It is tempting to assume that government departments are drawing back from exercising their powers to challenge taxpayers due to COVID disruption, but it would be unwise to assume this is the case. For example, in a recent legal action undertaken by the Insolvency Service, a construction boss was banned from running companies for nine…
Read more
Stamp duty changes- residential property
In his recent Summer Statement, Rishi Sunak announced changes to the nil rate band of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) to be applied in England and Northern Ireland. This was followed by announcements from the Scottish and Welsh regional assemblies who set the rates in Scotland and Wales. Here is a brief summary of the…
Read more
VAT changes
In an attempt to address the financial difficulties of businesses in the hospitality and tourism industries, Rishi Sunak also announced a range of VAT reductions on selected supplies for these sectors. Summary of the changes are set out below: Hospitality When you supply food and non-alcoholic beverages for consumption on your premises, between 15 July…
Read more
Keep an eye on the numbers
Recent economic forecasts for 2020 published by H M Treasury will do little to inspire business confidence. In their comparison of independent forecasts published last month, the unemployment rate is estimated to rise to 8% and in the same period, GDP falls by 9%. The only good news is that inflation remains on the low…
Read more