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Tax | Two-year jail sentences for promoters of tax avoidance

The government is going to create a criminal offence for promoters of tax avoidance who ignore HMRC Stop Notices with potential for a two-year prison sentence

19 Jul 2023

Tax | HMRC reason to shut SA helpline not ‘good enough’

HMRC has defended the rationale for shutting the self assessment helpline for three months, stating it was an attempt to improve poor customer service levels

4 Jul 2023

Tax | Government is making tax system too complicated, say MPs

MPs have criticised the overcomplicated tax system as an obstacle to growth, creating compliance burdens, confusion and disincentives to grow a business, while abolition of the Office of Tax Simplification has made the situation worse

16 Jun 2023

Tax | Treasury reviewing £30k entry threshold for MTD

The Treasury minister has indicated that she is reviewing whether Making Tax Digital quarterly reporting is appropriate for people with earnings below £30,000

16 Jun 2023

Tax | Treasury minister defends HMRC service against claim it is a ‘mess’

MPs on the Treasury Committee put the financial secretary under pressure at a hearing about tax reliefs which kicked off with tough questions about HMRC service failures and customer service 'mess'

15 Jun 2023

Tax | MPs want answers on reason for HMRC helpline closure

The Treasury Committee has asked HMRC to explain the rationale for closing the self assessment helpline for three months

14 Jun 2023

Tax | Oil and gas windfall tax could be scrapped

The energy profits levy, which puts a marginal tax rate of 75% on North Sea oil and gas production, will remain in place for the next five years unless prices drop

9 Jun 2023

Tax

Business Tax

Politics

Image for mps call simplification 1180 tax reliefs

Tax | MPs call for simplification of 1,180 tax reliefs

The tax system is becoming more complex with over 1,100 tax reliefs creating more compliance risks, HMRC official tells MPs

18 May 2023

Tax | Taxpayers told to use HMRC online services by Treasury

The continuing problems with service levels at HMRC can only be resolved by accountants, businesses and tax agents using online instead of phone calls, Treasury minister says

18 May 2023

Tax

HMRC

Politics

Image for vat free shopping could give ps41bn boost

Tax | VAT-free shopping could give £4.1bn boost

Top UK retailers have called on the government to reinstate tax-free shopping for overseas tourists, which could add £4.1bn to GDP by 2025

17 May 2023

Tax | Labour criticises Rishi Sunak’s tax affairs

The Labour Party has taken aim at Rishi Sunak and his tax affairs with an advert targeting his wife’s previous non-dom tax status

11 Apr 2023

Tax | Former Chancellor Nigel Lawson dies aged 91

Nigel Lawson, the former Chancellor to Margaret Thatcher from 1983-1989, has died at the age of 91

4 Apr 2023

Tax

Politics

Image for shona robison be scottish finance secretary

Tax | Shona Robison to be Scottish finance secretary

Humza Yousaf, Scottish first minister, has appointed Shona Robison as deputy first minister and finance secretary, responsible for devolved taxes

29 Mar 2023

Tax

Politics

Image for chancellor tells mps hmrc has necessary funding tackle fraud

Tax | Chancellor tells MPs HMRC has 'necessary' funding to tackle fraud

In a hearing before the Treasury Committee, the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told MPs that HMRC has the amount of funding 'necessary' in tackling tax fraud

29 Mar 2023

Tax | Keir Starmer paid £67k in tax in 2021/22

Labour leader, Keir Starmer has released a breakdown of his taxes showing that he paid a total of £67,033 to HMRC in the last financial year

24 Mar 2023

Tax | Rishi Sunak paid over £400k in UK tax in 2021/22

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak has released a breakdown of his taxes showing that he paid a total of £432,493 in UK tax in 2021/22, with declared earnings reaching £1.9m

23 Mar 2023