HM REVENUE AND
CUSTOMS News Release (Ref:SPEC 04B/09) issued by COI News
Distribution Service. 3 March 2009
Businesses need to
get ready for the new aligned compliance checks framework that
comes into effect next month, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
warned today.
With new information and inspection powers, record keeping
requirements, time limits for tax assessments and claims and the
accompanying safeguards, businesses need to make sure that they
know what this will mean for them.
From 1 April 2009, HMRC will have one set of powers and
safeguards covering PAYE, VAT, Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax,
Corporation Tax and the Construction Industry Scheme. There will
also be safeguards in place to ensure that the powers are used appropriately.
HMRC's Dave Hartnett said:
"This new approach to compliance checks will improve
HMRC's ability to ensure that the right tax is paid at the
right time. We have consulted with taxpayers and their agents to
make very sure that HMRC achieves the right balance between
obtaining the information we need and appropriate use of our powers."
More information about the new checks is available:
* via a free podcast which can be download to your computer, by
visiting the HMRC podcast pages at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/podcasts
* at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/new-compliance-checks.htm
* via a mailbox for questions/comments: compliance.checks@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Notes for editors
1. From 1 April 2009, HMRC will have one set of powers and
safeguards covering PAYE, VAT, Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax and
Corporation Tax to:
* visit businesses to inspect the premises, assets and records
* ask taxpayers and third parties for information and documents.
These measures include taxpayer safeguards to ensure that the
powers are used by HMRC officers appropriately.
2. The powers also include:
* greater flexibility in setting record keeping requirements
after 1 April 2009
* new time limits for making assessments and claims to provide
customers with earlier certainty. These will be fully in force for
most taxpayers on 1 April 2010, and there will be transitional
arrangements from 1 April 2009. They will not apply to individuals
outside SA until 1 April 2012.
3. The HM Treasury orders to commence the new legislation are
available to view on HMRC's intranet site. The commencement
orders laid in February 2009 switched on:
- information and inspection powers (Schedule 36) from 1 April 2009
- record keeping rules (Schedule 37) from 1 April 2009
- time limits for assessments and claims to take effect from 1
April 2010 (except for certain VAT time limits which will take
effect from 1 April 2009) and with an exception for taxpayers
outside SA where the shorter income tax claims time limit will not
apply until 1 April 2012.
- powers for correcting returns and ending Corporation Tax
enquiries which will apply from 1 April 2010.
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
Press
enquiries only please contact:
Jan Marszewski
Tel: 020
7147 0798
E-mail: an.marszewski@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk