HMRC “Phishing” E-Mails – Warning

We are aware of a number of “phishing” emails being sent out to taxpayers, looking like they have come from HMRC – they will usually refer to a tax refund and ask for bank and other personal details.  Can we please remind everyone to NEVER respond to these emails, HMRC will never ask for information in this way.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will never send notifications of a tax rebate by email, or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email.

Do not visit the website contained within the email or disclose any personal or payment information.

Here is a link to the HMRC site, where it refers to some of the scams, but is not a full list.  If you have any doubts or worries at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/examples.htm

 

SMEs in the dark about changes to the PAYE system

SMEs in the dark about changes to the PAYE system

One in three SMEs has no knowledge of Real Time Information (RTI) and what it means for their business, according to a recent report from AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians). This is despite the major changes to the PAYE system coming into effect from April.

The survey of 1,000 decision makers, managers and directors of SMEs carried out in January this year, revealed that:

One in three SMEs (35 per cent) don’t know about the changes to the PAYE system (the introduction of RTI) which will be implemented from April 2013

Of those who are aware, one in three don’t know if their payroll is set to cope with the changes

The biggest fears of SMEs around RTI are the time and money required to successfully implement the changes AAT report highlights a lack of understanding about the introduction of RTI

The lack of understanding about these major changes also revealed that 30 per cent of those businesses that were aware of RTI didn’t know if their current software or payroll could cope with the changes.

With HMRC issuing onerous penalties for those businesses that don’t comply, it may come as no surprise that 35 per cent of SMEs are worried and concerned about the cost involved and a further 30 per cent are worried about how time consuming it will be to implement .

As our economy currently flat-lines and David Cameron states that SMEs, startups and entrepreneurs are vital for the future of our country, 25 per cent of businesses think that the implementation of RTI will affect their overall business growth.

Half of SMEs also believe that the complexity of the tax system favours big business.
Forty-three per cent think that HMRC needs to take responsibility and address those organisations suspected of tax avoidance to ensure a more level playing field – putting a stop to “sweetheart” deals.

Almost half (49 per cent) of SMEs were quick to explain that startups and entrepreneurs face major difficulty within the UK to get their business ideas off the ground because of the lack of capital made available to them. There is much work to be done to raise awareness of lending and cash flow initiatives so that entrepreneurs are made aware of the opportunities and feel supported.

“We need the small business community to feel that the UK government is doing more to incentivise and stimulate their growth” AAT Director of Professional Development, Adam Harper commented on the new research findings: “We need the small business community to feel that the UK government is doing more to incentivise and stimulate their growth; especially with many small businesses feeling disheartened with the growing number of high profile tax avoidance stories.

With nearly half of SME enterprises unaware of the finance lending initiatives available to startups and entrepreneurs, so much more needs to be done to educate them about their options.”

“The lack of understanding about RTI clearly indicates not enough has been done to guide small businesses through the massive changes to PAYE which will have a big impact on time, resource and spend for small enterprises. It’s a distressing situation given April is fast approaching.”

Autumn Statement 2012 – Follow Up

We recently gave you a summary of the key tax issues announced in the Autumn Statement on 5 December. We promised to provide you with an update if there were any significant changes announced on 11 December when much of the draft legislation for the Finance Bill 2013 was issued for consultation.

Once again, HM Treasury did not disappoint! Well over 1,000 pages of draft legislation and explanatory notes hit the Treasury website. Much of this is very heavy technical material but from within it we have distilled some key issues which update the items covered in the earlier summary.

Please click here for our summary http://birchcooper.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/4/files/2012/12/update/index.htm

As always, if you have any queries, re the above, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

News from HMRC about SA Penalties

Some of you will have seen press coverage recently about Self Assessment (SA) daily penalty notices being sent out in error. We (HMRC) are very sorry about this but here’s an update on the situation which we hope will help you to deal with questions from your members or your clients.

We have identified that nearly 12,000 people have been sent a Self Assessment daily penalty notice in error. We are really sorry and can reassure these customers that we know who they are and that this letter is incorrect – they do not owe a penalty. We are writing to all of them to apologise and to explain this error.
Many of the 12,000 customers are among the 130,000 who have already been taken out of Self Assessment, following a cleanse of the database and our invitation to customers to contact us if they felt that they shouldn’t be in SA. We can reassure these customers that they have been removed from Self Assessment.
It is very unfortunate that this process error has taken the shine off the good news that we have taken 130,000 people out of Self Assessment.

Further Information/Background

•    We have been approaching the new SA penalties with a clear message – we want the returns, not penalties. Through our efforts to remind those who haven’t already done so, targeted on known late filers, we have encouraged 500,000 more people to file on time than last year.

•    We have encouraged the remaining customers to file, and to file online, before daily fines kicked in on 1 May.

•    We have lifted 130,000 customers out of Self Assessment, following a targeted cleanse of the database and our invitation to customers to contact us if they felt they shouldn’t be in SA.

•    It is a straightforward process taking customers out of SA for the future. But it is a very complicated process to take them out from the past year.

•    We have identified that around 12,000 people have been sent a Self Assessment daily penalty notice in error. This letter is incorrect – they do not owe a penalty.

•    We know who these customers are and will be writing to all of them to apologise and to reassure them that they have been removed from Self Assessment.

•    Some of these 12, 000 customers were not being taken out of SA for the future but we had to alter their 2010-11 record as we had agreed to cancel the ₤100 fixed penalty for this year.

•    People affected will not need to take any action. They will get an apology letter and an amended SA statement to clearly show that no penalty is owing.

Budget Statement 21 March 2012

Budget 2012

George Osborne presented his third Budget on Wednesday 21 March 2012.

The Chancellor started by reaffirming the need for stability in the UK economy and finished in Churchillian style with phrases such as:

‘No people will strive as the British will strive.’
‘No country will adapt as the British will adapt.’
‘This country borrowed its way into trouble. Now we’re going to earn our way out.’

Towards the end of last year the Government issued the majority of the clauses, in draft, of Finance Bill 2012 together with updates on consultations. The publication of the draft Finance Bill clauses is part of the Government’s improvements in the way tax policy is developed, communicated and legislated. The Budget updates some of these previous announcements and also proposes further measures. Some of these changes apply from April 2012 and some take effect at a later date, so the timing needs to be carefully considered.

Our summary focuses on the issues likely to affect you, your family and your business. To help you decipher what was said we have included our own comments.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.

Main Budget proposals

A further increase in the personal allowance but with a reduction in the basic rate band from April 2013.

  • An additional 1% cut in the main rate of corporation tax to 24% from April 2012.
  • A reduction in the additional rate of income tax from 50% to 45% from April 2013.
  • Details of how Child Benefit will be taxed on those with income in excess of £50,000.
  • Proposals for tax simplification for smaller businesses.
  • Consultation on the introduction of a general anti-abuse rule.
  • Increased Stamp Duty Land Tax on high value residential properties.

