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…

Strong inward investment in the UK created or secured more than 112,000 jobs in 2011/12, a rise of 19 per cent on the preceding year, according to new figures. Statistics announced on 26 July revealed that inward investment created 52,741 new jobs, a 26 per cent increase on 2010/11, and secured 59,918 existing jobs, an… Read more…

Businesses that breach health and safety laws could find themselves facing substantial bills from 1 October. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed that its cost recovery scheme, Fee for Intervention, will start from that date, subject to Parliamentary approval. The scheme will enable HSE to recover its costs for putting matters right, investigating… Read more…

Time is ticking away for taxpayers who have failed to complete tax returns in the past to take advantage of a new HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) initiative, which could result in tax investigations if they do not come forward voluntarily. The three-month Tax Return Initiative, which was launched in July, is particularly aimed at… Read more…

Tax chiefs have launched a new initiative targeting taxpayers who have failed to complete tax returns in the past. The three-month Tax Return Initiative, which was launched on 3 July, is particularly aimed at people liable to pay tax at rates of 40 per cent and above who were asked to submit a self assessment… Read more…

The UK’s creative industries are set to benefit from tax reliefs that are among the most generous in the world, according to the government. It has published a consultation on measures announced in the 2012 Budget, introducing tax reliefs targeted at animation, high-end TV and video games production. The reliefs are designed to support technological… Read more…

Proposals that could cut the length of time employers have to consult with their employees on large scale redundancies by up to a third have been published by the government. The new measures, outlined in a consultation launched by Employment Relations Minister Norman Lamb on 21 June, are designed to improve the ability of companies… 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…

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…

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…