In this month’s enews we report on several employment related issues. Please browse through the articles and get in touch if you have any further queries or would like more information.
Budget Statement
George Osborne presented his second Budget on Wednesday 23 March 2011.
In his statement he said that the ‘Budget is about reforming the nation’s economy, so that we have enduring growth and jobs in the future’.
The Main Budget proposals
The government had previously announced changes which apply from April 2011. However the Statement also included several new announcements, some of the more significant of which are set out below:
An additional 1% cut in the main rate of corporation tax to 26% from April 2011.
- Enhanced tax incentives for investment in higher risk companies and for SMEs investing in research and development.
- Reintroduction of Enterprise Zones.
- Entrepreneurs’ Relief limit doubled to £10 million.
- An increase in the mileage rate payable to own car drivers.
- Consultation on integrating income tax and national insurance contributions.
- Reduced inheritance tax rates for those giving one tenth of their estate to charity.
Some of these items are covered in more detail in the following articles. To access the full Budget information visit the Treasury website using the link below.
Internet link: Treasury Website Budget
Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs)
EIS and VCTs are designed to encourage private individuals to invest in smaller unquoted trading companies which may be perceived as higher risk. While the EIS requires an investment to be made directly into the shares of the company, VCTs operate by indirect investment through a mediated fund.
Currently EIS investors may be given income tax relief at 20% on their investments of up to £500,000 a year. Legislation will be introduced to increase the rate of tax relief to 30% for shares issued on or after 6 April 2011, subject to State aid approval.
Future changes
Subject to State aid approval, legislation will be introduced to make the following changes to the EIS and for shares issued on or after 6 April 2012.
The thresholds for the size of the company which may benefit from both types of investment will be increased to fewer than 250 employees and £15 million gross assets before the investment.
The annual amount which can be invested in an individual company is to rise to £10 million.
The annual amount that an individual can invest through EIS is to increase to £1 million.
Internet link: Budget TIIN
Corporation tax rates
Legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2011 to reduce the main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 26% for the Financial Year commencing 1 April 2011 and then to 25% for the Financial Year commencing 1 April 2012. The main rate of corporation tax generally applies to companies with profits of more than £1.5 million. It had previously been announced that the main rate would reduce from 28% to 27% followed by further 1% graduated reductions until it reached 24% by 1 April 2014. Instead the main rate is set to reduce to 23% by 1 April 2014.
The small profits rate of corporation tax, which generally applies to companies with up to £300,000 of profits, is to reduce from 21% to 20% also with effect from 1 April 2011. This had already been announced.
The effective marginal corporation tax rate for profits between £300,000 and £1.5 million will be 27.5% from 1 April 2011.
Internet link: Budget TIIN
Approved mileage allowance payments (AMAP)
The AMAP rates can be used to claim the cost of business mileage in an employee’s own vehicle. The rates cover cars, vans, motorcycles and bicycles. Where an employer pays less than the published rates, employees can make a claim for tax relief for the shortfall.
With effect from 6 April 2011 the rate of the AMAP for cars and vans will be increased from 40p per mile to 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles of business travel in the tax year. The rate for mileage above 10,000 miles will remain at 25p per mile.
This may mean that drivers receiving mileage allowances in excess of the AMAP will see a reduction in their tax and NICs liability. For those drivers who receive less than the AMAP their claim for tax relief on the shortfall will be increased.
An allowance for passenger payments currently in place for employees at 5p per passenger per mile will be extended to volunteers who carry passengers as part of their volunteering duties. This extension will apply with effect from 6 April 2011.
Internet link: Budget TIIN
Entrepreneurs’ Relief (ER)
ER was introduced in April 2008. Subject to satisfying certain conditions, including the current lifetime limit of £5 million, capital gains on qualifying business disposals by individuals and certain trustees are eligible for ER. Qualifying gains are liable to CGT at 10%.
The lifetime limit is applied to the aggregate of gains that benefit from ER, whatever the year in which the disposal took place. Any gains in excess of the lifetime limit are liable to CGT at the same rates as other chargeable gains.
The lifetime limit will increase to £10 million with effect for qualifying business disposals on or after 6 April 2011.
Where individuals or trustees make qualifying gains above the £5m limit before 6 April 2011, no additional relief will be allowed for the excess.
Internet link: Budget TIIN
Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credits
Subject to State aid approval, legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2011 to increase the rate of the additional deduction for expenditure on R&D for companies that are small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 75% to 100% for expenditure incurred on or after 1 April 2011, giving a total deduction of 200%. The rate of Vaccine Research Relief for SMEs will be reduced to 20% from the same date.
The government also plans to introduce further changes subject to consultation and State aid approval in Finance Bill 2012 in respect of expenditure incurred on or after 1 April 2012 as follows:
- to abolish the rule limiting a company’s payable R&D tax credit to the amount of PAYE and NICs it pays
- to abolish the £10,000 minimum expenditure condition
- to change the rules governing the provision of relief for work done by subcontractors under the large company scheme
- to increase the rate of the additional deduction for expenditure on R&D for SMEs by a further 25% to give a total deduction of 225%
- Vaccine Research Relief will not be available for SMEs.
Internet link: Budget TIIN
Enterprise Zones
The government announced the location of ten new urban Enterprise Zones within the following Local Enterprise Partnership areas: Birmingham and Solihull; Leeds City Region; Sheffield City Region; Liverpool City Region; Greater Manchester; West of England; Tees Valley; North Eastern; the Black Country; and Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. In addition, London will have an Enterprise Zone and be able to choose its site.
The government will make a range of policy tools available to all zones including:
- a 100% business rate discount worth up to £275,000 over a five year period for businesses that move into an Enterprise Zone during the course of this Parliament
- government and local authority help to develop radically simplified planning approaches in the zone.