Previous announcements

Some of the changes detailed in this summary have been the subject of earlier announcements. Here is a reminder of some of the more important ones:

  • The introduction of a Statutory Residence Test
  • Changes for non-domiciled individuals
  • Reduced rates of inheritance tax for charitable individuals
  • Introduction of the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme
  • Reduction of the Annual Investment Allowance from April 2012
  • Changes to the relief available for Research and Development expenditure.

The Budget proposals may be subject to amendment in a Finance Act. You should contact us before taking any action as a result of the contents of this summary.

Personal Tax

The personal allowance for 2012/13

For those aged under 65 the personal allowance will be increased by £630 to £8,105. This increase is greater than the minimum required and is part of the plan of the Coalition Government to ultimately raise the allowance to £10,000.

The personal allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income over £100,000. So for 2012/13, the allowance ceases at adjusted net income in excess of £116,210.

Comment

Planning should be considered where adjusted net income is expected to exceed £100,000. This figure is calculated after giving a deduction against income for pension contributions and Gift Aid payments. Consider whether these could be made to protect some or all of the personal allowance.

Tax band and rates 2012/13

The basic rate of tax is currently 20%. The band of income taxable at this rate is being reduced to £34,370 so that the threshold at which the 40% higher rate of tax applies will remain at £42,475.

 

The 50% additional rate of tax currently applies where taxable income exceeds £150,000.

 

If dividend income is part of total income this is taxed at 10% where it falls within the basic rate band, 32.5% where liable at the higher rate of tax and 42.5% where liable to the additional rate of tax.

Changes for 2013/14

The personal allowance is to increase to £9,205. The band of income taxable at this rate is being reduced to £32,245 so that the threshold at which the 40% band applies will reduce to £41,450.

For 2013/14 the 20% basic rate and 40% higher tax rates remain unchanged. However the 50% additional rate tax will be reduced to 45%. A rate of 37.5% will be payable on dividends liable to the additional rate of tax.

Similar changes will be made to the rates which apply to trusts.

Comment

There had been widespread speculation that the 50% top rate of tax would be abolished.

Age allowances

From 2013/14 the higher age related personal allowances will not be increased and their availability will be restricted to people born on or before:

  • 5 April 1948 for the £10,500 allowance
  • 5 April 1938 for the £10,660 allowance.

Child Benefit

Legislation will be introduced to impose a new charge on a taxpayer who has adjusted net income over £50,000 in a tax year where either they or their partner are in receipt of Child Benefit for the year. Where both partners have adjusted net income in excess of £50,000 the charge will apply to the partner with the higher income.

The income tax charge will apply at a rate of 1% of the full Child Benefit award for each £100 of income between £50,000 and £60,000. The charge on taxpayers with income above £60,000 will be equal to the amount of Child Benefit paid.

Child Benefit claimants will be able to decide not to receive Child Benefit if they or their partner do not wish to pay the new charge.

This charge will have effect from 7 January 2013 and for 2012/13 will apply to the Child Benefit paid from that date to the end of the tax year. The income taken into account will be the full income for 2012/13.

Comment

The removal of Child Benefit from households containing a higher rate taxpayer had been announced previously. However the detail of the way in which the restriction would apply had been subject to speculation. The following example shows how the charge will be calculated.

Example

The Child Benefit for two children amounts to £1,752.

The taxpayer’s adjusted net income is £54,000.

The income tax charge will be £700.80.

This is calculated as £17.52 for every £100 above £50,000.

For a taxpayer with adjusted net income of £60,000 or above the income tax charge will equal the Child Benefit.

Cap on unlimited tax reliefs

Legislation will be introduced to apply a cap on income tax reliefs claimed by individuals from 6 April 2013. The cap will only apply to reliefs which are currently unlimited. For anyone seeking to claim more than £50,000 in reliefs, a cap will be set at 25% of income (or £50,000 if greater).

Statutory Residence Test

The Government is proposing to introduce a Statutory Residence Test (SRT) which will come into effect in April 2013. Detailed proposals have already been the subject of consultation and further consultation will take place before the rules are finalised. It is likely that a series of tests will be introduced which will enable an individual to arrive at a definitive answer to the question ‘Am I resident in the UK?’.

Comment

There is currently no definition of ‘residence’ in UK tax law and yet the liability to income tax and capital gains tax (CGT) rests on knowing an individual’s UK residence status for a tax year. Currently the determination of residence is based on old case law and, as a recent Supreme Court decision has shown, it can lead to significant uncertainty and large tax liabilities.

Ordinary Residence

The Government is also proposing to remove the concept of ‘ordinary residence’ for tax purposes from 6 April 2013. Certain employees who work abroad may be treated as not ordinarily resident. As such they are liable to UK tax only on employment income derived from time in the UK. Someone with duties which are carried out both inside and outside the UK is entitled to deduct a proportion of their earnings which relate to time spent outside the UK. This is referred to as ‘overseas workday relief’ but currently has no statutory basis. This relief will be brought into legislation.

Comment

The new SRT will make the concept of ordinary residence effectively redundant. The main tax areas likely to be affected by the change will be CGT and the remittance basis.

Changes for non-domiciled individuals

Individuals who are not domiciled in the UK or who are not ordinarily resident may be able to benefit from the remittance basis of taxation in respect of overseas income and gains. Two significant changes are made to these rules from 6 April 2012:

  • the remittance basis charge (currently £30,000 for those resident for seven out of the nine preceding years) will be increased to £50,000 where an individual has been resident in the UK for 12 out of the preceding 14 tax years
  •  if an individual remits funds to invest directly or indirectly in a UK trading company then that remittance will be tax free if the remittance basis is claimed (although the remittance basis charge will still be payable). The investment must be in a company but can be in the form of shares or loans. Certain activities will not constitute trading, for example, letting residential property. When the investment is realised, it will be necessary for the individual to either reinvest the funds in another qualifying venture or remove the funds from the UK. The reinvestment or removal of the funds needs to be within 45 days of the date on which funds are received.

Some administrative changes in the remittance basis rules will also be introduced.

Business Tax

Corporation tax rates

A further reduction in the main rate of corporation tax has been announced. The planned 1% decrease announced to take effect from 1 April 2012 is now to be a 2% decrease with the rate moving from 26% to 24%. Further 1% reductions to 23% and 22% are to take place from 1 April 2013 and 1 April 2014 respectively. The small company rate will remain at 20%.

Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)

Changes announced in 2011 are due to come into effect on 6 April 2012. These are:

  •  the maximum amount that an individual can invest in total in a tax year rises from £500,000 to £1m
  •  the size of a company that can benefit from EIS (subject to meeting all the qualifications) is increased to £15m gross assets and fewer than 250 employees.

Other changes announced include:

  •  the maximum annual amount that can be invested in an individual company under either EIS or the Venture Capital Trust is to be increased from the current £2 million limit to £5 million
  •  to receive EIS relief the individual cannot be ‘connected’ to the company. The rules are to be relaxed by removing limits on loan capital that is provided by an EIS investor to the company.

