Newsletter 194

 

DECEMBER 2024

In this months Enews, we look at HMRC’s scam warning and updates, news on the UK’s Industrial Strategy and news on the fall in business confidence over the past quarter. There is also the latest Advisory Fuel Rates and the latest on the UK economy to update you on.

• Scams warning as self assessment deadline looms
• Industrial Strategy must benefit all parts of the UK
• HMRC late payment interest cut by 0.25%
• No tax changes for online sellers
• Optimism amongst business leaders 'approaching Covid lows'
• Advisory fuel rates for company cars
• HMRC urges self assessment taxpayers to spread the cost
• Cash usage on the rise for second successive year
• Latest guidance for employers
• HMRC could save millions of hours with tracking system
• Spring Statement set for 26 March
• UK economy shrinks for second month in a row
• Happy Holidays

 

Scams warning as self assessment deadline looms

HMRC is warning of scam attempts targeting self assessment taxpayers in the run up to the 31 January deadline.

Last year, concerned taxpayers reported nearly 150,000 scam referrals to HMRC.

Around half of all scam reports in the last year were fake tax rebate claims, says the tax authority.

There has been a 16.7% increase in all scam referrals to HMRC – 144,298 were received between November 2023 and October 2024, up from 123,596 in the previous 12-month period, it added.

If communication claiming to be from HMRC asks for personal information or offers a tax rebate, check the advice on GOV.UK to help identify if it is scam activity.

HMRC says it will never leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest or ask for personal or financial information over text message – only fraudsters and criminals will do that.

Kelly Paterson, Chief Security Officer at HMRC, said:

‘With millions of people filing their self assessment return before January’s deadline, we’re warning everyone to be wary of emails promising tax refunds.

‘Being vigilant helps you spot potential scams. And reporting anything suspicious helps us stop criminal activity and to protect you and others who could have received similar bogus communication.

‘Our advice remains unchanged. Don’t rush into anything, take your time and check ‘HMRC scams advice’ on GOV.UK.’

Internet link: GOV.UK HMRC press release

Industrial Strategy must benefit all parts of the UK

The UK’s Industrial Strategy must benefit all parts of the country, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

The government says the Industrial Strategy will be published in Spring 2025, alongside the multi-year Spending Review.

The BCC is urging ministers to integrate each nation and region’s strengths into the plan, alongside a focus on sectors.

In a written submission, the business group says that for the strategy to succeed, foundation issues such as a competitive tax environment, skilled workforce and an enabling regulatory environment must be in place. It points out that achieving this will require collaboration across government departments and involvement from both the public and private sectors.

Jonny Haseldine, Policy Manager at the BCC, said:

‘The Industrial Strategy is a much-needed opportunity to boost economic growth and investment.

‘With millions of businesses now facing increased costs following last month’s Budget – even more is now riding on the government’s strategy. Firms in every corner of the UK need this plan to deliver at pace for their needs and their communities.

‘The strategy needs to identify priority sectors which will drive growth – building on the past but crucially looking forward.

‘But the industrial strategy will struggle unless other key obstacles to business investment are tackled. It must not be designed and implemented in isolation from other policy measures and strategies.’

Internet link: BCC website

HMRC late payment interest cut by 0.25%

HMRC has reduced late payment and repayment interest rates following the cut to the base rate.

The Bank of England cut the base rate to 4.75% on 7 November, the second reduction this year.

This has triggered a cut in HMRC interest rates which are pegged to the base rate.

From 26 November, the late payment interest rate was cut to 7.25% from 7.5%. The repayment interest rate was also reduced to 3.75% from 4.0% from 26 November.

HMRC late payment interest is set at base rate plus 2.5%. Repayment interest is set at base rate minus 1%, with a lower limit - or 'minimum floor' - of 0.5%.

Corporation tax self assessment interest rates relating to interest charged on underpaid quarterly instalment payments dropped to 5.75% from 6.0% from 18 November.

The interest paid on overpaid quarterly instalment payments and on early payments of corporation tax not due by instalments is down by 0.25% to 4.5% from 5% from 18 November.

Internet link: GOV.UK

No tax changes for online sellers

People selling unwanted items online can continue to do so without any new tax obligations, HMRC has confirmed.

The reminder comes as online platforms start sharing sales data with HMRC from January 2025 – a new process that, when announced last year, generated inaccurate claims that a new tax was being introduced.

But whether selling last year’s festive jumper, getting some money back for a child’s outgrown baby clothes, or quietly offloading an unwanted Christmas present or two – absolutely nothing has changed for online sellers.

