Consultations
HMRC: A consultation document (closes on 31 August 2011) to counter the continued marketing & use of high risk tax avoidance schemes was published by HM Revenue & Customs) last week.
The document – ‘High Risk Tax Avoidance Schemes’ – proposes to ‘list’ tax avoidance schemes that are unlikely to deliver the tax savings claimed. Taxpayers who use these schemes currently benefit from deferring the disputed tax payment until HMRC has completed an investigation.
The document – ‘High Risk Tax Avoidance Schemes’ – proposes to ‘list’ tax avoidance schemes that are unlikely to deliver the tax savings claimed. Taxpayers who use these schemes currently benefit from deferring the disputed tax payment until HMRC has completed an investigation.
The proposals outlined in the document would require users of a listed scheme to disclose the scheme to HMRC. They would also be subject to an additional charge on underpaid tax. Taxpayers would be able to protect themselves from the additional charge by paying tax in dispute up-front.
HMRC: A consultation document (closes on 16 September 2011) proposing the transformation of the relationship between agents and HM Revenue & Customs was published last week.
HMRC will arrange a number of meetings & workshops with agents who are members of the representative bodies and those who are non-affiliated to seek their views first hand. The department will also continue to liaise regularly with the main representative bodies through the Joint Tax Agent Strategy Steering Group.
HMRC: A consultation (closes on 31 August 2011) on a new online system to stop criminals evading VAT on road vehicles they bring into the UK has been launched by HM Revenue & Customs. The document – ‘Tackling VAT evasion on road vehicles brought into the UK’ - asks questions on the development of a new online system to begin in 2013that will ensure that the correct VAT is paid.
FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has recently confirmed new complaints handling rules as part of a package of measures to drive up standards within the industry (Consultation closes on 31 August 2011).
OFT: The OFT has announced a series of measures relating to marketing & charging practices used by credit brokers & debt management companies in response to concerns about their impact on vulnerable consumers.
In addition to ongoing robust, targeted enforcement action, including the revocation of consumer credit licences where appropriate, the OFT is publishing 2 new pieces of guidance: on the standards it expects of credit brokers, and on debt management (consultation closes 23 August 2011).
The OFT is also asking the Government to consider whether new legislation is needed to address problems in the sub-prime unsecured credit brokerage market, including a possible ban on upfront fees. These measures are detailed in the OFT's response to a super-complaint from Citizens Advice.
WAG: Members of the public have only until 10 June 2011 to offer their thoughts about whether historic Welsh battlefields should be protected for future generations. Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government, is consulting on whether to establish a Register of Historic Battlefields in Wales and has asked the public to share their suggestions on how this might be achieved.
Ofcom: Ofcom has set out proposals to ensure that digital TV delivered through a roof top aerial can function alongside the next generation of mobile services to be rolled out from 2013. The 800 MHz spectrum for 4G mobile services, which is to be auctioned in 2012, is adjacent to the frequencies used for digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcasting.
Due to its proximity, in a small number of cases this could cause the signals from mobile base stations to interfere with set top boxes and digital televisions in the future. This could potentially affect up to 3% of DTT viewers if no measures were put in place to solve the problem. Ofcom proposes a scheme to give information and help to consumers. Consultation closes 11 August 2011.