Comment

The income tax relief given to an EIS investor is 30% of their investment. The new SEIS relief below will give an increased rate of tax relief but with a significant reduction in the maximum amount of the total annual investments that will qualify.

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)

This is a new relief to start from 6 April 2012. The tax breaks for the investor are:

  •  income tax relief at 50% in respect of qualifying SEIS shares up to an annual maximum investment (in all SEIS companies) of £100,000
  •  a capital gains tax (CGT) exemption where SEIS shares are sold more than three years after they are issued (as for EIS)
  •  a further CGT exemption where an individual makes a capital gain in 2012/13 and reinvests the proceeds in qualifying SEIS shares before 6 April 2013.

The investor can be a director of the company (if the investor is not a director, they cannot be a current employee but can previously have been an employee).

However, like EIS, the investor must not be connected to the company (broadly, this means they must not directly or indirectly control more than 30% of the share capital).

There are significant restrictions on the company including:

  • the maximum amount which can be raised by a company through SEIS is £150,000 and this is an overall total not an annual limit
  •  the gross assets of the company must not exceed £200,000 immediately before the shares are issued
  • the issuing company must have less than the equivalent of 25 full time employees immediately before the shares are issued
  •  the company must exist to carry on a new qualifying trade.

The original proposals also specified that the company must have been incorporated within two years of the date on which the qualifying shares are issued. Following consultation, one key change is that a company will be eligible by reference to the age of any trade rather than to the age of the company. A company with subsidiaries can also now qualify.

In addition, there are copious anti-avoidance rules which are largely drawn from the EIS regime.

Comment

The aim of the relief is to encourage business angels to invest in small enterprises and obtain a tax refund of half their investment. It remains to be seen whether the mountain of restrictions on the company will inhibit the use of the regime.

Annual Investment Allowance (AIA)

The AIA is a capital allowance available for many businesses on most purchases of plant and machinery, long-life assets and integral features. Relief is given on the full cost up to an annual maximum allowance. As previously announced, the allowance is to be reduced to £25,000 from £100,000 with effect from 1 April 2012 for companies and 6 April 2012 for unincorporated businesses.

Where a business has an accounting period that straddles the date of change the allowances have to be apportioned on a time basis. For example a company with an accounting period ending on 30 September 2012 will have an allowance of £62,500 (£100,000 x ½ + £25,000 x ½). However it should be noted that for expenditure incurred after the 1/6 April, the maximum allowance that can be attributed to that expenditure is a fraction of £25,000. The fraction will be the amount of the £25,000 that is included in the calculation of the overall AIA for the accounting period.

Comment

Planning the timing of purchases of significant items of plant becomes very important to ensure that the maximum available AIA can be secured.

Suppose the company with the 30 September year end wishes to buy new plant costing £35,000. If they had bought it in February 2012 they will be able to claim an AIA on the full £35,000 but if they buy it in June 2012 they will only be able to claim an AIA of £12,500 (£25,000 x 6/12 ). They would actually then be better off if they waited until October when they will have a full £25,000 available.

Writing Down Allowances (WDA)

As previously announced, WDA rates reduce from 1/6 April. The main rate of 20% will be reduced to 18% and the lower rate of 10% which applies to integral features and long-life assets will reduce to 8%. It will be necessary to calculate hybrid rates where the accounting period straddles 1/6 April which will give a rate between 20% and 18% (or between 10% and 8%) for that period.

Capital allowances on cars

The 100% first year allowance (FYA) available on new low emission cars purchased (not leased) by a business is revised and extended with effect from 1 April 2013. The current rule is that a 100% FYA is generally available where a car’s emissions do not exceed 110 grams per kilometre (gm/km) until 31 March 2013. The availability of a 100% FYA is to continue for a further two years for purchases from 1 April 2013 but only where emissions do not exceed 95gm/km.

Cars with emissions between 111-160gm/km inclusive currently qualify for main rate WDA (18% from April 2012).The threshold is to be revised down to 130gm/km for additions from 1 April 2013 for businesses within the charge to corporation tax and 6 April 2013 for businesses in the charge to income tax.

Capital allowances in Enterprise Zones

Over the past year the Government has designated a number of very specific areas as Enterprise Zones. Businesses in these areas enjoy certain reliefs, for example, a relief from business rates. From 1 April 2012, 100% capital allowances will be available for parts of some of the Enterprise Zones known as ‘designated assisted areas’. Some of these areas have already been announced and the Chancellor announced further designated sites in his Report.

The relief is only available to companies and is subject to a number of detailed conditions including:

  •  the plant must be new
  •  the plant must not represent a replacement of existing plant.

Capital allowances: fixtures

As announced in Budget 2011, legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2012 to make the availability of capital allowances to a purchaser of a fixture subject to certain conditions.

Following consultation, changes have been made to help ensure fair application of the legislation.

Enhanced capital allowances: energy saving technologies

100% FYAs are given on certain energy saving capital expenditure. The categories of qualifying expenditure will be updated by Treasury Order in summer 2012, subject to State aid approval. The main change will be the inclusion of a new technology category: heat pump driven air curtains.

Tax credits for expenditure on environmentally beneficial plant or machinery

Legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2013 to extend the availability of first year tax credits, for a further five years from 1 April 2013. These credits are available for companies surrendering losses attributable to their expenditure on designated energy-saving or environmentally beneficial plant or machinery.

Research and development expenditure (R&D)

There are currently a number of restrictions which effectively limit the scope of this relief and it is planned to remove these broadly from 1 April 2012. The proposals include:

  • removing the rule limiting a company’s payable R&D credit to the amount of PAYE and NIC it pays
  • removing the £10,000 minimum expenditure condition
  • increasing the additional deduction for R&D expenditure by SMEs by a further 25% making the total deduction 225% of actual expenditure.

It has also been announced that there will be an ‘above the line’ R&D tax credit to encourage R&D activity with a minimum rate of 9.1% before tax. It is planned for inclusion in Finance Bill 2013 following consultation.

Patent Box

The concept of a Patent Box has been the subject of consultation by HMRC for the past couple of years and legislation is now being brought forward to apply from 1 April 2013.

The essence of the legislation will be to allow companies to elect to have a 10% rate of corporation tax on all profits attributable to qualifying intellectual property (IP). This will cover patents granted by the UK or the European Patent Office. Some other rights will be included by Treasury Order.

The reduced rate applies to a proportion of the profits derived from:

  • the licensing or sale of the patent rights, or
  • the sale of the patented invention or products which incorporate the patented invention.

Profits derived from routine manufacturing, development or exploitation of brands and marketing intangible assets are excluded.

A company qualifies for the Patent Box if the company satisfies the ‘development condition’. This means it has made a significant contribution to:

  • the creation or development of the item protected by the patent, or
  • a product incorporating this item.

A company which does not own the patent rights but has been given exclusive rights throughout an entire national territory will qualify for the Patent Box as long as it satisfies the ‘development condition’ in relation to those rights.

The full benefit of the regime will be phased in over the first four financial years following commencement on 1 April 2013. In the first year the proportion of relevant profits to which the 10% rate will apply is 60% and this will then increase annually to 100% from April 2017.

