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Scottish Government agreement with Greens secures Budget progress

MSPs have backed the general principles Scottish Government’s Budget for the year ahead following a vote in Parliament on Thursday.

They voted by 67 votes to 58 in favour of the Budget (Scotland) (No.3) Bill after the Scottish Green Party reached a last minute agreement with the government on further tax-raising powers for councils.

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VAT Regulations aim to lay ground for ‘no deal’ Brexit

The government continues to lay Brexit-related statutory instruments (SIs) in preparation for a possible ‘no deal’ exit from the EU, including a number in the tax area. Since the start of 2019 six VAT-related SIs have been laid, plus three relating to Excise Duty and one relating to Customs.

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MPs back customs union (with Crown Dependencies)

MPs on a delegated legislation committee have approved three statutory instruments (SIs) establishing a customs union between the UK and three Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man), following less than 20 minutes of debate.

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HMRC make announcements on Loan Charge during Treasury Committee inquiry

The Treasury Committee staged the latest witness session in its inquiry into tax enquiries and resolution of tax disputes today (30 January 2019). HMRC made some announcements on the Loan Charge and defended its litigation and settlement strategy.

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Conservative MPs call for lower marginal rates of tax on low income people

Conservative MP Jeremy Lefroy secured a debate in Westminster Hall on the taxation of low-income families, held on Wednesday. 

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Welsh begin to design for life with income tax power

The Welsh Assembly has passed the Welsh Budget for 2019-20, which proposes that the Assembly will not use its powers to vary income tax in the coming year.

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Air Passenger Duty in the departure lounge as MPs examine prospects for Welsh devolution

On Tuesday, the Welsh Affairs Committee began consideration of its inquiry into the potential devolution of Air Passenger Duty (APD) to Wales with an oral evidence session featuring representation from the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

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HMRC power grab is a step too far

The House of Lords economic affairs committee is right to call for a new review of HMRC powers as the tax authority over-reaches itself with spurious tribunals and exhaustive investigations, not to mention the introduction of a 12-year time limit set out in Finance Bill 2018-19, says John Cullinane CTA, tax policy director at the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

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LIVEBLOG: Finance Bill (No.3) 2018-19 – Report Stage and Third Reading Debate

MPs got a final chance to amend this year’s Finance Bill with today’s report stage debate. Government amendments on intangible fixed assets and entrepreneurs’ relief were passed. A cross-party proposal to amend the Bill to hinder government preparations for a ‘no deal’ Brexit was passed. Another cross-party proposal for a review including consideration of the 2019 loan charge was accepted by the government.

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What are the main tax takeaways from the Scottish Budget?

On Wednesday of this week, the Scottish Government published its draft Budget for 2019/2020. This included its plans for the devolved taxes over which it has control, namely, Scottish Income Tax, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), Non-domestic (Business) rates and Scottish Landfill Tax.

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