Highlights from the broader tax news for the week ending 15 November 2023, including: removal of paper VAT1 form; changes to customs rules; Scottish Budget date; Welsh Budget publication; and a new Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
Paper VAT1 form removed
HMRC has removed the paper VAT1 form, used to apply for a UK VAT registration, from gov.uk. Most businesses or their agents should now apply using the online service. There are certain circumstances where a paper application is still required. Registration by post is also still possible for those people for whom it is not reasonable or practical to use the online service. In either case, the paper application form must be requested from the VAT general enquiries helpline.
The customs (Aerodromes and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations
HMRC has published a tax information and impact note explaining changes to customs rules for the import and export of goods in certain circumstances. The changes include:
- updates to the customs position of stores during an international journey on ships, aircraft, and railway vehicles;
- changes to the rules for customs duty relief where goods are imported for disaster relief;
- approval conditions for a person in control of an aerodrome and penalties for breaches of these conditions;
- penalties for breaches of customs rules relating to the control of movement of aircraft;
- updates that allow HMRC to withdraw submitted customs declarations for goods that do not arrive in the UK; and
- updates that allow HMRC to repay certain customs duty amounts following a review under the government's trade remedies legislation.
Scottish Budget date
The Scottish Budget for 2024 to 2025 will be published on 19 December 2023. Read more.
Welsh Budget publication
The Welsh Government has announced it is planning to publish the outline and detailed draft budgets together on 19 December 2023, and the final Budget on 27 February 2024. Read the timeline.
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Nigel Huddleston MP was appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury (FST) on 13 November. The FST has ministerial responsibility for the UK tax system, including direct, indirect, business, property, and personal taxation (except for taxes covered by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and the Economic Secretary to the Treasury); European and other international tax issues; customs and VAT at the border; and The Finance Bill and the National Insurance Bill.
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