Employment law set for major reform |
Business Secretary Vince Cable has set out plans for major reform of employment law. |
Self-employed set to benefit in health and safety shake-up |
Government plans have been announced for a major reduction in health and safety rules, with the first changes taking effect from January. |
'Real time' pilot on way for PAYE |
A major change to the way that employers submit information on tax and national insurance for their employees is to begin next year with a pilot programme. |
£95m boost for small businesses |
Small and medium sized businesses in England are set to benefit from £95 million in government investment. |
New taskforces to target tax cheats |
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched five new taskforces around the country to tackle tax evasion in sectors including fast food, property rentals and scrap metal dealing. |
Employers offered help on training |
A £250 million plan will be launched in the new year, designed to give businesses the power to design, develop and purchase vocational training. |
New service set to cut costs of IP court cases |
A new small claims service is to be introduced at the Patents County Court (PCC), helping small and medium-sized businesses to protect their copyright, trade marks and designs. |
'Millions' may drop out of auto-enrolment, survey finds |
Pensions experts have warned that around three million people may drop out of a government scheme designed to encourage more workers to save for their older age. |
A N Other fine mess on PAYE paperwork |
Employers are being urged to make sure their PAYE paperwork is correct after hundreds of returns incorrectly claimed to employ A N Other in 2009/10. |
Use your data protection knowledge, businesses told |
Businesses are becoming more aware of their obligations under the Data Protection Act (DPA), according to new figures from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). |
SMEs slipping up on credit checks |
Almost three-quarters of small and medium-sized UK businesses are failing to check on their customers’ creditworthiness, according to new research. |
Cost of business rate appeals backlog soars |
Delays in dealing with business rate appeals are costing businesses £300 million per year, according to new research. |
Patent documents go online - and free |
Innovative UK businesses are set to benefit from a free system to access information on patents launched by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). |
Business asset freezing plan under fire |
Insolvency experts have warned that a proposed new European Commission measure to freeze the assets of British businesses could deal a serious blow to work to rescue firms in financial difficulties. |
HMRC criticised over tax amnesties |
HMRC has hit back at suggestions that tax amnesties, such as the deals reached recently with Switzerland and Luxembourg, could help criminals gain respectability. |
Calls made for simpler SME financial reporting |
The Financial Reporting Council and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have published a joint missive calling for annual accounts for the smallest businesses to be simplified in order to cut red-tape for micro-entities. |
Three-fold increase in tax scam emails |
HM Revenue and Customs say the number of scam “phishing” emails has increased by more than 300% over the past year. |
New Agency Worker Regulation (AWR) comes into affect |
The Government has introduced new Agency Worker Regulation (AWR) changing the way businesses introduce new staff on a short term basis. |
Cable attacks banks over lending |
The Business Secretary Vince Cable has once again attacked banks over a lack of lending to SMEs. |
2,250 tax inspectors in super rich crackdown |
A crack team of more than 2,000 tax inspectors is to be set up by HM Revenue and Customs to target tax avoidance and evasion. |
Small businesses fail to check credit scores |
A survey of nearly 700 small businesses has found that more than 71 per cent did not check their customers’ credit status. |
Banks to offer riot loans |
A major bank is set to offer interest and fee-free loans to businesses hit by the summer riots. |
SMEs access to equity finance eased |
Small businesses are set to be able to access equity finance more cheaply and effectively with early changes to European regulatory measures. |
Capital allowances loophole closed |
The government has bought forward the closure of a loophole that allowed businesses to accelerate capital allowances claims for plant and machinery and obtain advantageous early tax relief. |
New guidance issued on distance selling |
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched a new online resource to help businesses comply with the law when selling goods and services at a distance, such as website or mail order sales. |
Retailers warned over online security |
Businesses have been urged to do more to protect customers’ data after hackers were able to access the payment details of thousands of customers of cosmetics and toiletries retailer Lush. |
Rule change on agency workers' rights looms |
New rules affecting employers who take on agency and temporary workers will take effect from 1 October 2011. |
NHS worker on sick leave for a year entitled to holiday pay |
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has found in favour of an NHS employee, ruling that she was entitled to payment in lieu of holidays she had been unable to take while on sick pay for a year. |
Research highlights cookie law non-compliance |
New research has highlighted the potential scale of organisations and businesses failing to comply with EU directives on downloading cookies. |
End of National Insurance cards comes step closer |
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has introduced the latest stage of its move to phase out National Insurance cards. |
Businesses get extra help on competition law |
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched new guidance to help businesses comply with competition law. |
Europe set to streamline patent rules |
UK businesses are set to save millions of pounds a year as a single European patent came a step closer following agreements by ministers at a meeting of the Competitiveness Council in Luxembourg. |
New challenge on red tape |
Businesss owners, employees and the public are being urged to blow the whistle on inconsistent and over-zealous enforcement of rules and regulations. |
‘E-traders’ included in new tax crackdown |
New campaigns targeting VAT defaulters, private tutors and e-marketplaces will be launched by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) over the next year. |
China tax agreement set to boost trade |
A new double taxation agreement between the UK and the People’s Republic of China is set to encourage more cross-border trade between the two countries. |
UK lobbies over European maternity leave proposals |
The UK has reinforced its opposition to proposals by MEPs to introduce 20 weeks of maternity leave on full pay. |
Advice on offer as Rugby World Cup kicks off |
