Extension
of MTD for VAT
VAT-registered
traders whose vatable turnover is over the VAT registration threshold of
£85,000 must comply with the requirements of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT.
This means that they must keep digital records and file their VAT returns using
MTD-compatible software.
Currently,
VAT-registered businesses whose turnover is below the VAT registration
threshold do not have to comply with MTD for VAT, but can do so if they wish.
However, this will change from April 2022 as MTD for VAT is being extended to
all VAT-registered businesses.
VAT-registered businesses whose turnover is below the VAT registration threshold and who have not joined MTD for VAT voluntarily, will need to join MTD for VAT from the start of their first VAT accounting period beginning on or after 1 April 2022.
MTD
for income tax delayed
Self-employed
businesses and landlords with annual business or property income of more than
£10,000 were due to be brought within MTD for income tax from April 2023. To
give businesses more time to recover from the pandemic and to prepare for MTD
for income tax, this will now not come into effect until April 2024.
Under MTD for income tax, landlords and self-employed businesses within its scope will need to keep digital records. They will also be required to send quarterly summaries of income and expenditure to HMRC using MTD-compatible software and will receive an estimated tax calculation after each submission. The quarterly submissions will be followed by a final end of year submission to take account of necessary adjustments, and a final declaration. This will replace the annual self-assessment tax return.
Basis
period reform
In
preparation for the introduction of MTD for income tax, HMRC have consulted on
proposals to reform the basis period rules. This entails replacing the current
year basis, under which businesses are assessed for a tax year on the profits
for the accounting period ending in that tax year, with a tax year basis,
whereby profits for the tax year are assessed in that year.
It
was originally proposed that the tax year basis would apply from 2023/24, with
2022/23 being a transitional year. However, the start date has now been
delayed, and the reforms will apply no earlier than 2024/25, with transitional
rules applying no earlier than 2023/24.
