HMRC is reminding employers that from April 2012 they may be asked to provide security where there is a risk of deliberate non-payment of PAYE tax and NICs. HMRC can already request a security for VAT.
The proposed treatment of disguised remuneration for national insurance contributions purposes would impose ‘impossible and unreasonable obligations’ on employers, according to the ICAEW Tax Faculty.
HMRC has published an updated list of scale rates for expenses payments that can be made without deduction of tax to employees travelling outside the UK.
Draft PAYE regulations will be published for consultation in the autumn, HMRC said as it published a summary of responses to its December 2010 consultation Improving the operation of PAYE: Collecting Real Time Information.
HMRC has reminded employers paying PAYE tax and NICs electronically that their cleared payment must reach HMRC’s bank account by 21 October, because 22 October falls on a Saturday.
HMRC has issued further guidance for employers on changes to VAT accounting. Employers will need to account for VAT on the salary foregone by employees in return for vouchers or goods and services from January 2012, HMRC announced on 28 July.
The rates of the national minimum wage increased with effect from 1 October 2011:
HMRC has marked the first anniversary of the NICs holiday scheme, noting in its latest Employer Bulletin that the scheme is benefiting ‘many new businesses’. But take-up has been well below government estimates.