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…

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…

A leading accountancy organisation has warned that the majority of UK businesses have no contingency plans in place in response to the economic turmoil in the eurozone. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) conducted a survey of more than 500 of its members working in senior finance roles in commercial businesses.… Read more…

New HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) guidance to clarify the risk of contractors being caught by the IR35 intermediaries legislation has been attacked as a missed opportunity. The 47-page document, published on 9 May, explains the risk bands HMRC will use to gauge how likely it is that it needs to check whether IR35 applies… Read more…

A new business lending service from online loans specialist Wonga is not what struggling enterprises need, according to business recovery experts. Wonga, which began lending to individuals in 2007, announced on 7 May that it was extending its service to offer “a new way for UK firms to smooth out financial bumps”, providing decisions in… Read more…

Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly has highlighted how the government is helping businesses to “get on with the job” by reforming the justice system. Mr Djanogly met representatives of leading businesses on 9 May to launch Justice for Business: Supporting Business and Promoting Growth, a new paper outlining the government’s work to make the justice system… Read more…

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched new guidance on safety testing of electrical appliances, saying that unnecessary checks are costing office-based businesses an estimated £30 million a year. The HSE said that was a costly myth that every portable electrical appliance in the workplace must be tested once a year, leading to low-risk… Read more…

A new service has been launched to help people who need to sort out tax issues following bereavement. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) announced on 21 May that it has set up a dedicated telephone helpline and address to improve services for people with queries on self assessment and PAYE matters after a death. HMRC… Read more…

The government is asking employers for their view on plans to scrap legislation that makes bosses liable for harassment of their employees by customers or clients. The consultation, which was launched on 15 May and continues until 7 August, focuses on a third party harassment provision originally introduced in 2008 and included in the Equality… Read more…

Office workers being banned from putting up Christmas decorations and trapeze artists being told to wear hard hats are among a top ten of myths published as part of the launch of a new service to help curb the worst examples of health and safety misuse. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will run the… Read more…