A “radical” review of business rates could bring in major changes to the way the annual charge is paid on 1.8 million properties in England. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announced the review on 16 March. It is due to report back by the 2016 Budget on issues including the structure of the… Read more…

Large companies will be made to publish their payment practices, as part of a government drive to level the playing field for small business. Under measures announced on 20 March, from April 2016 large companies would be required to publish their payment practices twice a year, disclosing details including: payment terms the average time taken… Read more…

A new step-by-step guide to help small businesses get ready for their automatic enrolment duties has been launched by the Pensions Regulator. The online guide, written specifically for employers with between one and 50 staff, explains how to complete key tasks such as knowing when to be ready, providing a point of contact for the… Read more…

Tax experts have given a cautious welcome to plans for digital tax accounts, saying that paper returns must remain an option. The 2015 Budget on 18 March included plans for what it called “a radical simplification of the tax system” that would see annual tax returns scrapped. It said that the government would transform the… Read more…

Budget Summary Fifty days before the General Election, Chancellor George Osborne today delivered his sixth and final Budget of this Parliament. Introducing the package of tax and spending plans to the Commons, Mr Osborne said: “Today I report on a Britain that is growing, creating jobs, paying its way. We took difficult decisions in the… Read more…

Pensions Minister Steve Webb has called for a 33 per cent flat rate to be introduced for pensions tax relief, replacing the 40 and 45 per cent rates for higher earners. Mr Webb was speaking at an 11 February event organised by the Resolution Foundation think tank, titled Today’s Workers, Tomorrow’s Retirement Problem. He told… Read more…

Taxpayers who filed returns by the self assessment deadline of 31 January, but who made a mistake on their forms, could be facing a demand from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for an inaccuracy penalty, tax campaigners have warned. The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG), an initiative of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, said… Read more…

A new system to stop workers losing small pension pots as they move from job to job is set to be launched next year. Under the initiative, due to take effect from autumn 2016, workers will initially be offered the option of consolidating their pension pots, before an automatic system is rolled out. Pensions Minister… Read more…

Charities can now register their details online with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The digital service allows new charities to register their details with HMRC for tax purposes. It includes checks and guidance to help organisations provide the right information and supporting documentation so HMRC can confirm their tax status. Mark Dearnley, HMRC’s chief digital… Read more…

The Low Pay Commission has recommended that the adult national minimum wage (NMW) rate should increase to £6.70 an hour from October 2015. If its recommendations are accepted by the government, the three per cent rise from its current level of £6.50 would be the largest real terms increase in the NMW since 2007. The… Read more…