Small businesses will get a refund on statutory sick pay (SSP) during the covid-19 crisis, health minister tells parliament

Businesses will be able to access government support valued at £330bn through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme for SMEs and Covid Corporate Financing Facility for the largest corporations from 23 March

The government has announced a three-month deferral for VAT payments until end June for all UK businesses with HMRC working all hours to thrash out the detail

HMRC has scored a victory over Middlesbrough Football Club, currently 19th in the now suspended Championship, at an employment tribunal appeal over underpayments of the national minimum wage (NMW) relating to employee deductions for season tickets

The Chancellor has set out plans for a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to underwrite 80% of the salaries of workers if they have to be temporarily laid off, but the system could be open to abuse and details are limited, reports Sara White

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set out a multibillion pound package to protect jobs with a government commitment to pay 80% of salaries for private sector employees who are furloughed during the coronavirus crisis, a three-month deferral of VAT payments until the end of June and self employed will be eligible for statutory sick pay (SSP). Sara White reports

With monthly PAYE payments deadlines falling due, HMRC is facing calls for more detailed guidance on the time to pay arrangements for taxpayers who are unable to pay their tax due to coronavirus, reports Pat Sweet

HMRC has published details of its strategy to tackle the promoters and enablers of mass-marketed tax avoidance schemes, which includes proactively contacting individuals who enter into such arrangements

A taxpayer who claimed self employment expenses of £120,000 against income of £5,000 has lost a First Tier Tribunal (FTT) appeal against HMRC’s refusal to allow the deductions

HMRC has released a slew of research reports on progress with its flagship Making Tax Digital (MTD) online reporting regime, suggesting that businesses which have fully automated are seeing some benefits, but those with a hybrid approach are finding the transition more challenging

HMRC is seeking views on how to raise and maintain high standards of competence and behaviour in the tax advice market in order to protect consumers and improve compliance

Representatives of business groups and the unions attended an emergency roundtable on coronavirus this afternoon hosted by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak