Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke has announced government proposals to crack down on the promoters of aggressive tax avoidance schemes. He unveiled plans on 23 July that included increasing pressure on advisers who market schemes that artificially reduce tax and making it easier for taxpayers to identify such schemes. The proposals also include… Read more…

Acas and the Equality Human Rights Commission have published a new guide to help employers understand the rights of women who are pregnant or on maternity leave when facing redundancy. Employers and employees seeking advice on pregnancy or maternity and redundancy issues make more than 15,000 calls a year to the Acas helpline. Unfair dismissal… Read more…

The payroll professionals’ industry body has showcased the new system for reporting employee’s pay and tax details that will affect all businesses next year. Exchequer Secretary David Gauke visited the Solihull offices of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) on 18 July  see its payroll department send its first Real Time Information (RTI) submission.… Read more…

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has said that it expects to recover more than £30 million following the launch of new taskforces across the UK to carry out tax investigations in certain business sectors and areas. The HMRC taskforces are specialist teams that undertake intensive bursts of tax investigation activity in specific high risk trade… Read more…

Tax specialists have welcomed the launch of a government consultation on a general anti-abuse rule (GAAR) but said that work was still needed on the proposals. The government launched a consultation on the proposed GAAR on 12 June, which would apply to the main direct taxes and to national insurance and stamp duty land tax.… Read more…

Inheritance tax (IHT) is set to be included in new anti-abuse rules designed to tackle tax avoidance schemes. The government launched a consultation on the proposed General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) on 12 June, which would apply to the main direct taxes and national insurance. It also proposes an extension of the rule to inheritance tax.… Read more…

Businesses and other organisations operating websites have been told that regulators want “good compliance, not rushed compliance” with a law requiring them to gain visitors’ consent before logging information about them. Last year, the government revised the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations to address new EU requirements, and these came into force on 26 May… Read more…

New taskforces have been launched by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in a bid to recover more than £23 million in unpaid tax. The taskforces, launched on 31 May, will target traders who do not pay the right amount of tax in: indoor and outdoor markets in London taxi firms in Yorkshire and East Midlands… Read more…

More than 1,000 people are taking a step towards a new career by booking a start-up market pitch as part of a UK-wide Love Your Local Market campaign. Launched on 23 June, the two-week campaign will see more than 300 local markets offering special deals and events to attract new shoppers and encourage budding entrepreneurs… Read more…

Young entrepreneurs are set to benefit from an £80 million-plus fund designed to help up to 30,000 businesses get off the ground. The £82.5 million StartUp Loan scheme, launched on 28 May, will give young people aged 18-24 access to support to help them develop a business plan and to training. Where the business plan… Read more…