords

 There were a number of measures in the Summer Budget that will impact the taxation of property income. These include: the abolition of the 10% wear and tear allowance (see details below); the restriction of tax relief to the basic rate (20%) for loan interest on funds raised to purchase residential property for letting. This […]

Small business changes

 Some of the key changes that will impact small businesses in particular are set out below: Taxation of dividend income from April 2016. The present 10% dividend tax credit is being abolished from April 2016. In its place an annual dividend tax allowance of £5,000 is being introduced. Dividends received will be free of further […]

Tapered pensions annual allowance

 Legislation in Summer Finance Bill 2015 introduces a tapered reduction in the annual allowance from 6 April 2016, for those with an ‘adjusted income’ of over £150,000. The ‘adjusted income’ definition adds-back any pension contributions, to prevent individuals from avoiding the restriction by exchanging salary for employer contributions. To provide certainty for individuals with lower […]