The payment window for stamp duty land tax (SDLT) has been halved to 14 days affecting commercial and residential property transactions while a new penalty system will also come into force with immediate effect

A number of tax tribunal decisions every year revolve around HMRC’s interpretation of reasonable excuse, but it is the Upper Tribunal decisions which are important to watch. Meg Wilson CTA, specialist tax writer at Croner-i Tax and Accounting, examines the options for taxpayers considering an appeal and use of the reasonable excuse defence

Changes to the capital gains tax (CGT) rules on sales of land mean that non-UK residents will be captured by the CGT regime for the first time from April 2019, raising complex tax compliance issues, explains Stephanie Webber CTA, tax writer at Croner-i

HMRC and the Treasury have issued a 12-week consultation looking at how a 1% increase to stamp duty land tax (SDLT) for non-UK residents, including companies and trusts, purchasing residential property would work, with proceeds of the surcharge going towards measures to tackle rough sleeping

Accurate probate values are key to assessing inheritance tax (IHT) liabilities on farms, especially when they include development potential or working machinery. Julie Butler FCA, partner at Butler & Co explains the tax implications

The government should consider simplifying its planned structures and buildings allowance (SBA) designed to encourage investment in the construction and renovation of commercial buildings, as the current proposals are too complex, CIOT has said

The ever daunting volume of tax code leaves taxpayers confused and liable to be caught out by ever more arcane tax rules. Yvette Nunn CTA, founder of Berkeley Associates, gives a candid view of some of the more complex tax traps from compliance with non residential CGT to the risks of falling foul of the annual allowance when saving for a pension 

The Scottish Budget was approved by 67 votes to 58 with Finance Secretary Derek Mackay getting backing from Green MSPs, after he agreed to boost to local government funding and implement an alternative system to council tax

HMRC reports more than 241,000 first time homeowners have pocketed the cash they would have spent on stamp duty land tax (SDLT), saving a total of £570m since first time buyers relief (FTBR) was introduced, but the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has branded the scheme ‘costly and bureaucratic’

The key HMRC filing deadlines from February to July 2019 including Forms P46(Car) for quarter ended 5 Jan, PAYE cheque payments for month ended 5 Feb and payment of outstanding income and CGT in respect of personal tax returns for 2017/18 to avoid 5% surcharge

Mark Cawthron, tax writer at Croner-i, looks at how prospective purchasers of flats off-plan, and developers offering such flats, might think about reacting to the decision in the recent case of Higgins, with a view to seeking to mitigate or remove such difficulty

 Tax advisory revenues globally have hit $20bn (£15.2bn), up by 8.6%, with the UK market set to grow faster than any other European country in 2019 with Brexit driving growth, according to analysis from Source Global Research

After the longest US government shutdown ever, President Trump has finally given in to pressure and re-opened government, allowing the resumption of full Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for taxpayers before the April tax filing deadline

Lisa Macpherson ATT TEP, head of tax technical at PKF Francis Clark, unpicks the complexity of the inheritance tax residence nil rate band (RNRB), transferable nil rate band and compliance issues, with case studies of typical scenarios

Compliance with the inheritance tax nil rate band (NRB) is a complex area but beneficial from a tax perspective as it allows a £1m IHT exemption. Lisa Macpherson ATT TEP, head of tax technical at PKF Francis Clark, examines transferable bands and residence issues