Calls to remove the need for businesses to complete two tax returns in their first year, put forward by the Office of Tax Simplification, could be implemented overnight. Yvette Nunn, director of Berkeley Associates, sets out a simple change to Companies House’s default position

In this month’s round up of tax news concerns over the number of unregulated tax agents, return of film fund tax breaks, small businesses account for largest percentage of tax gap, HMRC cracks down on fake phone calls and France tops list for providing unlawful tax breaks  

HMRC is coming under fire from MPs over long waiting times for businesses trying to get through to Making Tax Digital for VAT helplines and a cavalier attitude to dealing with calls with taxpayers cut off if they wait longer than 10 minutes, reports Sara White 

Anyone who cannot find suitably accessible software to comply with the Making Tax Digital for VAT rules should apply to HMRC for a temporary exemption, for example for age or disability reasons, says the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG)

In our regular Q&A series, Croner Taxwise consultant Jason Croke, explains the registration requirements for a first-time registrant planning to use the flat rate scheme for VAT compliance and recovery

The newly launched HMRC Making Tax Digital for VAT online reporting service will be unavailable for part of the weekend and for the whole working day on Monday due to IT maintenance

Relying on software exclusively for Making Tax Digital for VAT is fraught with potential problems, with any errors in calculation likely to create problems for taxpayers who do not know the complexities of tax law. Yvette Nunn, director of Berkeley Associates recommends a spreadsheet backup to avoid penalties down the line

HMRC has deployed new defensive controls to protect abuse of its phone lines in a bid to put an end to fraudster’s spoofing the tax authority’s most recognisable helpline numbers

In this month’s tax updates, cases include tax return uncertainty over 'discovery' decision in Tooth case, DIY housebuilder wins VAT refund case in Swales, managed service company status in Costelloe Business Services, plus lifetime giving rules for inheritance tax and HMRC ordered to delete illegally held voice records

In the latest Cabinet reshuffle, transport minister Jesse Norman has been named as financial secretary to the Treasury, as previous minister Mel Stride becomes leader of the House of Commons after the resignation of Andrea Leadsom

Yvette Nunn CTA, director of Berkeley Associates, welcomes a sensible decision in the recent Farrell VAT surcharge case, but fears the tribunal system will not cope unless HMRC ditches automatic penalties when Making Tax Digital for VAT is in full force

In this month’s tax updates, cases include Loose Women’s star IR35 win while Hustle actor’s Big Bad Wolffe company loses NIC appeal, a taxpayer’s unsolicited tax returns are rejected, HMRC wins £40m Hyrax case, IR35 private sector rules released, Treasury reports on loan charge, HMRC consults on PRR and multinationals face CFC clawback

The key HMRC filing deadlines from May to July 2019 including deadline for Forms P46(Car) (printed form) for quarter ended 5 April, P60 payroll reporting to employees and confirmation statements showing benefits that have had tax collected through payroll in 2018/19

Businesses that have already signed up for Making Tax Digital for VAT but are yet to file their latest VAT return need to act quickly to avoid possible penalties if they encounter problems making VAT payments on time, the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) is warning

HMRC has reported total VAT receipts for the first quarter of the year were £34.5bn, 4.8% higher than the same quarter last year, continuing a long-term upward trend