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9am Lowdown
AccountingWEB

9am Lowdown: VAT access fixed after agent blackout

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24th Mar 2017
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Good morning and welcome to Friday’s 9am Lowdown.

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VAT access fixed after agent blackout

Tax agents had been unable to file VAT returns online for the past three days.

The issue was raised on Any Answers by several members who had tried to submit a return but the system loops them back to the login page. Southbankdelboy reported: “I can't view submitted returns either but can access set up a direct debit, maintain client, view registration certificate and change registration details.”

Meanwhile,  Sally1964 said HMRC was aware of the situation but the issue was not listed under the service issue section on HMRC's website.“This means another pile of paperwork to stack on my desk while I wait 2 days before I can file the returns,” sally1964.

However, AccountingWEB members reported last night that the VAT online section is back working. Gladstone noted:With this downtime incident and many more to come based on the past performance, it'll be interesting to see how the MTD will be implemented in the next tax year.”

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Apple paid NZ no tax

Apple has faced further scrutiny over its tax affairs after reports that it hasn’t paid any tax in New Zealand for at least a decade, reports the BBC.

The New Zealand Herald discovered the tech giant paid taxes to the Australian tax office instead. Apple New Zealand’s parent company is registered in Australia. Apple said in a statement: "We follow the law and pay tax on everything we earn, wherever we operate. Apple aims to be a force for good and we're proud of the contributions we've made in New Zealand over the past decade."

However New Zealand Green Party co-leader James Shaw criticised Apple’s tax payment. "It is absolutely extraordinary that they are able to get away with paying zero tax in this country," he told the NZ Herald. "It looks like their tax department is even more innovative than their product designers."

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Community: How to be a less ‘doom and gloom’ adviser

A “glass half empty” AccountingWEB member has a habit of looking at negatives. So they asked on Any Answers how they can become less doom and gloom about tax matters and become solution focused.

For example, when the member speaks with clients they would often explain reasons why clients don’t fit the criteria. But LionofDesch didn’t see this as an issue. “You must establish the negative before you can plan a positive outcome.”  

Meanwhile Tom123 advised the member to “remain calm and be the voice of reason. Give the impression of control”.

He added: “Try not to promise things you cannot deliver. It is not our job to try and 'insure' clients against the viscitudes of the government. If new rules mean our client pays more tax - so be it - the client needs to take on board it is the government doing this, not the accountant failing to apply some ruse or other.”

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