BUSINESS WEST MEMBER NEWS
Digital tax returns become clearer T
he devil is in the detail when it comes to the so-called “end of the tax return” by
2020, according to national audit, tax and advisory firm Crowe Clark Whitehill. But that detail, it notes, is getting clearer. The comments follow a series
of consultation documents from HMRC explaining its vision for the future. Self-employed people and landlords will be required to use software or apps to keep their business records. Most will also have to update HMRC quarterly or more frequently if they wish. The reforms will not apply to unincorporated businesses and landlords with an annual income of below £10,000. Sue Daye, tax partner in
Crowe’s Cheltenham office, said: “We welcome the prospect of simplifying the way UK tax is calculated, managed, and paid, particularly for the UK’s many small and family-owned businesses, which are so critical to our economy. These are under increasing pressure as a result of ever more complex compliance requirements. We believe the costs of tax compliance are disproportionate to their profits.
Sue Daye, Tax Partner, Crowe Clark Whitehill
“The key to the success of the
tax simplification agenda is in providing a simple and flexible tax system. We want to make certain that in aiming for a digital tax system, we do not simply replace one rigid tax system for another. Six consultation documents have been released along with a summary, ‘Making Tax Digital for Business – An overview for small businesses, the self-employed and smaller landlords’. “The ideas are ambitious and, while they will involve some
radical changes, they have been largely welcomed – in principle. “In practice, as with most
things, the devil is in the detail and, with the publication of these consultation documents, we are starting to get an idea of the detail. HMRC’s view is that, under the new system, it will feel like paying a single tax. “We are interested to see if
taxpayers share this view once they have more visibility on the total amount of tax they pay each year.”
New degree of opportunity
The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) has secured £350k from a newly created fund from the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) to develop a programme of new degree apprenticeships. UWE Bristol is one of 18 universities selected to spearhead this development that aims to create thousands of new degree apprenticeships through the new multi-million pound development fund. Almost 70 bids were submitted for the fund, showing the ambition and appetite from the higher education sector to get behind degree apprenticeships. Dr John Lanham (pictured), assistant vice-chancellor, is leading this initiative at UWE Bristol. He said: “UWE Bristol has a long and rich heritage of running industry/employer based education projects. As we expand our portfolio of degree apprenticeships we will be partnering with FE colleges across the region to co-develop and deliver a range of exciting programmes. The HEFCE funding will support the initial development work and will lay the foundations on which we will build a comprehensive portfolio of degree apprenticeships. A key feature of professional degree apprenticeship programmes is that they enable apprentices to combine
education with employment and provide an accelerated route to professional accreditation upon completing the apprenticeship and degree programme.” UWE Bristol will be working with Weston College, the City of Bristol College, Bridgewater College and Gloucester College and many industry and business partners to develop a range of opportunities that respond to key regional skills shortages. The new degree apprenticeships
are set to open the door to top careers in everything from nursing to construction and food manufacturing. The HEFCE fund has awarded a total of £4.5 million to develop the new degree apprenticeships for students starting in September 2017. Working in partnership with leading employers, the universities and
colleges will offer 5,200 new opportunities for apprentices and their employers in preparation for the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in April 2017. Skills and apprenticeships Minister Robert Halfon said:
“Apprenticeships work, that’s why we’ve launched degree apprenticeships that give people a real chance to earn while they learn. This multi-million pound fund will allow universities and colleges to work with top employers to design high quality degree apprenticeships that give people a ladder of opportunity.”
IN BRIEF
Purpol Marketing Founder Denise O’Leary was named Best Independent Consultant in the National Women in Marketing Awards. This award recognises the
independent marketing consultant whose work demonstrates a comprehensive understanding and application of marketing best practice, ambition and innovation, as well as being able to show a notable growth and development of their business practice and client list. Denise had to prove
tangible success in her approach, explain her career path to date, the motivation for working as an independent consultant, her approach to the discipline, and examples of work and the value delivered to clients. The submission was supported by testimonials from clients verifying the success achieved.
Folly Farm Centre, a sustainable venue in the Chew Valley, south of Bristol have been awarded bronze for Sustainable Tourism at the inaugural Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards on 19 October. Laura Rawlings, from BBC
Radio Bristol, announced winners from each of the 20 different categories to excited cheers. Each entrant had gone through a rigorous three-stage judging process, taking into account websites, reviews, social media, visits by industry ‘mystery visitors’ and finally a judging panel. Folly Farm Centre has held
sustainability at the forefront of business operations since opening in 2008. Owned and managed by local environmental charity, Avon Wildlife Trust, all profits from events are gift-aided to the charity, to protect wildlife and inspire people about the importance and benefits of nature. The Centre is located in Avon Wildlife Trust’s 250-acre Folly Farm nature reserve.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 insight 11
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