WIREDGOV

We look at the government announcement on Making Tax Digital – and a question to Priti Patel on Right to Rent

Making tax digital roll out

The Treasury has announced that it will be expanding HMRC’s Making Tax Digital programme to all VAT-registered businesses with turnover below the VAT threshold (£85,000) from April 2022.

The system requires businesses to keep digital records and provide VAT returns through software. The system will also be extended in April 2023 for taxpayers who file income tax self-assessment returns for business and property income over £10,000 annually.

You can read more about the proposals and the NRLA reaction to them here.

Home Secretary quizzed on Right to Rent 

The Home Secretary Priti Patel has been questioned on whether the right-to-rent scheme will be paused as the Government considers its “hostile environment” policy.

Joanna Cherry MP (SNP, Glasgow South West – SNP Spokesperson on Home Affairs) asked Ms Patel during a statement on the Windursh Lessons Learned Review yesterday in the House of Commons: “Will she tell us whether measures such as the right to rent scheme will be paused pending the outcome of the review of the hostile environment policy?”

Ms Patel responded:

“It is fair to say that Wendy Williams’s “Windrush Lessons Learned Review” is a review like no other. 

“Thankfully, it is a one-off review of an absolutely shocking scandal that took place. As I said in my statement, it identifies and marks a stain on the history of our country, but it also scars my Department significantly. 

“As a result, the measures that I have outlined today—just the five steps alone, which are very focused on the Home Office itself, including encompassing policy aspects—are very detailed. 

“They are detailed for a reason. They are not a tick-box response, and they are not a “quick, let’s fix this and pay lip service” response either. A great deal of work is required. 

“This speaks to the hon. and learned Lady’s third point, about reviewing the compliant environment and the work that will need to be undertaken there, which will take time. 

“Obviously, I will report back, and as a Department we will report back, on exactly how policies are effected specifically on that.”

The full transcript can be found here.