Traditionally the run-up to the Budget is punctuated by policy leaks, but apart from a VAT research document here, and a driverless cars announcement there, the Budget rumour mill has been a little quiet this time around.
Has the Spring Budget covered most of the government’s bases? Has HM Treasury has been locked down? Or has backbench MPs’ frantic lobbying for a quiet, ‘business as usual’ Budget meant that there’s nothing worth leaking?
Here at AccountingWEB we’re not averse to a bit of unsubstantiated speculation, so we’ve applied our patented ‘Phils’ prediction scale to see what’s coming – five being the most likely, one being the least.
Here are the areas we think may (or may not) be covered:
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Tax avoidance and evasion
While tax commentators argue that the government’s existing avoidance measures are working and need time to bed in, the recent Paradise Papers furore will almost certainly force the Chancellor to act.
Verdict: A subject Mr Hammond can’t avoid. Five Phils
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VAT threshold reduction
When the OTS simplification of VAT review was released, its suggestion (not recommendation!) was to look at a reduction in the £85,000 threshold. While this would be a revenue raiser, small business groups pointed out that this would increase admin burdens and potentially increase prices.
Verdict: While there may be some VAT tinkering around the edges, a threshold reduction would be a bold move. Bold, but not impossible. Two Phils
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IR35 rolled out to the private sector
From April 6 2017, IR35 status for public sector contracts has been determined by the public sector client rather than by the contractor, and HMRC’s view is that this has gone well. We could see an announcement in this Budget that a similar rule change will apply to contracts in the private sector, with a start date of April 2019 or April 2020, after some consultation on the details of implementation.
Verdict: Given that the bulk of the legislation is already in place, this could be an easy win. Four Phils
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Tax-efficient investments (EIS and SEIS)
One rumour which escaped the Chancellor’s red box early is that the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is set for reform, possibly by reversing the increase in 2011 of the income tax relief from 30% to 20%. The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme may also be revised in a similar way.
Verdict: A bit of rate tinkering could help bring in some extra cash. Four Phils
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Merge income tax and NI
Many commentators see this as a simplification of an over-complex and outdated system, and a combined rate may bring pull in higher revenues for the Treasury. However, it’s a complex change to push through and has knock-on effects on issues like pension payments.
Verdict: Unlikely to happen for a number of reasons, Parliamentary time being one of them. One Phil
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Business rates
The last business rates revaluation in April caused significant controversy around the increased burden the rates were causing businesses. Both the FSB and CBI have been vocal in their call to link any future business rate rises to the consumer price index (CPI), which tends to have a lower value than the RPI that is the current bench-mark of inflation.
Verdict: A potentially complex move given everything at stake, but could win the Chancellor friends in the business lobby. Three Phils
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Stamp duty
The increasing of both SDLT and ATED rates or the lowering of thresholds could prove a tempting money-spinner for the government. The Chancellor is also said to be pondering a possible SDLT holiday for first-time buyers.
Verdict: Expect the Chancellor to make a move. Five Phils