Corporation tax reliefs for the creative sector

The Government will introduce corporation tax reliefs for the production of culturally British video games, television animation programmes and high end television productions. Consultation will take place over the summer. Legislation will be in Finance Bill 2013 and ill take effect from 1 April 2013, subject to State aid approval.

Comment

The Chancellor made the comment in his speech that he wanted to ensure that Wallace and Gromit stay in this country.

Controlled Foreign Companies (CFCs)

The CFC regime can apply to a UK company which has a subsidiary operating in a country with a low rate of corporation tax. Under the regime a UK company may be charged to corporation tax on relevant profits of the subsidiary. As the rules have been in place for 25 years they needed an overhaul to better fit with more recent developments in both UK and global corporate tax.

The aim of the proposed new regime is to target only those circumstances that result in the artificial diversion of UK profits.

Under the proposals a CFC charge can arise only if:

  • a foreign company is controlled from the UK (ie a CFC), and
  • the CFC passes through an initial ‘gateway’ and has ‘chargeable profits’ as defined by detailed tests, or
  • none of the entity level exemptions apply.

The initial gateway consists of qualitative tests to ensure the rules only apply to profits that have been artificially diverted from the UK. So, for example, trading profits will not be chargeable profits if the control or management of a CFC is not carried on to a significant extent in the UK.

Even if the initial gateway is passed, the CFC may not have chargeable profits as detailed in various quantitative tests.

Alternatively a charge can be removed by using the entity level exemptions. These include for example:

  • the low profits exemption (broadly, the accounting (pre-tax) profits are not more than £50,000 or not more than £500,000 and non-trading income is not more than £50,000 per 12 month period)
  • where the tax paid under the law of the CFC’s territory of residence in respect of its profits is at least 75% of the corresponding UK tax.

The new rules are to apply to CFCs with accounting periods which begin on or after 1 January 2013.

Comment

A company does not have to consider the gateway test first. If a specific entity level exemption applies, a CFC charge will not arise in the relevant accounting period.

Tax simplification for the small business

A voluntary cash accounting basis for calculating tax for small unincorporated businesses (up to the VAT registration threshold) is to be consulted on with a view to introducing legislation in Finance Bill 2013. The aim is to assist the small business by making it easier to calculate their tax.

Other plans include considering a simplified expenses system and a disincorporation relief.

Employment Issues

Company car tax rates

Legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2012 to increase the appropriate percentage of the list price subject to tax for cars with CO2 emissions of more than 75gm/km by 1% up to a maximum of 35% in 2014/15.

Further changes are proposed in 2015/16 and 2016/17 whereby the appropriate percentages of the list price subject to tax will increase by 2% per annum up to a maximum of 37% in both years.

Other changes

  • From April 2015 the five year exemption for zero emission cars and the lower rate of 5% for ultra low emission (1-75gm/km) cars will come to an end.
  • The percentage for zero emission and all low emission petrol cars emitting less than 95gm/km of CO2 will be 13% in 2015/16, rising to 15% in 2016/17.
  • The percentage for low emission (95gm/km) diesel cars in 2015/16 will be 16% as it will include the 3% diesel supplement.

From April 2016 the Government will remove the 3% diesel supplement so that diesel cars will be subject to the same level of tax as petrol cars.

Car and van fuel benefit charges

Employees and directors who are provided with a company car and who also receive free private fuel from their employers are subject to the fuel benefit charge. The benefit charge is determined by multiplying a set figure by the appropriate percentage for the car based on its CO2 emissions.

The car fuel benefit charge multiplier will be increased from £18,800 to £20,200 with effect from 6 April 2012. The multiplier will increase by 2% above the rate of inflation (based on RPI) in 2013/14.

The van fuel benefit charge multiplier will remain frozen at £550 for 2012/13 and will increase by inflation in 2013/14.

Real Time Information (RTI)

HMRC have produced draft legislation to introduce probably the most significant change in the PAYE system since its introduction in 1944. Under the RTI scheme, employers will electronically provide monthly information to HMRC related to wages and salaries paid to employees. Once the scheme is ‘bedded in’ employers will no longer have to complete year end returns such as the P35 and P14.

Volunteer employers are to pilot the new scheme from 6 April 2012. The intention is that it will apply to employers on a phased basis from 6 April 2013 so that all employers are operating the system by October 2013.

It was announced in Budget 2012 that HMRC will consult before the summer on new models for late payment and late filing penalties under RTI. Legislation will be included in Finance Bill 2013.

Comment

This really is a major change but the success or otherwise of the scheme will depend on the ability of the HMRC computer system to cope. History suggests that this could be the problem.

Income tax and NICs reform

The Government announced in Budget 2011 that it would consult on the options, stages and timing of reforms to integrate the operation of income tax and NICs. Since then, the Government has issued a call for evidence, published a response and set out an indicative timetable for reform. Following work with interested parties over recent months, the Government will consult shortly after Budget 2012 on a broad range of options for employee, employer and self-employed NICs.

Personal service companies and IR35

The Government is bringing forward a package of measures to tighten up on avoidance through the use of personal service companies and to make the existing IR35 legislation easier to understand. HMRC will strengthen specialist compliance teams and simplify the way IR35 is administered. HMRC will consult on proposals which would require office holders/controlling persons who are integral to the running of an organisation to have PAYE and NICs deducted at source.

Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI)

EMI are share option schemes which allow small and medium-sized businesses to grant tax-advantaged share options to employees. The limit on the value of shares over which options may be held by an employee under the scheme will be increased from £120,000 to £250,000. This will have effect in respect of options granted on or after the date set out in a Statutory Instrument, which subject to State aid approval, the Government intend to implement as soon as possible.

Additionally the Government will make reforms to the EMI scheme in Finance Bill 2013, subject to State aid approval, to ensure that gains made on shares acquired through exercising EMI options on or after 6 April 2012 will be eligible for capital gains tax Entrepreneurs’ Relief.

The Government will consult on ways to extend access to EMI for academics who are employed by a qualifying company.

Tax advantaged employee share schemes

The Government will consider the recommendations of the Office of Tax Simplification’s review of tax advantaged share schemes and will consult shortly on how to take a number of these proposals forward. Legislation will be included in future Finance Bills.

Pensions tax relief

Legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2013 to amend the rules which currently allow employers to pay pension contributions into their employees’ family members’ pensions as part of their employees’ remuneration package to remove the tax and NICs advantages from these arrangements.

A regulation making power will also be introduced to allow changes to be made to the lifetime allowance fixed protection legislation. Technical improvements will also be made to the annual allowance rules through secondary legislation.

Capital Taxes

CGT rates

The rates of CGT remain at 18% to the extent that any income tax basic rate band is available and 28% thereafter. The rate for disposals qualifying for Entrepreneurs’ Relief (ER) is 10% with a lifetime limit of £10m for each individual.

Comment

The ER limit is very generous and owners of businesses should ensure that they meet all the conditions necessary to secure the relief throughout the twelve months up to the date of a disposal.