The new reporting requirements for digital platforms came into effect at the start of 2024. HMRC says that it is not a new tax and whether people are selling personal items on eBay, renting homes out on Airbnb or delivering takeaways through Just Eat – no tax rules have changed.

Those who sold at least 30 items or earned roughly £1,700 or provided a paid-for service, on a website or app in 2024 will be contacted by the digital platform in January to say their sales data and some personal information will be sent to HMRC due to new legal obligations.

Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Second Permanent Secretary and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said:

‘We cannot be clearer – if you are not trading and just occasionally sell unwanted items online – there is no tax due.

‘As has always been the case, some people who are trading through websites or selling services online may need to be paying tax and registering for self assessment.’

Internet link: HMRC press release

Optimism amongst business leaders 'approaching Covid lows'

Optimism amongst the UK’s business leaders has fallen to the lowest point since the height of the pandemic, according to the Institute of Directors (IoD).

The IoD’s survey found that business leader confidence in the UK economy fell from -52 in October to -65 in November 2024, bringing optimism close to its record low in April 2020.

UK economic conditions were the most significant concern for the IoD’s members with 73% citing it.

Employment tax has replaced skills and/or labour shortages as the second biggest concern, with double the number of respondents citing it compared to August’s survey.

Anna Leach, Chief Economist at the IoD, said:

'This is a sobering set of results. As businesses continue to absorb the consequences of the Budget for their business plans, confidence has continued to plummet and is approaching the lows reached at the onset of the Covid pandemic.

'Far from fixing the foundations, the Budget has undermined them, damaging the private sector's ability to invest in their businesses and their workforces.

‘The clash between government intentions to address inactivity and the sharpness of the increase in employment costs is jarring. Likewise welcome attempts to improve the environment for investment in the UK sit at palpable odds with a significant hit to profits which will undermine private sector investment.

‘There’s now a significant risk of growth stalling across the private sector due to the extent of the reset required by business.’

Internet link: IoD website

Advisory fuel rates for company cars

New company car advisory fuel rates have been published and took effect from 1 December 2024.

The guidance states: ‘you can use the previous rates for up to one month from the date the new rates apply’. The rates only apply to employees using a company car.

The advisory fuel rates for journeys undertaken on or after 1 December 2024 are:

Engine size	Petrol
1400cc or less	12p
1401cc - 2000cc	14p
Over 2000cc	23p
Engine size	Diesel
1600cc or less	11p
1601cc - 2000cc	13p
Over 2000cc	17p
Engine size	LPG
1400cc or less	11p
1401cc - 2000cc	13p
Over 2000cc	21p

HMRC guidance states that the rates only apply when you either:

• reimburse employees for business travel in their company cars
• require employees to repay the cost of fuel used for private travel.

You must not use these rates in any other circumstances.

The Advisory Electricity Rate for fully electric cars is 7p per mile.

If you would like to discuss your company car policy, please contact us.

Internet link: GOV.UK AFR

HMRC urges self assessment taxpayers to spread the cost

HMRC is reminding people who pay tax by self assessment of the opportunity to spread the cost of their bill with the Time to Pay facility.

More than 15,000 self assessment customers have already set up a Time to Pay payment plan for the 2023/24 tax year to help spread the cost, according to the tax authority. And there is still an opportunity to sign up for such an arrangement.

HMRC says it offers these payment plans to support taxpayers unable to pay their tax bill in full and looking to manage their tax payments over regular monthly instalments.

The online deadline to file a tax return for the 2023/24 tax year and pay any tax owed is 31 January 2025.

Taxpayers who are unable to pay their tax bill in full, owe less than £30,000 and are eligible, can quickly and easily apply online without the need to contact HMRC directly. Those that owe more than £30,000 are still able to apply but would need to contact HMRC.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

‘We’re here to help customers get their tax right and if you are worried about how to pay your self assessment bill, help and support is available.

‘Customers can set up their online payment plan to suit their own financial circumstances and can spread those payments across a maximum of 12 months. It is a valuable option for someone needing extra flexibility in meeting their tax obligations.’

Internet link: GOV.UK

Cash usage on the rise for second successive year

Cash use in the shops rose for a second year in a row in 2023 after a decade of falls, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Notes and coins were used in a fifth of transactions last year as shoppers found cash helped them to budget better, said the BRC.

Overall, customers visited shops more frequently but made smaller purchases. The total number of transactions rose from 19.6 billion to 21.0 billion while the average amount spent per transaction fell from £22.43 to £22.03.

