HMRC have issued guidance on VAT reclaims by ‘qualifying charities’ under recent changes to the rules. ‘Qualifying charities’ for this purpose are those concerned with palliative care, air ambulance, search and rescue and medical courier charities.

The guidance details which charities are eligible to use the refund scheme to claim a refund of VAT incurred on goods and services used for their non-business activities.  It also covers issues such as what to do when circumstances change, what falls within the scope of the refund scheme and how charities can make a claim.

If you would like any guidance on this or any other VAT or charity issue please do get in touch.

Internet link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-notice-1001-vat-refund-scheme-for-certain-charities

The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency has announced that with effect from 8 June 2015 the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued. The paper counterpart was introduced to display driving licence details that could not be included on the photocard. These additional details include whether the licence holder is entitled to drive some additional vehicle categories and any endorsement/penalty points. The DVLA is advising that the paper counterpart should be destroyed after 8 June 2015. Licence holders still need to keep their current photocard driving licence.

Those with a paper driving licence (issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998) need to be aware that these licences will remain valid and should not be destroyed. However where a licence holder needs to update their licence photocard licences will be issued.

From 8 June 2015 new endorsements will be recorded electronically, and will not be printed or written on either photocard licences or paper driving licences.

This means that from 8 June 2015 neither the photocard driving licence nor the paper licence will provide an accurate account of any driving endorsements a licence holder may have. This information will instead be held on DVLA’s driver record, and can be checked online, by phone or post.

This change does not affect photocard licences issued by DVA in Northern Ireland.

Internet link: GOV.UK news

HMRC have issued useful guidance for those employers who pay casual employees working outdoors harvesting perishable crops, or as casual beaters for a shoot.

The guidance outlines the specific circumstances which must apply in order for these employees to be paid without the deduction of tax. The guidance also stresses that their pay is still taxable income and these employees must ensure that any tax due is paid.

Monthly penalties (of between £100 and £400 depending on the size of the employer) now apply to broadly all employers who fail to submit necessary information to HMRC via the Full Payment Submission (FPS) on or before the time wages are paid to employees. It is therefore important that the rules are complied with and returns are submitted on a timely basis.

Please contact us if you would like help with payroll issues.

Internet links: paying-harvest-casuals-and-casual-beaters GOV.UK late return penalties

With the political parties campaigning well underway in anticipation of the General Election on 7 May and Parliament having been prorogued there are few Government announcements to report this month. However by the time we issue next month’s eNews we will have a new Parliament.

For details of the relevant dates and formal procedures visit the following link.

Internet link: GOV.UK news

The Office for National Statistics has issued the latest labour market data for the three months to February 2015 which show that unemployment fell by 76,000 to 1.84 million.

Neil Carberry, CBI Director for Employment and Skills said:

‘It’s great to see 248,000 more people in work, the fastest rise in employment in just under a year – thanks to our flexible jobs market.

With real wage growth rising people have a little more money in their pockets. But we need to see a recovery in productivity before wages can rise faster.’

Internet links: ONS statistics  CBI news