CGT annual exemption

The CGT annual exemption has been frozen at £10,600 for 2012/13.

Foreign currency bank accounts

Bank accounts denominated in a currency other than sterling are chargeable assets for CGT. There is an exemption where the account is held by an individual and is used to meet personal expenditure abroad. This means that every withdrawal technically constitutes a disposal for CGT purposes and a gain or loss can arise by reference to movements of exchange rates.

It is now proposed that the exemption from CGT will apply to all foreign currency bank accounts held by individuals, trustees of settled property and personal representatives of deceased persons. This exemption will apply for all withdrawals made on or after 6 April 2012.

Inheritance tax (IHT) nil rate band

The IHT nil rate band remains frozen at £325,000 until 6 April 2015.

Reduced rate of IHT for the charitable

The Government will introduce a reduced rate of IHT for an estate where a minimum level of legacy has been left by the deceased to charity. The actual legacy to charity remains exempt from IHT and it is the rate of tax on the balance of the estate that would be reduced to 36% from 40%.

The reduced rate will apply where charitable bequests satisfy a 10% test. A comparison will be made between:

  • the total value of charitable legacies for IHT purposes and
  • the value of the net estate as reduced by:

– any available nil rate band

– the value of assets passing to the surviving spouse or civil partner and

– other IHT reliefs and exemptions for example Business Property Relief but excluding relief for the charitable donations.

If the first figure is at least 10% of the second then the balance of the estate will qualify for the reduced IHT rate of 36%.

Special rules apply if the estate includes either:

  • property which is jointly owned which passes automatically on death to the other joint owner(s) under survivorship rules (in England Wales and Northern Ireland) or their local equivalent
  • settled property which forms part of the estate because the deceased held a qualifying interest in possession in the assets.

The changes will apply to estates where the individual dies on or after 6 April 2012.

Comment

Because the benefit of the reduced IHT rate will be dependent on whether or not the amount of the charitable legacy is sufficient for the estate to pass the 10% test, there will be a ‘cliff edge’ effect.

Where the amount of the charitable legacy is close to the critical 10% point, a small difference to the amount of the legacy could have a much larger impact on the estate’s IHT liability. There are no plans to apply any taper or other mechanism to mitigate this.

IHT – other matters

The Government will consult on two areas for inclusion in Finance Bill 2013:

  • simplifying the calculation of IHT ten year charges and exit charges for trusts
  • increasing the IHT exempt amount that a UK domiciled individual can transfer to their non UK domiciled spouse or civil partner.

Other Matters

VAT – anomalies and loopholes

Legislation will be introduced to address long-standing VAT anomalies and loopholes, with effect from 1 October 2012. The changes are:

  • applying VAT to approved alterations to listed buildings to bring them into line with the VAT treatment of alterations to non-listed buildings, and repairs and maintenance for all buildings
  • providing consistency of treatment between self-storage and other forms of storage
  • applying VAT, in the minority of cases where it does not already apply, to hot food and to sports drinks
  • putting beyond doubt the fact that VAT applies to the rental of hairdressers’ chairs
  • ensuring that the purchase of holiday caravans is taxed consistently at the standard rate.

Stamp duty land tax (SDLT)

A new rate of 7% will be introduced where the chargeable consideration for a residential property is more than £2 million. This will have effect where the effective date (normally the date of completion) is on or after 22 March 2012, unless the contract was entered into before that date.

An even higher rate of 15% will apply to such residential properties if the purchaser is a ‘non natural person’, for example a company. This will have effect where the effective date of the transaction is on or after 21 March 2012.

In addition the Government will consult on the introduction of:

  • an SDLT annual charge where properties over £2 million are owned by non natural persons
  • a CGT charge on residential property owned by non resident, non natural persons.

Both these measures will apply from April 2013.

Comment

The intention of the 15% charge is to stop or reduce the number of schemes which claim to allow a property to be transferred without SDLT. The charges to be introduced in 2013 are aimed at charging properties already in companies which are used as residential accommodation.

General anti-abuse rule (GAAR)

The Government commissioned an independent report from a leading tax lawyer on whether or not it would be appropriate to introduce a GAAR into the UK tax system.

The reviewer recommended that a moderate rule targeted at abusive arrangements would be beneficial to the UK tax system. Such a GAAR would apply for income tax, CGT, corporation tax and NIC. It would not apply to ‘responsible tax planning’.

The Government accepts the recommendation and will consult this year with a view to legislation being introduced in Finance Bill 2013. It will extend the GAAR to SDLT.

Comment

This is a route that has been used in a number of other countries.

This summary is published for the information of clients. It provides only an overview of the main proposals announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Statement, and no action should be taken without consulting the detailed legislation or seeking professional advice. Therefore no responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material contained in this summary can be accepted by the authors or the firm.

Rates and Allowances – 2012/2013

Income Tax rates and allowances

 
Income Tax allowances 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Personal Allowance (1) £6,475 £7,475 £8,105
Income limit for Personal Allowance £100,000 £100,000 £100,000
Personal Allowance for people aged 65-74 (1)(2) £9,490 £9,940 £10,500
Personal Allowance for people aged 75 and over (1)(2) £9,640 £10,090 £10,660
Married Couple’s Allowance (born before 6th April 1935 and aged 75 and over) (2) (3) £6,965 £7,295 £7,705
Income limit for age-related allowances £22,900 £24,000 £25,400
Minimum amount of Married Couple’s Allowance £2,670 £2,800 £2,960
Blind Person’s Allowance £1,890 £1,980 £2,100
  1. From the 2010-11 tax year the Personal Allowance reduces where the income is above £100, 000 – by £1 for every £2 of income above the £100,000 limit. This reduction applies irrespective of age.
  2. 2. These allowances reduce where the income is above the income limit for age-related allowances by £1 for every £2 of income above the limit. For the 2010-11 tax year the Personal Allowance for people aged 65 to 74 and 75 and over can be reduced below the basic Personal Allowance where the income is above £100,000.
  3. Tax relief for the Married Couple’s Allowance is given at the rate of 10 per cent.

 

Income Tax rates and taxable bands

 
Rate 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Starting rate for savings: 10%* £0-£2,440 £0-£2,560 £0-£2,710
Basic rate: 20% £0-£37,400 £0-£35,000 £0-£34,370
Higher rate: 40% £37,401-£150,000 £35,001-£150,000 £34,371-£150,000
Additional rate: 50% Over £150,000 Over £150,000 Over £150,000

* The 10 per cent starting rate applies to savings income only. If your non-savings income is above this limit then the 10 per cent starting rate for savings will not apply.

The rates available for dividends are the 10 per cent ordinary rate, the 32.5 per cent dividend upper rate and the dividend additional rate of 42.5 per cent.