Meanwhile, card fees paid by retailers continued to grow. The total amount paid by retailers to banks and card schemes rose by over 25% in 2023. This brought the total card fees paid to £1.64 billion.

Chris Owen, Payments Policy Advisor, British Retail Consortium said:

‘Persistent inflation and the cost-of-living crisis continued to affect households across the country and many consumers used cash to budget more effectively.

‘However, the dominance of card payments continues apace, accounting for over 85% of spending. Card fees continue to rise at a substantial rate and the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) must act upon the harms it has identified in its current market reviews. It must move swiftly to reform the market and implement remedies including price caps on fees and price rebalancing measures.’

Internet link: BRC website

Latest guidance for employers

HMRC has published the latest issue of the Employer Bulletin. The December issue has information on various topics, including:

• employer National Insurance contributions and Employment Allowance changes announced at Autumn Budget 2024
• automatic enrolment duties for festive season workers
• confirming plans to mandate the reporting of benefits in kind through payroll software from April 2026
• official rate of interest from 6 April 2025
• Investment Zone employer National Insurance contributions relief guidance
• help your employees top up their State Pensions.

Please contact us for help with tax matters.

Internet link: Employer Bulletin

HMRC could save millions of hours with tracking system

HMRC could save an estimated 1.7 million hours of call handlers’ time every year if it implemented an automated status tracking system, according to two of the leading bodies for tax advisers and chartered accountants.

A joint study by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and ICAEW tracked attempts to contact HMRC across phonelines and webchats for six weeks. It found that more than one-third of contact attempts were made to chase progress on existing enquiries, rather than to make a new enquiry.

The bodies say that, while improving customer service performance remained crucial, a significant reduction in the need for agents and taxpayers to contact HMRC in the first place was vital.

Only 33% of contact attempts to HMRC resulted in the query being fully resolved, the study found, with the average wait time across phone and webchat standing at 19 minutes.

The introduction of an automated tracking system to eliminate progress chasing calls could save more than 1.7 million hours each year, the equivalent of 1,000 full-time employees or approximately £36 million, CIOT and ICAEW said.

Additionally, an automated tracking system would reduce the number of staff needed to answer such calls, who could be redeployed elsewhere.

Ellen Milner, CIOT’s Director of Public Policy, said:

‘The report's recommendations are practical solutions which can deliver significant improvements for agents and taxpayers.

‘Additionally, from an HMRC perspective, resolving issues with progress chasing alone has the potential to save them over £36 million a year in staff costs. This seems a good place to start for releasing funds for much needed investment in training and digitalisation.’

Internet link: CIOT website

Spring Statement set for 26 March

The Chancellor will deliver her Spring Statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday 26 March 2025.

Rachel Reeves confirmed the date to the House of Commons, telling MPs that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has been commissioned for an Economic and Fiscal Forecast to be published on the same day.

This is in line with the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 which requires the OBR to produce two forecasts each financial year. This will be accompanied by a statement to parliament from the Chancellor.

A government statement said:

‘The Chancellor remains committed to one major fiscal event a year to give families and businesses stability and certainty on upcoming tax and spending changes and, in turn, to support the government’s growth mission.’

Internet link: GOV.UK

UK economy shrinks for second month in a row

The UK economy shrank for the second month in a row in October, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Official figures showed a 0.1% drop in gross domestic product (GDP) for October. The economy had been expected to return to growth following a fall during September.

However, the ONS said that activity had stalled or declined, with pubs, restaurants and retail among the sectors reporting weak months.

David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

‘With growth of just 0.1% in the three months to October and an unexpected fall in the monthly GDP, the UK economy was already fragile ahead of recent policy announcements.

‘The full impact of the Budget since then is yet to be seen. However, our research has already shown a spike in anxiety over tax and employment policy. Many businesses are telling us that increased costs are likely to have an impact on their investment and recruitment plans. Firms of all shapes and sizes are facing tough decisions in early 2025.

‘The Industrial Strategy due in the Spring has the potential to boost business growth for the long-term. Companies are also eager to see Government plans on business rates reform, trade and infrastructure.

‘Getting sustained economic growth will only be possible if the environment is right for businesses to invest, recruit and export.’

Internet link: ONS website BCC website

Happy Holidays!

We would like to extend our best wishes to all of clients, our colleagues, suppliers and all who support us throughout the year. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

2025 will be the 40^th anniversary of the formation of the firm and we very much look forward to celebrating that milestone later in the year.

We will be closed for the festive season from 5.15pm on Monday 23 December and we will re-open at 9.00am on Thursday 2 January.