January 2020

Self Assessment Deadline approaching

The deadline for submitting your 2018/19 self-assessment return and paying outstanding tax due for that year is 31 January 2020.

The deadline applies to taxpayers who need to complete a tax return in respect of their income tax, Classes 2 and 4 National Insurance Contributions (NIC), capital gains tax and High Income Child Benefit Charge liabilities.

There is a penalty of £100 if a taxpayer's return is not submitted on time, even if there is no tax due or the return shows that the taxpayer is due a tax refund.

The balance of any outstanding income tax, Classes 2 and 4 NIC, capital gains tax and High Income Child Benefit Charge for the year ended 5th April 2019 is also due for payment by 31 January 2020. Where the payment is made late interest will be charged.

The first payment on account for 2019/20 in respect of income tax and any Class 4 NIC or High Income Child Benefit Charge is also due for payment by 31st January 2020.

HMRC revealed that more than 3,000 taxpayers filed their return on Christmas Day. If you would like help with your return or agreeing your tax liability, please contact us.

Chancellor announces Budget date

Chancellor Sajid Javid has announced that he will deliver the 2020 Budget on Wednesday 11 March 2020.

The 2020 Budget will be the first to be delivered after the UK's scheduled departure from the EU on 31 January 2020.

It is also Mr Javid's first Budget as Chancellor, following the cancellation of last November's planned Budget due to the General Election.

Commenting on the Budget, Mr Javid said:

'People across the country have told us that they want change. We've listened and will now deliver.

'With this Budget we will unleash Britain's potential – uniting our great country, opening a new chapter for our economy and ushering in a decade of renewal.'

In the Budget announcement, the government said that it will prioritise the environment, and build on recent announcements to boost spending on public services and tackle the cost of living.

These include investing in hospitals, training new police officers, funding vocational education and increasing the National Living Wage.

Minimum wage rates announced

The government has announced a 6.2% increase in the National Living Wage (NLW), which applies to workers aged 25 and over.

From 1 April 2020 the NLW will rise from the current rate of £8.21 to £8.72 an hour, the largest raise since it was introduced two decades ago.

Workers aged under 25 earning the National Minimum Wage (NMW) will also see increases of between 4.6% and 6.5%, depending on their age.

Chancellor commits to review of IR35

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid has announced that the major review of all aspects of self-employment, promised in the Conservatives' manifesto, will include the proposed extension of the Off-Payroll working rules to the private sector from April 2020.

Guidance on Structures and Buildings Allowance

The latest HMRC Agent Update includes guidance on the Structures and Buildings Allowance (SBA). This capital allowance is designed to provide tax relief for businesses and to support investment in constructing new structures and buildings and improving existing ones.

The SBA relieves the construction costs for new structures and buildings used for qualifying purposes and the improvement of existing structures and buildings, including the cost of converting existing premises for use in a qualifying activity.

The SBA is available at a flat rate of 2% a year, for up to 50 years, on the eligible costs of building, converting or renovating non-residential structures or buildings that have been brought into qualifying use. Certain costs are specifically excluded such as those costs that qualify for plant and machinery allowances, planning permission, landscaping, cost of land and integral features and fixtures.

For a claim to be valid the date of the earliest contract for construction of the structure or building must be on or after 29 October 2018. The first use of the structure or building must be non-residential.

Call for review of High Income Child Benefit Charge

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) is calling on the government to address issues with the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).

The HICBC is designed to claw back child benefit where the claimant or their partner earns in excess of £50,000. According to LITRG some households think making a child benefit claim is not worthwhile if it will be clawed back in full via the tax charge, with the added administrative burden of needing to complete a tax return. LITRG warns that this trend will have unforeseen consequences for the lower-earning partner and for the child.

LITRG is calling for the Government to reconsider the £50,000 threshold at which the HICBC starts to apply, if it is retained in its current form.

Please contact us for help and advice on HICBC.

Welsh government publishes Draft Budget

The Welsh government has published its Draft Budget, setting out revenue raising and capital spending plans for 2020/21.

The Draft Budget confirms no changes are proposed to Welsh income tax rates, or Land Transaction Tax rates and bands. The Draft Welsh spending plans for the longer term will depend on the next UK Budget and comprehensive spending review scheduled for 2020.