HMRC Closing VAT Registration Helpline in 5 Days!

 

HMRC is closing its VAT registration helpline on Monday, May 22, 2023. The helpline was a subsidiary of the main VAT helpline and was dedicated specifically to helping taxpayers who had a concern around their VAT registration application. Advisers from this helpline will be redeployed to spend their entire time processing VAT registration applications instead of answering calls through the helpline.

HMRC says the decision to close the helpline was made after a review of taxpayer service offerings. The agency says it is committed to being responsive to taxpayer needs and to ensuring that its business model represents the best possible value for money for the taxpayer.

HMRC says taxpayers who have a concern around their VAT registration application can still get help by contacting the main VAT helpline on 0300 200 3701. 

This is of course a load of old wank. 

Agents were originally told in an email from HMRC that the service will close on 22 May 2024. As such people have been given just 5 days notice!

This is yet another example of HMRC talking bollocks wrt caring about handling taxpayer queries!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Tax Investigation Insurance

Market leading tax fee protection insurance for businesses, sole traders and individuals. Protect yourself from accountancy fees in the event of an HMRC enquiry.

Having a Solar Protect Tax Investigation Insurance policy at your disposal means that should you be one of the many 1000's of businesses or individuals that are selected by HMRC each year to look into your tax affairs your own accountant (your tax return agent) can get on and defend you robustly.

You have the peace of mind knowing that your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees will be paid by the insurance without any Excess for you to find.

Tax Investigation Insurance is an insurance policy that will fully reimburse your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees up to £100,000 if you are subject to enquiry by or dispute with HMRC.

A Solar Protect policy will enable your accountant (your tax return agent) to:

• Deal with any correspondence from HMRC
• Attend any meeting with HMRC
• Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal
• Having the security of knowing that fees will be met in full will enable your Accountant (your tax return agent) to defend your position robustly

Please click here for details.

HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

How To Simplify The Tax System

 

How to simplify the tax system:

1. Reduce the number of taxes. The UK has a complex tax system with a wide variety of taxes, including income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax, National Insurance, VAT, excise duties, and stamp duty. Reducing the number of taxes would make the system simpler and easier to understand.
2. Flatten the income tax brackets. The UK income tax system has five different tax brackets, with rates ranging from 20% to 45%. Flattening the income tax brackets would reduce the complexity of the system and make it easier for taxpayers to calculate their tax liability.
3. Remove the personal allowance taper. The personal allowance is the amount of income that you can earn before you start paying income tax. The personal allowance is currently £12,570, but it is tapered away for higher earners. Removing the personal allowance taper would simplify the system and make it fairer.
4. Reduce the number of tax reliefs. The UK tax system has a wide variety of tax reliefs, which can be complex and difficult to understand. Reducing the number of tax reliefs would make the system simpler and easier to comply with.
5. Improve the tax code. The UK tax code is over 100,000 pages long and is constantly being updated. This makes it difficult for taxpayers to understand their tax obligations. Improving the tax code would make it simpler and easier to understand.

These are just some of the steps that could be taken to simplify the UK tax system. By taking these steps, the government could make the system simpler, fairer, and easier to comply with.

In addition to the above, the government could also consider the following:

• Consolidating tax legislation. The UK tax code is currently spread out over a number of different Acts of Parliament. Consolidating this legislation into a single document would make it easier for taxpayers to find and understand the rules that apply to them.
• Using technology to improve tax administration. The government could use technology to improve the way that taxes are collected and administered. This could include things like using online filing and payment systems, and making it easier for taxpayers to get help and advice.
• Working with businesses and taxpayers to improve the tax system. The government could work with businesses and taxpayers to get their input on how to improve the tax system. This could be done through things like surveys, focus groups, and roundtables.

By taking these steps, the government could make the tax system simpler, fairer, and more efficient.

Suffice to say, it won't!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Tax Investigation Insurance

Market leading tax fee protection insurance for businesses, sole traders and individuals. Protect yourself from accountancy fees in the event of an HMRC enquiry.

Having a Solar Protect Tax Investigation Insurance policy at your disposal means that should you be one of the many 1000's of businesses or individuals that are selected by HMRC each year to look into your tax affairs your own accountant (your tax return agent) can get on and defend you robustly.

