In the news…

HMRC URGED TO SIMPLIFY TAX RETURN PROCEDURES

As part of the programme to make tax digital, professional bodies are calling on the government to simplify the process, create a better taxpayer experience and modernise the amendment process. Amendments can sometimes work in favour of the taxpayer, sometimes in HMRC’s favour, but a recent survey1 showed that HMRC could be slow to respond following an initial online confirmation.


AUTO-ENROLMENT REACHES 10 MILLION WORKERS

Recent data2 shows that in January, the number of workers automatically enrolled into a workplace pension scheme had reached 10m. The government’s next task is to try and reach the estimated 9.3m workers who aren’t currently saving into a scheme or did not qualify because of their age.


HOMEOWNERSHIP IN ENGLAND AT A 12-YEAR HIGH

According to the English Housing Survey3, there were 14.8m owner-occupied homes in 2017/18, up from 14.4m the previous year. Much of the growth was driven by an increase in the number of first-time buyers who were helped by the cut in Stamp Duty, the government’s Help to Buy scheme and the Bank of Mum and Dad


1 The Association of Taxation Technicians, Feb 2019
2The Pensions Regulator, Feb 2019
3English Housing Survey, Jan 2019