UK Tax News and HMRC Updates

HMRC successfully crack down on tax cheats. Special ‘taskforces’ get back double the amount repaid to the country in 2014.

Get ready to wave good-bye to self assessment as all taxpayers get individual online tax accounts. HMRC’s drive towards a more user-friendly service continues.

Double whammy for HMRC in yet another official report. The Public Accounts Committee questions whether HMRC are fit for purpose.

Tax office ‘transparency’ for everyone! All taxpayers to be able to see their own Tax Summary online.

No, it’s not just you, thousands of taxpayers are anxiously waiting for their PAYE tax rebates to be processed and paid. No timescale for when things will speed up has been confirmed.

Do you know how HMRC communicates securely with you about the different elements of your tax situation? Don’t open any email attachments or links until you are certain.

No questioning erroneous tax bills until after the Treasury has your money – by hook or by crook. The ‘by crook’ being HMRC’s new capability to take any money they consider to be owed straight out of taxpayers’ bank accounts.; only then can the bill be challenged in court.

Prior planning prevents last minute panic. Diarise this important financial timetable and nothing will take you by surprise this tax year.

Osborne puts his money where is mouth is when it comes to shutting down tax evasion. Investment in HMRC should result in billions of extra tax pounds collected.

Thousands of fake HMRC emails reported – don’t get caught out. Real communications do not ask for private financial information.

HMRC suspect thousands have secret online business income. They want broader access to internet traffic data from more companies, in order to ensure a fair tax system.

Can HMRC’s systems handle the massive influx of new data that they want from the multitude of online trading companies? No-one should escape their tax responsibilities, but we need to know that our information is secure.

Tax-free savings in new budget extra boost to basic rate taxpayers. HMRC not intending to welcome 830,000 potential new Self-assessment filers as way of collecting tax that is no longer automatically deducted.

Taxpayers now have to wait anxiously for 3 months to get an initial response from HMRC. They have a lot more data sources to consider now, including social media posts.

Do you know that you can reclaim the VAT or Goods and Service Tax on your holiday shopping? You have to submit the claim before you catch your flight home, so be pack these details along with your swimwear!

Profit over principle – the Budget overrides the Magna Carta with ‘direct recovery’ tax collection proposal. Could your business survive on just £5,000?

Over a quarter of all calls made to the understaffed HMRC department are simply unanswered. That’s 17.8 million unresolved taxpayer queries.

Latest government message to HMRC – do a lot more, with a £80million less. Will these ‘savings’ demands topple the already teetering department?

The government has offshore tax evaders in their sight. £750million is a hefty weapon to wield in their fight against tax avoidance.

‘Computer says “No”‘ and thousands of disappointed council workers have to return wrongly issued tax rebate cheques.

Being a grass can earn you some cash! HMRC pay for information that leads to the prosecution of tax evaders – the more you know, the more you could get as a ‘reward’.

Government departments cannot function as the computer system fails. Thousands of taxpayers unable to complete essential financial transactions, including filing their tax returns.

HMRC define the distinction between tax avoiders and late filers by moving away from automatic fines. This common sense approach is welcomed by small businesses and tax experts alike.

HMRC have raided three times more properties in a bid to meet tax evasion prosecution targets.