Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.
Lowdown
AccountingWEB

9am Lowdown: HMRC digital report, Brexit & affluent unit

by
24th Jan 2017
Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

Good morning and welcome to this morning’s lowdown. In the news this morning, HMRC releases research into its customers’ needed for assistance with digital, one year later after publication, causing one to wonder - why the delay? Elsewhere, HMRC expands its affluent unit and the Supreme Court announces who has the power to begin the Brexit process. 

* * *

HMRC sneaks-out year old digital report

HMRC has just released a report from February 2016 about the assisted digital support needs of its customers, days before it is expected to release a Making Tax Digital consultation response later this month.

The report found customers were uncertain about their ability to use HMRC’s digital services. “This uncertainty stemmed from three main factors: their general experience of being online; the nature and experience of contact with HMRC; and their resulting willingness to engage digitally with HMRC,” the report said.

The common view the respondents held was: ‘I understand why HMRC is moving services online, but I didn’t ask them to do it and I know it’s going to cause me trouble – so what are they going to do to help me?’  

The three main factors creating these barriers are: tax confidence, online confidence and internet access.

You can read the full report here.

* * *

HMRC targets middle class with affluent unit expansion

HMRC has expanded its affluent unit by 20% last year in an effort to target middle class taxpayers, reports Moore Stephens.

The affluent unit was founded in 2011 to investigate the tax affairs of UK residents with an annual income of over £150,000 or a net worth of £1m Dominic Arnold, Partner at Moore Stephens, said: “No stone is being left unturned as the expanding Affluent Unit looks to squeeze the middle class for more tax revenue.”

Arnold added that the growth of the affluent unit shows HMRC is focusing on professionals just inside the upper tax bracket. “The cost of hiring more inspectors in the Affluent Unit will more than pay for themselves, especially ifHMRC obtains new powers of investigation,” he said.

“Taxpayers who think they might be within the remit of the expanding Affluent Unit should check their tax affairs are in order. Some of the parameters HMRC is using to determine who faces scrutiny are fairly unrefined.”

*  *  *

Supreme court announces Brexit judgement 

The Supreme Court will announce at 9.30am this morning whether Parliament or ministers have the power to begin the Brexit process.

According to the BBC, Lord Neuberger, president of the Supreme Court, will read out a summary of the court's findings in a session expected to last five minutes.

If the government loses its appeal, it is expected to swiftly publish legislation asking Parliament to trigger Article 50, with the aim of it being approved by MPs and peers by March. Theresa May has said she plans to trigger article 50 by the end of March.  

**9:50am UPDATE:  The court has ruled that Parliament must have a vote before Article 50 can be triggered.**

* * *

 

Tags:

Replies (2)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

By Ruddles
24th Jan 2017 16:31

Neither side really knew what they were voting for at the time and in particular were voting under the impression that Brexit would not mean leaving the Single Market. Now that the implications have become clearer, particularly the fact that we've now been told that we will in fact leave the Single Market, will MPs have the integrity to follow democratic process and consult with, and vote in accordance with the current wishes of, their constituents?

Before folks jump down my throat, this is not a call for a second referendum, nor having repeated votes until one gets the decision they want (I am still decidedly neutral on the whole thing). But I feel that the paucity of the information available at the time, some of which was bordering on misleading, the importance of the decision, the narrow margin of the decision (which was made by a minority of the electorate) and the reports that many (on both sides) have since changed their minds, require MPs to gauge the current feeling of the populace.

Thanks (3)
By petersaxton
28th Jan 2017 08:40

"were voting under the impression that Brexit would not mean leaving the Single Market"
Really?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CFOzkWj_P4

Thanks (0)