More useful links

Find out more about Income Tax

Introduction to tax allowances and reliefs

 

National Insurance Contributions

 
£ per week 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Lower earnings limit, primary Class 1 £97 £102 £107
Upper earnings limit, primary Class 1 £844 £817 £817
Upper accrual point £770 £770 £770
Primary threshold £110 £139 £146
Secondary threshold £110 £136 £144
Employees’ primary Class 1 rate between primary threshold and upper earnings limit 11% 12% 12%
Employees’ primary Class 1 rate above upper earnings limit 1% 2% 2%
Class 1A rate on employer provided benefits (1) 12.8% 13.8% 13.8%
Employees’ contracted-out rebate (for contracted-out salary related schemes only) 1.6% 1.6% 1.4%
Married women’s reduced rate between primary threshold and upper earnings limit 4.85% 5.85% 5.85%
Married women’s rate above upper earnings limit 1% 2% 2%
Employers’ secondary Class 1 rate above secondary threshold 12.8% 13.8% 13.8%
Employers’ contracted-out rebate, salary-related schemes 3.7% 3.7% 3.4%
Employers’ contracted-out rebate, money-purchase schemes 1.4% 1.4% Abolished from 6 April 2012
Class 2 rate £2.40 £2.50 £2.65
Class 2 small earnings exception £5,075 per year £5,315 per year £5,595 per year
Special Class 2 rate for share fishermen £3.05 £3.15 £3.30
Special Class 2 rate for volunteer development workers £4.85 £5.10 £5.35
Class 3 rate £12.05 £12.60 £13.25
Class 4 lower profits limit £5,715 per year £7,225 per year £7,605 per year
Class 4 upper profits limit £43,875 per year £42,475 per year £42,475 per year
Class 4 rate between lower profits limit and upper profits limit 8% 9% 9%
Class 4 rate above upper profits limit 1% 2% 2%
Additional primary Class 1 percentage rate on deferred employments 1% 2% 2%
Additional Class 4 percentage rate where deferment has been granted 1% 2% 2%
  1. Class 1A NICs are payable in July and are calculated on the value of taxable benefits provided in the previous tax year, using the secondary Class 1 percentage rate appropriate to that tax year.

National Insurance for individuals

Find out about National Insurance and which rates apply to you by following the link below.

National Insurance: the basics

 

Corporation Tax rates

Rates for financial years starting on 1 April
Rate 2010 2011 2012 2013
Small Profits Rate* 21%* 20%* 20%*
Small Profits Rate can be claimed by qualifying companies with profits at a rate not exceeding £300,000 £300,000 £300,000
Marginal Relief Lower Limit £300,000 £300,000 £300,000
Marginal Relief Upper Limit £1,500,000 £1,500,000 £1,500,000
Standard fraction 7/400 3/200 1/80
Main rate of Corporation Tax* 28%* 26%* 25%* 24%*
Special rate for unit trusts and open-ended investment companies 20% 20% 20%

Marginal Relief changes from 1 April 2010

From 1 April 2010 onwards, the terminology used to describe some Corporation Tax rates and reliefs changed. This table reflects the new terminology but for ease the changes are shown below:

  • Small Profits Rate – previously Small Companies’ Rate
  • Marginal Relief – previously Marginal Small Companies’ Relief
  • Standard fraction – previously Marginal Small Companies’ Relief fraction
  • Ring fence fraction – previously Marginal Small Companies’ Relief fraction (ring fence profits)

The main rate of Corporation Tax applies when profits (including ring fence profits) are at a rate exceeding £1,500,000, or where there is no claim to another rate, or where another rate does not apply.

Ring fence companies

*For companies with ring fence profits (income and gains from oil extraction activities or oil rights in the UK and UK Continental Shelf) these rates differ. The Small Profits Rate of tax on those profits is 19 per cent and the ring fence fraction is 11/400 for financial years starting 1 April 2010, 2011 and 2012. The main rate is 30 per cent for financial years starting on 1 April 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Corporation Tax on chargeable gains

Indexation Allowance allows for the effects of inflation when calculating the chargeable gains of companies or organisations.

Corporation Tax on chargeable gains: Indexation Allowance

 

Capital Gains Tax rates and annual tax-free allowances

Each tax year nearly everyone who is liable to Capital Gains Tax gets an annual tax-free allowance – known as the ‘Annual Exempt Amount’. You only pay Capital Gains Tax if your overall gains for the tax year (after deducting any losses and applying any reliefs) are above this amount.

Tax-free allowances for Capital Gains Tax

The annual tax-free allowance (known as the Annual Exempt Amount) allows you to make a certain amount of gains each year before you have to pay tax.

Nearly everyone who is liable to Capital Gains Tax gets this tax-free allowance.

There’s one Annual Exempt Amount for:

  • most individuals who live in the UK
  • executors or personal representatives of a deceased person’s estate
  • trustees for disabled people

Most other trustees get a lower Annual Exempt Amount.

Annual Exempt Amounts
Customer group 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Individuals, personal representatives and trustees for disabled people £10,100 £10,100 £10,600
Other trustees £5,050 £5,050 £5,300

Gains arising after 22 June 2010 may be charged at different rates. You can use your Annual Exempt Amount against the gains charged at the highest rates to minimise the tax you owe. See the section on ‘Rates for Capital Gains Tax’ below for an example.

Executors and personal representatives

If you’re acting as an executor or personal representative for a deceased person’s estate, you may get the full Annual Exempt Amount during the ‘administration period’. The administration period is usually the time it takes to settle the deceased person’s affairs and get a grant of probate (or confirmation in Scotland).

You’re entitled to the Annual Exempt Amount for the tax year in which the death occurred and the following two tax years. After that there’s no tax-free allowance against gains during the administration period.

Find out more about death, inheritance and Capital Gains Tax

Trustees for disabled people

If you’re acting as a trustee for a disabled person you use the higher Annual Exempt Amount above – and not the rate for ‘other trustees’.

A disabled person in this context is a person who has mental health problems or receives the middle or higher rate of Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance.

Find out more about Capital Gains Tax and trusts

People who are ‘non-domiciled’ in the UK

You won’t get the Annual Exempt Amount if you’re ‘non-domiciled’ in the UK and you’ve claimed the ‘remittance basis’ of taxation on your foreign income and gains.

You may be ‘non-domiciled’ in the UK, for example, if you were born in another country and intend to return there.

You may have claimed the ‘remittance basis’ if you have income and gains from abroad and have decided that it’s beneficial to be taxed on the foreign income and gains that you bring into the UK, rather than on all income and gains that arise.

Issues of domicile and tax on foreign gains are complicated. A lot depends on the facts of each case. You can find out more by following the link below. Or speak to your Tax Office about your specific circumstances.

Download guidance on ‘residency’, ‘domicile’ and the ‘remittance basis’ (PDF 560K)

Telephone or write to HMRC

Rates for Capital Gains Tax

2010-11 and 2011-12

For gains on or before 22 June 2010, Capital Gains Tax is charged at a flat rate of 18 per cent.

