Blog

Alex Foster

Could inheritance tax really be abolished?

Last week both the Chancellor, Sajid Javid, and the Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, hinted at major changes to inheritance tax (IHT) – and potentially even its abolition – but is that really likely?

2 minutes

Susan Ball

Will more employers start putting contractors on the payroll?

In recent weeks several major banks have reportedly told contractors that they will only employ them as 'on-payroll' from next year as they prepare for the IR35 rules which will apply to the private sector from April 2020. While care is needed over taking a blanket approach, businesses are right to prepare now as failure to do so could see key staff walking away.

3 minutes

Philip Munn

Brexit delays VAT simplification

The latest report from the Office of Tax Simplification reveals that, while there has been some progress on VAT reform, the bigger question around the VAT threshold remains unresolved.

3 minutes

Tom Gilbert

Charities come within Making Tax Digital for VAT

From 1 October 2019, Making Tax Digital VAT reporting requirements apply to charities above the VAT registration threshold; but is the sector ready and what complexities do charities need to consider?

3 minutes

George Bull

Land and property stamp tax receipts suffer biggest fall since credit crunch

Latest data from HMRC show that land and property stamp taxes (SDLT) plummeted by 7 per cent to £11,940 million in 2018-19. That’s the biggest drop since the credit crunch and economic downturn of 2008-09. This demonstrates the impact of falling house prices and market activity as well as changes to the tax itself. We delve into the detail.

3 minutes

Susan Ball

Will Parliament run out of time to pass the off-payroll/IR35 legislation?

Notwithstanding today's decision from the Supreme Court, is it possible that Parliament could run out of time to pass the legislation needed for an April 2020 start?

4 minutes

Susan Ball

IR35 and deemed employment hitting the headlines again

Last week three BBC presenters were unsuccessful in their attempt to overturn an HMRC decision that they should pay tax and national insurance as employees rather than self-employed contractors. The case once again highlights the difficulty in determining employment status for tax which will become increasingly important when new rules on off-payroll working come into force in April 2020.

3 minutes

George Bull

Why is the UK government not using the tax system to tackle the climate emergency

On 1 May 2019, the UK Parliament declared a climate emergency. Following the publication of an OECD report, we ask how effectively the UK Government is using the tax system to address climate change. The results are not encouraging.

7 minutes

Rachel de Souza

Don’t abolish the non-dom system ̶ embrace it instead

Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, has called for non-dom status to be abolished in the first Budget of a Labour government. But is this a wise move when other European countries are enhancing their schemes to encourage wealthy individuals to relocate, to invest and to spend?

3 minutes

Rachel de Souza