Changes to reporting by employers of information delayed
In May 2024, ICAEW’s Tax Faculty responded to a consultation on draft regulations intended to improve the data HMRC collects from employers and individual taxpayers from April 2025. HMRC has listened to the faculty and others, and has announced that the requirement relating to employers will not apply until April 2026 at the earliest. The expected implementation date for changes to self assessment returns (dividends from owner-managed companies and self-employed start and end dates) remains April 2025. HMRC will provide further information in due course.
HMRC to stop sending some corporation tax letters
From September 2024, HMRC will no longer send corporation tax return and instalment payment reminders, interest statements or payment receipts. From October 2024, it will no longer send the agent list of issued notices to deliver a company tax return, and it will trial not sending some return and payment reminders.
Full details are provided in the latest issue of HMRC’s agent update.
Tips from HMRC on completing form 64-8
HMRC has published guidance on completing form 64-8 to set up agent authorisation to deal with HMRC. The tips include: using the correct version of the form; only including a cover letter if absolutely necessary; and only providing the requested information in the form fields.
Consultation on changes to FTT rules
The Tribunal Procedure Committee is consulting on proposals to amend the rules for each chamber of the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) and the Employment Tribunals concerning the provision of written reasons for decisions and other case management measures. The changes affecting the tax chamber include:
- reducing the time within which discretionary written reasons may be requested; and
- amending the rules addressing when full or summary-form reasons are required or available.
The closing date for responses is 22 October. Please email any comments to Richard Jones.
Advisory fuel rates
HMRC has published its advisory fuel rates to be used from 1 September 2024. The rates can be used when employers are reimbursing employees for business travel in their company cars, or the employer needs the employee to pay for fuel used for private travel. Employers can use previous rates for up to one month after the date the new rates apply.
PAYE electronic payment deadline
HMRC has reminded employers that, in September 2024, the electronic payment deadline falls on Sunday, 22 September. HMRC states that, to make sure the payment for the month reaches HMRC on time, the employer needs to have funds cleared into HMRC’s account by 20 September 2024, unless they are able to arrange a faster payment.
HMRC webinars
HMRC is offering webinars on the following topics:
- umbrella companies and the risks that exist for workers and employers using them (5 September 2024);
- expenses and benefits where an employee has more than one workplace (5 September 2024);
- travel expenses and benefits (6 September 2024); and
- company cars, vans and fuel (11 September 2024).
Updated HMRC privacy notice
HMRC has updated its privacy notice. The notice now includes a section on artificial intelligence, analytics and machine learning and updated guidance on the circumstances in which automated decision-making is allowed.
Alcohol Duty Digital Service
HMRC is launching a new digital service for UK alcohol producers in March 2025, aiming to simplify and modernise processes for approvals, returns and payments. This service is part of the broader Alcohol Duty Review, which introduced significant changes to duty rates and reliefs in August 2023. The digital platform will make it easier for producers to manage their duty obligations across all alcoholic product types. HMRC will provide more details about accessing the service closer to the launch date.
GVMS Update: XI EORI Numbers for GB to NI Movements
HMRC has updated the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) to allow the use of XI-prefixed EORI numbers for Entry in Declarant's Records (EIDR) movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
This change affects businesses with XI EORI numbers and valid EIDR authorisations, who should now use these numbers to generate Goods Movement Reference (GMR) numbers in GVMS. Traders using the Trader Support Service (TSS) are unaffected. Those not using TSS should continue to use their EORI number starting GB number to access and log into the GVMS system but use their EORI number starting XI linked to a valid EIDR authorisation to generate the GMR number in GVMS for NI EIDR movements. Further guidance and support are available through gov.uk.
Tax Faculty
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