You have the peace of mind knowing that your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees will be paid by the insurance without any Excess for you to find.

Tax Investigation Insurance is an insurance policy that will fully reimburse your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees up to £100,000 if you are subject to enquiry by or dispute with HMRC.

A Solar Protect policy will enable your accountant (your tax return agent) to:

• Deal with any correspondence from HMRC
• Attend any meeting with HMRC
• Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal
• Having the security of knowing that fees will be met in full will enable your Accountant (your tax return agent) to defend your position robustly

Please click here for details.

HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

ICAEW Asks HMRC To Drop Quarterly Reporting

 

In a letter addressed to HMRC’s Joanna Rowland and Jonathan Athow, ICAEW’s Frank Haskew said:

"In particular, we consider that the administrative burden associated with quarterly updates is disproportionate and needs a rethink. Even when a taxpayer is maintaining digital records on a regular basis, having to ensure that these records are complete and checked by specific quarterly deadlines adds extra compliance burdens, especially where a bookkeeper or agent is involved as we expect in the majority of cases. Quarterly updates provide HMRC with little or no assurance about the quality of the underlying digital records. One of the reasons why quarterly reports are getting all the attention is because they can lead to late submission penalties. 

Record keeping penalties are not being reformed despite that being the primary behaviour that needs to change. We suggest that HMRC starts by introducing the requirements to maintain digital records and to submit details of income from self-employment and property directly from software but that the current annual reporting cycle is maintained. Quarterly reporting could be considered in the future, once an annual system is established, if that does not lead a sufficient improvement in record keeping. We anticipate, however, that given the increased impetus towards digitalisation, that requiring the use of software and digital records should provide most of the benefits sought. More frequent MTD ITSA reporting could be considered for those VAT registered businesses that already report on a quarterly cycle. Quarterly updates could be optional."

Pound to a penny HMRC does not drop the requirement!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Tax Investigation Insurance

Market leading tax fee protection insurance for businesses, sole traders and individuals. Protect yourself from accountancy fees in the event of an HMRC enquiry.

Having a Solar Protect Tax Investigation Insurance policy at your disposal means that should you be one of the many 1000's of businesses or individuals that are selected by HMRC each year to look into your tax affairs your own accountant (your tax return agent) can get on and defend you robustly.

You have the peace of mind knowing that your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees will be paid by the insurance without any Excess for you to find.

Tax Investigation Insurance is an insurance policy that will fully reimburse your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees up to £100,000 if you are subject to enquiry by or dispute with HMRC.

A Solar Protect policy will enable your accountant (your tax return agent) to:

• Deal with any correspondence from HMRC
• Attend any meeting with HMRC
• Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal
• Having the security of knowing that fees will be met in full will enable your Accountant (your tax return agent) to defend your position robustly

Please click here for details.

HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

HMRC Strike - No One Will Notice!

 

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union has confirmed 432 HMRC workers will go on strike for 18 days in May and June amid a campaign over pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms.

The union said members working as customer service advisers in Glasgow and Newcastle-upon-Tyne will walk out on 10 May for three days. 

They will also walk out between 15 and 19 May, 22 and 26 May and 29 and 31 May, as well as 1 and 2 June.

Given that calls are not answered, or cut off and letters remain unopened for months; no one will notice this "strike"!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Tax Investigation Insurance

Market leading tax fee protection insurance for businesses, sole traders and individuals. Protect yourself from accountancy fees in the event of an HMRC enquiry.

Having a Solar Protect Tax Investigation Insurance policy at your disposal means that should you be one of the many 1000's of businesses or individuals that are selected by HMRC each year to look into your tax affairs your own accountant (your tax return agent) can get on and defend you robustly.

You have the peace of mind knowing that your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees will be paid by the insurance without any Excess for you to find.

Tax Investigation Insurance is an insurance policy that will fully reimburse your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees up to £100,000 if you are subject to enquiry by or dispute with HMRC.

A Solar Protect policy will enable your accountant (your tax return agent) to:

• Deal with any correspondence from HMRC
• Attend any meeting with HMRC
• Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal
• Having the security of knowing that fees will be met in full will enable your Accountant (your tax return agent) to defend your position robustly

Please click here for details.

HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"