This month in tax: October 2021

Ask ICAS is generally held on a Thursday morning at 11 am for a one-hour, topical webinar. Details and sign up can be found at ICAS webinars.

Dates for your diary:

• 14 October 2021, 11.00 – 12.00 – Ask ICAS: HMRC approach to debt management – Hosted by David Menzies CA, ICAS Director of Practice; presented by Marc Gill, Director, HMRC Debt Management. Register here.

Event summary

The approach of HMRC to management of debt arrears will be crucial to company cashflow, and ultimately some businesses’ survival, as the economy begins to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this webinar, we will hear directly from HMRC on their approach to debt management and how the fine line between debt collection and debt forbearance will be addressed.

You will also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to HMRC, although please note that case specific issues will not be able to be answered during this webinar.

• 21 October 2021, 11.00 – 12.00 – Ask ICAS: Payroll  and employment update – Hosted by Jeremy Clarke CA, Assistant Director, Practice; presented by Justine Riccomini, Head of Taxation (Scottish Taxes, Employment and ICAS Tax Community), ICAS, and Dawn Dickson, Employment law partner, Eversheds Sutherland LLP. Register here.

Event summary

Employment roundup, covering employment taxes including the Health & Social Care Levy, and connected employment law matters.

Attendees can take advantage of a live Q&A on all Ask ICAS webinars with the webinar presenters or send in their queries in advance to dmenzies@icas.com to be answered live.

Catch up on all previous Ask ICAS webinars.

Please note that all the feedback we have received from members during webinars, in Q&As and on a day-to-day basis is in turn being fed into Government insofar as it relates to policy and to HMRC insofar as it relates to operational and practical matters.

Please note that views and opinions expressed by speakers at ICAS webinars are their own and not necessarily reflective of ICAS’ views.

Never miss a webinar.

ICAS teams have been working across the board to bring you as much up to date information as possible in one convenient place. The hub is updated as and when anything develops – try taking a look for further information.

Agent Update: issue 88 is out now – Note that Agent Update is now produced monthly.

Employer Bulletin: August 2021 issue is out now – Note the Employer Bulletin is still published once every two months.

HMRC Talking points: If you have missed one, you can usually catch up later.

Watch a video about ways of making it easier to support your clients through the claims process.

Self Employment Income Support Scheme - Supporting your clients with their claims to the fifth grant.

Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) Tool: This webinar is designed to help you understand how HMRC's Check Employment Status for Tax tool, or CEST for short, can help you make robust and accurate status determinations.

Register here

Basis Periods: During the webinar we will focus on basis periods. In particular we will look at the different rules that apply to commencement years, the effect on a basis period when there is a change of accounting date and overlapping periods. We also look at some pointers when dealing with a change from sole trader to partnership and vice versa.

Register here

Misunderstanding of whether the National Minimum Wage (NMW) applies to workers who are unpaid or reimbursed on an 'expenses only' basis is a common cause of underpayment.

HMRC is offering three sessions of the National Minimum Wage webinar, where we look at unpaid or expenses only work and the associated minimum wage risk for employers. We will cover internships, volunteers and trial work – looking at where and when the minimum wage should be paid. We will also cover HMRC NMW enforcement and how to put things right.

The National Minimum Wage – unpaid and expenses-only work

Register here to book your place

https://taxagents.blog.gov.uk/category/talking-points/

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-for-agents
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HMRC has an online customer forum where you can post questions on a range of tax topics that are answered by HMRC experts. The forum now includes “PAYE and Payroll for Employers”.

ICAS Members are encouraged to join this.

The Knowledge Base is a new feature which contains answers to FAQs on a variety of topics and where you can find information on a number of subjects to help with tax matters. Content is regularly updated and new material added.

Anyone can view the forum. To post a question, simply register and create a profile.

A registered forum member can:

• View posts
• Add or post topics / questions

The ICAS tax team responds to many consultations on tax issues and welcomes members’ views to assist in preparing responses. If you have any comments on open consultations let us know.

Details of current consultations on tax issues can be found here:

• HMRC open consultations
• HM Treasury
• Scottish Government