HMRC had its best ever digital self assessment, but has to fine over 890,000 who failed to file on time. Meanwhile in Ireland, it has clarified its e-gaming VAT treatment and in Wales, the auditor general has found some 'deteriorating standards'.
Best digital self assessment...ever!
210,000 more than last year filed online with HMRC during this self assessment season. However there are still 890,000 returns outstanding.
The Revenue received 10.24m tax returns by midnight on 31 January, 85.5% per cent of which were sent online.
The busiest days for filing were 30 and 31 January, when HMRC received 980,000 returns. The busiest hour was between 1pm and 2pm on 30 January, when almost 50,000 returns were received – 830 per minute.
The busiest hour on deadline day was between 11 am and midday, when almost 32,000 returns were received – 530 per minute. HMRC also answered 95 per cent of calls first time on deadline day.
Around 4.3m left it until January to file their returns, which HMRC issued in April 2014.
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Ireland clarifies e-gaming services VAT treatment
The Revenue Commissioners has updated its VAT Manual to clarify, for VAT purposes, the "taxable amount" for supplies of E-Gaming services to Irish consumers following the EU's 1 January VAT rules.
For games of chance, the authority said the amount paid out is predetermined by a mathematical algorithm. In such circumstances, the taxable amount is the net revenue actually received by the operator (that is, the total amount staked by the customer, less the value of winnings paid out). Bonus plays, free plays, and other forms of promotional discounts should be excluded from any calculation of the consideration on which VAT is due, it said.
For pooled gaming, where individuals compete against each other for a prize fund (such as in a poker tournament), the operator earns a tournament participation fee, commonly referred to as a rake, from the customer. For VAT purposes, the taxable amount should be the rake that is attributable to Irish players minus the relevant portion for any top-up the operator has made to the jackpot.
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Auditor General finds 'deteriorating standards' in Wales
There has been a deterioration on the quality and accuracy of accounts produced by some local authorities in Wales, the auditor general said. For more, see Public Finance.