Business and Other Briefings

BERR: The Department for Business has announced that the design & rollout of Solutions for Business, its streamlined portfolio of business support products, is complete with over 3,000 schemes reduced to 30.
 
To conclude the rollout, 9 products joined the portfolio last week and, from 1 April 2009, Train to Gain and Business Link brokers will come together in a new service under the Business Link brand to offer advice on skills, reinforcing Business Link's role as the main route to government support.
Press release ~ Solutions for Business ~ BERR: Solutions for Business - simplified business support ~ Train to Gain ~ Business Link
 
HMT: Businesses will be able spread payment of this year's inflation up-rating (of 5%) to Business Rates over 3 years, under new legislation announced by the Government. The majority of independent economists expect RPI inflation - which has now fallen to 0% - to turn negative at the end of 2009.
 
The impact of up-rating if RPI is negative would be to reduce total business rates in cash terms in 2010-11.  However the Government recognises that many businesses also need help now to ease cash flow.
Press release ~ CLG – Business rates
 
LBRO:  
The Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) is seeking views from local authorities on how they can provide more help to businesses.  It has produced draft advice & guidance - 'Better Local Regulation: Supporting businesses in recession and beyond' - and is welcoming comments (by Friday 29 May 2009) from councils, business, consumer groups, and national regulators.  The final guide will be published ahead of the LGA Annual Conference in July and launched there.
 
To support local authorities in providing more effective regulatory services, the guidance covers areas including: principles of better regulation; engaging to understand business needs; effective targeting and delivering local priorities.
Press release ~ Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) ~ Better Local Regulation: Supporting Businesses in Recession and Beyond
 
DSA:  If you are a driving instructor, transport operator, motorcycle instructor, driving instructor trainer or a lorry, bus or taxi driver, the Transport Office Portal currently offers you online access to a range of Department for Transport (DfT) transactional services & tools, many of which are owned by DSA. From 1 April 2009 you should access most of those services through the Business Link – Transport and Logistics webpage.
 
You will still be able to find the information you need.  There will be a new theme of Transport on the ‘My Business’ section of Business Link's website and, for a while, customers still using the old Transport Office web address will be redirected automatically.
Press release ~ Business Link – Transport and Logistics
 
HMRC:  As part of wider reform of the tribunals system, the tax appeals system changed on 1 April 2009.  New guidance explains how the revised appeals system works for all the different taxes & duties affected, across both direct and indirect tax.
 
All of the previous tax tribunals, including the General Commissioners, the Special Commissioners and the VAT & Duties Tribunals, are now combined within the Tax Chamber of a new First-tier Tribunal.  A new Upper Tribunal will hear appeals from First-tier Tribunal decisions.
 
Before an appeal is considered by the new tribunal, customers have a new statutory right to a review of the issue by someone in HMRC who has not previously been involved in their case. The online guidance explains the various options open to customers, including what they need to do and when.
Press release ~ What to do if you disagree with an HMRC decision ~ First-tier Tribunal (Tax) ~ Upper Tribunal (Finance and Tax)

HMRCRevenue & Customs Brief 25/09
Following representations from the First Aid training sector regarding the application of the Social Security (Categorisation of Earners) Regulations 1978 (the Regulations), HM Revenue & Customs has published a Brief regarding the application of the Regulations and amended guidance.
 
HMRCRevenue & Customs Brief 24/09
HMRC has set benchmark scale rates for particular day subsistence expenses that HMRC will accept for all employers.
 
Revenue & Customs Brief 22/09
HMRC: The fuel duty increases announced at the 2007 and 2008 Budgets and confirmed at the last Pre-Budget Report will go ahead on 1 April 2009.
 
HMRCRevenue & Customs Brief 21/09
Guidance on Inheritance Tax and valuation of gifts involving Discounted Gift Schemes (DGS).
 
HMRCRevenue & Customs Brief 20/09
Modernising tax relief for business expenditure on cars. This brief provides details of revisions to the draft legislation that was published in December 2008.
 
HMRCRevenue & Customs Brief 19/09
HM Revenue & Customs announces four changes to simplify the Standard Method to help reduce compliance costs for businesses.
 
HMRCRevenue & Customs Brief 18/09
This brief announces a change in the treatment of VAT Bade Debt Relief claims made when the net VAT due on a return has not been paid or has been partly paid.
 
HMRCRevenue & Customs Brief 16/09
This Brief gives details of the Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax position of people who were shareholders in Bradford & Bingley plc and members of employee share schemes on 29 September 2008 when the company was taken into public ownership.
 
HMRCRevenue & Customs Brief 12/09
Explains HM Revenue & Customs' view that the 'error or mistake' provisions cannot be used to substitute a claim for plant & machinery allowances for an earlier claim to industrial or agricultural buildings allowances in respect of expenditure incurred in a closed year.
 
HMRCRevenue & Customs Brief 07/09
The Corporation Tax Act 2009 (CTA 2009), produced by the tax law rewrite project, has come into force for corporation tax purposes for accounting periods ending on or after 1 April 2009.
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