It will consider, in a limited number of cases, the scope for introducing enhanced capital allowances.
Internet link: Treasury Budget document
£1.3 million tax credits identity thief jailed
Olaide (John) Taiwo, aged 35, has been jailed for his part in stealing the identities of at least 350 people and using the identities to submit over 300 fraudulent tax credit claims.
A woman who also took part in the fraud was also convicted. She will be sentenced in April.
Richard Young, Senior Investigating Officer for HMRC said:
‘This pair blatantly hijacked the identities of over 350 innocent people and stole from British taxpayers by submitting over 300 fraudulent tax credit claims between June 2004 and July 2008. They deliberately attacked and abused a system designed to provide financial help to the most vulnerable people in our society. The sentences given will be a warning to anyone considering committing this type of fraud – it will not be tolerated. HMRC will pursue, prosecute and reclaim the financial gain from those found to commit these types of crime. I urge anyone who has information about Tax Credits fraud, to call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 and help us stamp this fraudulent activity out.’
Upon sentencing Taiwo, His Honour Judge Simon Davis said:
‘This is a fraud on a substantial scale. You lied and sought to manipulate with ease and confidence and with an arrogance that was astonishing. You were intimately connected with every aspect of the fraud, stealing real details of real people to commit identity fraud on the large scale.’
As part of the investigation, a search of his home uncovered evidence of the fraud taking place, including details of numerous bank accounts held in the defendants’ names and aliases, plus documentation which held hundreds of innocent people’s identities. HMRC investigators also seized £70,000, which is believed to be proceeds of the crime.
Internet link: Press release
HMRC launch business records tools
HMRC are making available on their website checklists and toolkits which they believe are suitable for the self employed, sole traders and small businesses. The tools have been released in advance of the launch of HMRC’s programme of Business Record Checks scheduled for later this year, which will impose penalties for significant record keeping failures.
Brian Redford, HMRC’s Acting Director, Business Customer Unit, said:
‘In these tough times, keeping good records makes sound business sense.’
‘It may seem like a challenge, particularly when you’re starting out, but keeping good records will bring real advantages to your business. Get a proper system in place and you’ll not only be confident that you are paying the right tax, but you’ll keep up-to-date with how much you owe suppliers and how much you are owed.’
‘Later this year, HMRC will start a programme of Business Records Checks that will look at the adequacy and accuracy of business records in SMEs to bring about a major improvement in the standard of record-keeping. Now is the time to invest a bit of effort to make sure your business records are perfect.’
The toolkits and checklists can be found on the Business Link website. However if you are unsure what records you should be keeping or would like a reminder please do get in touch.
Internet link: Press release
Plumbers Tax Safe Plan
HMRC have introduced the Plumbers Tax Safe Plan. This is the latest of HMRC’s disclosure opportunities and follows on from the doctors and dentists disclosure facility.
According to the HMRC website:
‘The Plumbers Tax Safe Plan (PTSP) is designed for people working within the plumbing industry who have not told HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) about all their income in the past and who now want to get back on track. It is intended to cover people who work (or worked) in the plumbing, heating or gas installation trades and this includes anyone who installs and repairs pipes and fixtures for water, drainage or gas systems in a building.’
If you would like any more information on the PTSP please do get in touch.
Internet links: HMRC disclosures Guidance Pack
Fuel Prices
George Osborne presented his second Budget Statement and said:
‘Today’s Budget is about reforming the nation’s economy, so that we have enduring growth and jobs in the future.
And it’s about doing what we can to help families with the cost of living and the high oil price.
We understand how difficult it is for so many people across our country right now.
That we are able now to set off on the route from rescue to reform, and reform to recovery, is because of difficult decisions we’ve already taken.’
One of the measures announced was a cut in fuel duty by 1 pence per litre together with scrapping the escalator for the rest of this Parliament. Duty on fuel was due to rise by inflation plus 1 pence from 1 April 2011, which would have added around 5 pence in cost to each litre of fuel.
Internet link: BBC news
Help for small businesses
Another Budget announcement was that as part of a raft of measures to help small businesses the current business rates holiday will be extended until October 2012.
During his statement George Osborne said:
‘The last government planned that the current rate relief holiday for small businesses should end in October this year. I don’t think that would be right. So I can announce that, at a cost to the Exchequer of £370 million, I will extend the rate holiday for small businesses for another year – to October 2012.’
David Gauke, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, has also issued a letter to small businesses setting out the measures designed to support for enterprise and small business. To read more about the measures visit the link below.
Internet link: Business link letter
HMRC online services unavailable
HMRC are advising taxpayers that unfortunately their online services will be unavailable from Saturday 2 April until 06.00 Wednesday 6 April 2011. This is to allow for IT upgrades. All services will be affected including Corporation Tax, Self Assessment, PAYE and VAT.
Internet link: HRMC services unavailable
Standard rate of VAT- updated guidance
HMRC have updated their guidance on how to deal with the change in the standard rate of VAT which happened on 4 January 2011. The guidance covers such issues as deposits, credit notes and services which span the change in rate. If you would like any further information please get in touch.
Internet link: HMRC VAT guidance
Retirement and the removal of the Default Retirement Age
Acas have updated their guidance on the transitional arrangements which are in place to abolish the default retirement age (DRA).
According to the Acas website:
‘The new regulations now make it clear that the transitional arrangements apply to anyone who is 65 or over by 30 September 2011 regardless of when they reached the age of 65.
The new regulations also provide for the notice of retirement to be extended up to a maximum of 6 months if the employee requests this before 5 January 2012 and the retirement takes place on or before 5 October 2012’.
To read the updated employer guidance and the article visit the links below.
Internet links: Acas article Acas guidance