The US has launched an investigation into digital services taxes (DSTs) that have been adopted or are being considered by a number of its trading partners, including the UK, on the grounds that they will unfairly penalise companies like Google and Amazon

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has fast-tracked plans to scrap VAT on e-books and e-newspapers, bringing the measures in seven months earlier than announced at the Budget, in a boost to readers and publishers during the coronavirus outbreak

The payment window for capital gains tax (CGT) on the sale of second homes and buy-to-let residential properties is being cut to 30 days

HMRC is ramping up the technology it uses to track investors in cryptoasset transactions using blockchain, with plans to buy a software analysis tool

CIOT and the ATT are running an online survey for tax professionals and businesses to provide feedback about their experiences of Making Tax Digital for VAT

HMRC has issued its first detailed guidance on the tax treatment of cryptoasset transactions specifically clarifying the rules for transactions at businesses and companies

HMRC is trialling additional functionality on the online trust registration service to make it easier to register and amend information about trusts, with the aim of launching a full service by year end

HMRC has resolved a technical issue affecting submissions of Making Tax Digital for VAT returns following IT maintenance over the weekend

Half of small businesses say they have made mistakes when sending in their VAT return and only a quarter are confident they have the figures correct despite spending more than an hour checking

Some taxpayers face unexpected tax bills due to a technical error with HMRC’s IT system which means that self assessment statements were sent out with the wrong information

Revenue and Customs Digital Technology Services (RCDTS) Ltd, the not-for-profit company set up by HMRC in the wake of the decision to end the outsourced Aspire commercial contract, reported income of £73.7m last year, up from £59.8m the year before

HMRC has promised not to throw the book at firms who struggle to register for Making Tax Digital (MTD) as new figures show total take-up lagging in certain sectors

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)

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

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