The Government has issued advice to employers on maintaining productivity and keeping staff engaged during the Rugby World Cup later this year. |
VAT Rule Breakers Targeted |
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced it is to target individuals and businesses who are trading above the VAT threshold but have not registered for VAT in a new drive against rule breakers. |
Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme Closes |
The UK cheque guarantee scheme, for businesses and individuals using cheques to make or receive payments, will close on 30 June 2011. |
TUPE Rules Included In Employment Law Review |
The government has announced new areas it will consider reforming as part of its ongoing review of employment red tape, including the rules protecting employees’ terms and conditions of employment when a business changes hands. |
Bribery Act Takes Effect on 1 July |
Time is ticking away for businesses to make sure they have taken the steps appropriate to their operations to prepare for the Bribery Act, which comes into effect on 1 July 2011. |
Flexible Working Consultation Launched |
The Government has launched a consultation on plans to introduce a new system of flexible parental leave from 2015. |
Health and Safety Rules Blocking New Jobs, Says Report |
A new report from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) says nearly half of employers believe that health and safety rules are making their lives more difficult. |
First Automatic Pension Enrolment Letters Go Out |
The Pensions Regulator has started writing to the first employers who will need to automatically enrol employees into a workplace pension scheme to remind them of their new responsibilities. |
New Growth Fund Opens for Business |
A new Business Growth Fund (BGF) has been launched to help Britain’s smaller and medium sized businesses with an annual turnover of around £10 million to £100 million. |
Thousands Rise To Red Tape Challenge |
Thousands of businesses are taking up the government’s challenge to comment on more than 21,000 rules and regulations that affect their lives. |
US Offers Tax Disclosure Opportunity |
American citizens and green card holders living in the UK are required to file annual tax returns and other information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). |
Government Says No To Early Access to Pension Savings |
The government has decided to rule out further consideration of early access to pension savings for the time being. |
Regional Growth Fund Set To Boost Job Creation |
More than 100,000 new jobs are set to be created and safeguarded under government plans to invest £450 million in businesses across England. |
New Minimum Wage Rates Set |
The government has accepted the independent Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations for this year’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates. |
Don't Forget To PAYE on Time, Says HMRC |
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued a reminder on due dates for PAYE payments made electronically. |
New Late Filing Penalties in Place |
Taxpayers could find themselves paying a high price for submitting late tax returns under a new penalty regime introduced in April. |
Reminder on Tax Code Notice Change |
Taxpayers are reminded that copies of the notices informing them of their tax code for the year 2011-201, sent out during January, February and March, will no longer go to their tax agent or advisor. |
Record Numbers File Online |
Record numbers of people completed their self assessment tax returns online this year, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has revealed. |
Childcare Support Changes |
Businesses are reminded that the rules on employer-supported childcare will change for higher and additional rate taxpayers from 6 April 2011. |
Time Running Out on Retirement at 65 |
Employers are reminded that they only have a limited time remaining to set in motion procedures to retire staff at the age of 65. |
Time to Pay Rejection Rate Rises |
The percentage of Time to Pay requests refused by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in 2010 was more than double the rate in 2009, according to new statistics. |
Right to Request Flexible Working Extended |
Workers’ right to request flexible working is to be extended under a change to be introduced from 6 April, businesses are reminded. |
Whitehall Rapped on Quality of Case for New Business Regulations |
An independent watchdog that reviews government proposals for new regulations affecting businesses says a “worryingly high proportion” fail to make a strong enough case. |
Time Running Out on State Pension Top-Up Offer |
Around 70,000 people, mainly women, have until 5 April to boost their basic state pension and get backdated payments. |
'Game Up' Warning on Offshore Non-Compliance |
New penalties of up to 200 per cent could be imposed on anyone hiding money offshore, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has warned. |
Deliberate Defaulters Told 'Taxman Will Be Watching You' |
Tax cheats have been warned they face up to five years of detailed scrutiny by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). |
Company Car Changes Go Electronic |
An important change to the way employers notify HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) about replacement company cars will take effect from April 2011. |
SMES Urged To Keep Business Records in Shape |
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched new tools to help small businesses, sole traders and the self-employed keep their records in shape. |
Consultation under Way on PAYE Reform |
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is inviting employers to respond to a second phase of consultation on improving PAYE through the use of Real Time Information (RTI). |
Corporation Tax 'Vodcast' Offers Expert Advice |
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has teamed up with accountancy experts to provide online advice on changes to corporation tax due in April 2011. |
HMRC Joins Twitter |
HMRC has begun trialling the use of Twitter, operating under the username @hmrcgovuk |
Employment Rights Payments Change |
Annual changes to the payments for unfair dismissal and redundancies will take effect from 1 February 2011. |
Business Records Checks Consultation Focuses on SMEs |
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is seeking views on how best to implement a programme of Business Records Checks, designed to improve record keeping in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). |
European Patent Fees Reduced |
Thousands of innovative UK businesses will reduce the cost of protecting their bright ideas in Europe under new arrangements. |
Tax Avoidance Study Group Launched |
The government has made its first appointment to a group of experts who will explore the potential for a General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) as part of the UK tax regime. |
Tax Reliefs in the Spotlight |
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has completed a key stage in its major review of tax reliefs. |