The following Capital Gains Tax rates apply to gains after this date:

  • 18 per cent and 28 per cent tax rates for individuals (the tax rate you use depends on the total amount of your taxable income, so you need to work this out first )
  • 28 per cent for trustees or for personal representatives of someone who has died
  • 10 per cent for gains qualifying for Entrepreneurs’ Relief

If you’re not sure how to work out your taxable income, see the examples in the section below ‘Working out your Capital Gains Tax for 2010-11’.

Find out more about Entrepreneurs’ Relief

2009-10 and 2008-09

Capital Gains Tax is charged at a flat rate of 18 per cent

2007-08

For individuals Capital Gains Tax is charged at variable rates (10 per cent, 20 per cent and 40 per cent) based on the total amount of your income and gains. For trustees or personal representatives of someone who has died there is a single rate of 40 per cent.

Find out more about working out 2007-08 rates

Working out your Capital Gains Tax for 2010-11

Gains before 23 June 2010

For gains on or before 22 June 2010, Capital Gains Tax is charged at a flat rate of 18 per cent.

Gains on or after 23 June 2010

For gains on or before 22 June 2010, Capital Gains Tax is charged at a flat rate of 18 per cent.

For gains on or after 23 June 2010, individuals need to work out their total taxable income before working out which Capital Gains Tax rate to use.

  1. First work out your taxable income by deducting any tax-free allowances and reliefs that you are entitled to.
  2. Next see how much of your basic rate band is already being used against your taxable income. The basic rate band for 2010-11 is £37,400.
  3. Allocate any remaining basic rate band first against gains that qualify for Entrepreneurs’ Relief – these are charged at 10 per cent.
  4. Next allocate any remaining basic rate band against your other gains, these are charged at 18 per cent.
  5. Any remaining gains above the basic rate band are charged at 28 per cent.

Using your Annual Exempt Amount

If you have gains which are charged at different rates, you need to decide how to use your Annual Exempt Amount. You use it against the gains charged at the highest rates to minimise the tax you owe.

Find out more about Income Tax bands and rates

Example one – a simple example

Mr P’s total income, after deducting allowances and reliefs, is £20,000 and his capital gains, after reliefs, are £15,000.

The basic rate band is £37,400. Mr P has used £20,000 of this amount against his income – so has £17,400 remaining.

As his gains are only £15,000, he has enough of the basic rate band remaining to cover his gains, so they are all to be taxed at 18 per cent. He now deducts his tax-free allowance of £10,100 and pays Capital Gains Tax at 18 per cent on £4,900.

Example two – Annual Exempt Amount

Miss W’s total income, after deducting allowances and reliefs is £60,000. In May 2010 she made a first gain of £5,000. This is taxable at 18 per cent. Her second gain in February 2011 of £12,100 is taxable at 28 per cent.

Miss W uses her Annual Exempt Amount of £10,100 against the second gain after 22 June 2010 and pays tax on the remaining £2,000 at 28 per cent. She pays tax at 18 per cent on the first gain of £5,000 before 23 June 2010.

Example three – Entrepreneurs’ Relief

Mrs T’s total income, after deducting allowances and reliefs, is £30,000 and her capital gains, after reliefs, are £20,000. £5,000 of these gains qualify for Entrepreneurs’ Relief.

The basic rate band is £37,400. Mrs T has used £30,000 of this amount against her income – so has £7,400 remaining.

She has to allocate £5,000 against the gains that qualify for Entrepreneurs’ Relief, and pays tax on these at 10 per cent.

She allocates the remaining £2,400 basic rate band against her other gains, so these are taxed at 18 per cent.

Her tax-free allowance of £10,100 is allocated to her remaining £12,600 gains. This leaves £2,500 gains taxed at 28 per cent.

Read more about Entrepreneurs’ Relief

More useful links

Find out more about Capital Gains Tax

How to work out your gain or loss

Corporation Tax on chargeable gains for companies: Indexation Allowance

 

Inheritance Tax thresholds

The Inheritance Tax threshold (or ‘nil rate band’) is the amount up to which an estate will have no Inheritance Tax to pay.

If the estate – including any assets held in trust and gifts made within seven years of death – is more than the threshold, Inheritance Tax will be due at 40 per cent on the amount over the nil rate band.

This page shows the different thresholds in use for deaths going back to 1986.

Inheritance Tax thresholds – present day back to 18 March 1986
From To Threshold/nil rate band
6 April 2009 £325,000
6 April 2008 5 April 2009 £312,000
6 April 2007 5 April 2008 £300,000
6 April 2006 5 April 2007 £285,000
6 April 2005 5 April 2006 £275,000
6 April 2004 5 April 2005 £263,000
6 April 2003 5 April 2004 £255,000
6 April 2002 5 April 2003 £250,000
6 April 2001 5 April 2002 £242,000
6 April 2000 5 April 2001 £234,000
6 April 1999 5 April 2000 £231,000
6 April 1998 5 April 1999 £223,000
6 April 1997 5 April 1998 £215,000
6 April 1996 5 April 1997 £200,000
6 April 1995 5 April 1996 £154,000
10 March 1992 5 April 1995 £150,000
6 April 1991 9 March 1992 £140,000
6 April 1990 5 April 1991 £128,000
6 April 1989 5 April 1990 £118,000
15 March 1988 5 April 1989 £110,000
17 March 1987 14 March 1988 £90,000
18 March 1986 16 March 1987 £71,000

 

Stamp Duty Land Tax rates and thresholds

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is charged on land and property transactions in the UK. The tax is charged at different rates and has different thresholds for different types of property and different values of transaction.

The tax rate and payment threshold can vary according to whether the property is in residential or non-residential use, and whether it is a freehold or leasehold. SDLT relief is available for certain kinds of property or transaction.

This guide provides an overview of the SDLT rates and provides links to related guidance where necessary.

SDLT rates for residential property

The table below applies for all freehold residential purchases and transfers and the premium paid for a new lease or the assignment of an existing lease. (If the property will be used for both residential and non-residential purposes the rates differ – please see the section ‘SDLT for non-residential or mixed use property’).

New leases

If the transaction involves the purchase of a new lease with a substantial rent there may be an additional SDLT charge to that shown below, based on the rent. See the next section and further table ‘SDLT on rent for new leasehold properties (residential)’ for more detail.

Residential land or property SDLT rates and thresholds

Purchase price/lease premium or transfer value SDLT rate SDLT rate for first-time buyers
Up to £125,000 Zero Zero
Over £125,000 to £250,000 1% Zero
Over £250,000 to £500,000 3% 3%
Over £500,000 to £1 million 4% 4%
Over £1 million 5% 5%

If the value is above the payment threshold, SDLT is charged at the appropriate rate on the whole of the amount paid. For example, a house bought for £130,000 (by someone who is not a first-time buyer) is charged at 1 per cent, so £1,300 must be paid in SDLT. A house bought for £350,000 is charged at 3 per cent, so SDLT of £10,500 is payable.

First time buyers

The first time buyer’s £250,000 threshold applies from 25 March 2010 up to 24 March 2012 inclusive.

£1 million threshold for wholly residential property

From 6 April 2011 SDLT on residential properties over £1 million is charged at 5%. It does not apply to non-residential or mixed-use properties.

