Government consults on simplifying employee benefits in kind and expenses
19 Jun 2014 10:26 AM
Also seeking views on
remuneration packages in the 21st century.
The government has launched four
consultations on proposed changes to simplify the administration of employee
benefits in kind and expenses.
Following a review of employee
benefits and expenses carried out by the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) and
announced at Budget 2014, the consultations and will look at:
As well as consulting on
simplifying the tax treatment of employee benefits and expenses, the government
is publishing a call for evidence
on remuneration packages.
With changes in the form of
remuneration packages and their recent evolution, the call for evidence will
help to better understand the factors behind these changes and likely future
trends.
The OTS published its
second report on employee benefits and expenses in January 2014, which
concluded the tax rules and administration in this area could be simplified,
easing the burden on employers.
As a result, the government
published its response at Budget 2014 and outlined the areas it would consult
on, as well as announcing a call for evidence on remuneration
packages.
A review of the tax treatment of
travel and subsistence payments has also been announced which will be launched
in due course.
Exchequer Secretary to the
Treasury, David Gauke, said:
Following the valuable work the
Office of Tax Simplification has carried out in reviewing employee benefits and
expenses, the government is now consulting on changes that will deliver real
improvements for businesses and individual and their experience of the tax
system.
We want to make sure we get the
structure and detail absolutely right and each consultation will allow us to
engage with and learn from those who will be directly
affected.
The government is seeking views
from anyone with an interest in these areas and the consultations will close on
9 September 2014.