There are some transitional arrangements for contracts which were entered into before 25 March 2010 but not completed by 6 April 2011 in most of these cases the new rate will not apply.

Read more about the amount of SDLT on £1 million properties

Properties bought in a disadvantaged area

If the property is in an area designated by the government as ‘disadvantaged’ a higher threshold of £150,000 applies for residential properties.

Disadvantaged areas – residential land or property SDLT rates and thresholds
Purchase price/lease premium or transfer value SDLT rate SDLT rate for first-time buyers
Up to £150,000 Zero Zero
Over £150,000 to £250,000 1% Zero
Over £250,000 to £500,000 3% 3%
Over £500,000 to £1 million 4% 4%
Over £1 million 5% 5%

From 25 March 2010 up to 24 March 2012, first-time buyers can claim a relief from SDLT if the amount paid for the property is under £250,000. This relief applies whether or not the property is in an area designated as disadvantaged.

Read more about Disadvantaged Areas Relief

SDLT on rent – new residential leasehold purchase

When a new residential lease has a substantial annual rent, SDLT is payable on both of the following, which are calculated separately and then added together:

  • the lease premium (purchase price) – see the table above
  • the ‘net present value’ (NPV) of the rent payable

The NPV is based on the value of the total rent over the life of the lease and can be worked out using HMRC’s online calculator (link below).

In practice SDLT only becomes payable on a fairly high rent – starting at around £4,500 a year for a 99-year lease, for example, however the exact amount depends on the length of the lease.

SDLT on rent for new leasehold properties (residential)

Net present value of rent – residential SDLT rate (includes first-time buyers)
£0 – £125,000 Zero
Over £125,000 1% of the value that exceeds £125,000

Note that a higher threshold of £175,000 applied for rents on residential only leases taken from 3 September 2008 to 31 December 2009. Follow the link below to find out more.

SDLT rates 3 Sept 2008 – 21 April 2009

Read more about calculating SDLT for leasehold purchases

Go to the SDLT lease calculator

If six or more residential properties form part of a single transaction

If six or more properties form part of a single transaction the rules, rates and thresholds for non-residential properties apply. The amounts paid for all the properties in the transaction must be added together in order to establish the rate of tax payable.

SDLT rates for non-residential or mixed use properties

Non-residential property includes:

  • commercial property such as shops or offices
  • agricultural land
  • forests
  • any other land or property which is not used as a dwelling
  • six or more residential properties bought in a single transaction

A mixed use property is one that incorporates both residential and non-residential elements.

The table below applies for freehold and leasehold non-residential and mixed use purchases and transfers

If the transaction involves the purchase of a new lease with a substantial annual rent, there may be additional SDLT charge to that shown below, based on the rent. See the later section and table for more detail.

Non-residential land or property rates and thresholds

Purchase price/lease premium or transfer value (non-residential or mixed use) SDLT rate(includes first time buyers)
Up to £150,000 – annual rent is under £1,000 Zero
Up to £150,000 – annual rent is £1,000 or more 1%
Over £150,000 to £250,000 1%
Over £250,000 to £500,000 3%
Over £500,000 4%

Note that for the above purpose the annual rent is the highest annual rent known to be payable in any year of the lease, not the net present value used to determine any tax payable on the rent as described below.

SDLT on rent – new non-residential or mixed use leasehold purchase

When a new non-residential or mixed use lease has a substantial annual rent, SDLT is payable on both of the following which are calculated separately and then added together:

  • the lease premium or purchase price – see the table above
  • the net present value of the rent payable (this is based on the value of the total rent over the life of the lease and can be worked out using HMRC’s online calculators)

SDLT on rent for new leasehold properties (non-residential or mixed use)

Net present value of rent – non-residential SDLT rate(includes first time buyers)
£0 – £150,000 Zero
Over £150,000 1% of the value that exceeds £150,000

Read more about calculating SDLT for leasehold purchases

Go to the SDLT lease calculator

Using the HMRC SDLT online calculators

HMRC has developed online calculators which work out the amount of SDLT payable on residential, non-residential and mixed transactions in land and property.

Go to HMRC’s SDLT calculators

SDLT and Stamp Duty rates before 6 April 2011

Follow the links below to check SDLT and Stamp Duty rates in earlier tax years.

SDLT rates from 25 March 2010 until 5 April 2011

SDLT rates from 1 January 2010 until 24 March 2010

SDLT rates 22 April 2009 until 31 December 2009

SDLT rates 3 September 2008 until 21 April 2009

SDLT rates from 12 March 2008 until 2 September 2008

SDLT rates from 23 March 2006 until 11 March 2008

SDLT rates from 17 March 2005 until 22 March 2006

SDLT rates from 1 December 2003 until 16 March 2005

Rates of Stamp Duty on land transfers before December 2003

 

HMRC Business Records Checks

HMRC extends Business Records Checks

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced an extension of its Business Records Checks programme.

Business Records Checks were piloted earlier this year in eight key areas, and involve checks on the adequacy of small and medium-sized enterprises’ business records.
The pilots found that around 44 per cent of businesses visited had issues with their record-keeping, while around 12 per cent of those visited had seriously inadequate records.

HMRC will be now be extending this activity from mid-September to cover a number of key areas across the UK. As part of this, the number of full-time staff employed on the programme will rise from 30 to 120.

HMRC plans to complete up to 12,000 Business Records Checks by the end of the current financial year, with 20,000 provisionally planned for 2012/13. HMRC is increasing the number of visits, so it can refine the process, before final decisions on a national roll-out are taken in the New Year.

Initially, HMRC will only levy a record-keeping penalty in the most extreme cases of poor record-keeping. In the longer-term, HMRC intends to issue penalties of up to £3,000 for serious inadequacies in record-keeping. HMRC will issue guidance on this, and make a further announcement on when it will happen, in due course.

HMRC’s Director of Local Compliance, Richard Summersgill, said:

“Good record-keeping helps businesses pay the right amount of tax at the right time, thereby potentially avoiding interest and penalties.

“Adequate records give businesses a clear idea of their trading position and profitability, allowing them to make business decisions and adjustments to ensure survival and success. And where a check has shown a business keeps adequate records, it gives HMRC a greater degree of assurance as to the likely accuracy of its tax returns.

“Ultimately, this is about supporting businesses and reducing the tax gap.”
For further information on record-keeping, visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/record-keeping

 

Notes for editors
1. The Business Records Checks pilots involved around 800 visits, focusing on eight different sites (Edinburgh, Irvine, Sunderland, Liverpool, Manchester, Stockport, Sheffield and Portsmouth). The extended programme of visits will cover key areas in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

2. Research by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) indicates that poor business record-keeping generally leads to an underassessment of tax, even where there is an audit-type check into a return for the period covered by such records. On this basis, poor business record-keeping is responsible for a loss of tax in up to two million SME cases annually.

3. A guide to setting up a basic record-keeping system is available from the Business Link website at www.businesslink.gov.uk/startrecordkeeping.
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office