UK Government Grant funding for Customs procedures training for intermediaries and businesses
Let’s Talk TaxTopical Tax-VAT
UK Government Grant funding for Customs procedures training for intermediaries and businesses
UK Government Grant funding for Customs procedures training for intermediaries and businesses
Wed 06 Feb 2019
In 2018, the UK Government announced £2M of grant funding had been allocated to providing Customs training to intermediaries and businesses that currently trade in goods with the EU. The intention of this funding is to expand business capacity as the UK prepares to leave the EU on 29 March 2019. This will be of particular use to those businesses that currently aren’t affected by or have detailed knowledge of Customs procedures and is a great opportunity to undertake staff training for what can often be a very involved role. Full details can be found at the Customs intermediary grant website which can be found here, with applications closing either when the £2M funding is used up, or at 5 April 2019. It is expected that the funding will cover around 70% of training costs for intermediaries, and up to 50% of costs for other businesses involved in the import and export of goods with the EU post-Brexit. Courses are offered by the Export Institute and BIFA amongst others.
Please get in contact with the Mazars indirect tax team if you would like assistance in putting Customs procedures in place or need additional help with training staff.
EU VAT Refund claims post 29 March 2019 may be more difficult
It is anticipated that, post 29 March 2019, UK businesses will experience significant difficulties in submitting an EU VAT refund claim under the 8th Directive procedure. Currently, an EU business that incurs VAT on certain business costs in another member state that it is not already VAT registered in, may make a claim for a […]
Brexit – Social security co-ordination between the UK and the EU post 31 December 2020
Negotiations between the UK and the EU on the UK’s future relationship with the EU have been taking place in both Brussels and London in July. As work intensifies on finalising arrangements, employers should start to consider the impact of the UK’s proposed draft text on the UK’s future agreement with the EU in regard […]
VAT for business if there is a Brexit no-deal scenario
Included within the Government’s 25 technical notes for business on preparing for a Brexit no-deal scenario is a note discussing VAT for business if there is no Brexit deal. It reassures business that the UK will continue to have a VAT system in a Brexit no-deal scenario, but outlines some VAT changes to be aware […]
Brexit – the tax implications
The result of the referendum for the UK to leave the EU was announced in the early hours today; a result with potentially very significant economic implications for the country. However, this is only the start, as the UK will not actually leave the EU for at least another two years, so whilst there is […]
Brexit and mobile workers
Following the vote for the UK to leave the European Union today we are aware that many, particularly the employers of European nationals, will be questioning what this means for them and their employees going forward. Firstly it is important to reiterate that it is clear nothing is going to change overnight, with confirmation that […]
Recent Government updates on Brexit and potential tax implications
The UK has issued 11 papers on Brexit issues between 15 and 31 August. These are listed below, and can be found along with other Brexit papers on the Government webpage on Article 50 and negotiations with the EU. The papers are listed under the relevant headings; Position papers, Future partnership papers, Technical notes and background […]
Action on outstanding EU law tax disputes prior to Brexit
With the Brexit timeline ticking away, and uncertainty on how tax matters affected by EU law will be dealt with as a result of the current terms of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, clients with UK businesses should be reviewing the appropriateness of challenging any tax issues affected by EU law prior to formal Brexit […]
UK VAT liability of on-line supplies of goods received by UK resident customers from a Dutch warehouse
The First tier Tribunal (FTT) has considered a procedural case (with no findings of fact) concerning potential VAT at stake of around £27m if the supplies are deemed to be made in the UK. The case concerned legal issues relating to VAT for a business based outside the EU supplying goods to customers in the […]
Re-organisations using UK provisions implementing the EU cross border mergers directive
The Court of Appeal has overturned the High Court and held that the inclusion of an existing dormant EU subsidiary in a merger involving a number of other UK companies, could not prevent the EU mergers directive provisions as enacted in the UK from applying. The case also discussed whether the inclusion of the dormant […]
European Commission (EC) information on the implications of Brexit
The EU has issued further information on the implications of Brexit as noted below. 1. Slides on level playing field This discusses what is involved in ensuring a level playing field for the future trading relationship between the EU and the UK. On tax the EU wants to see: A tax good governance clause Requirement […]
Implications for VAT of Brexit transition withdrawal agreement
On 19 March 2018 the EU and UK reached agreement on the withdrawal arrangements for Brexit. The UK will leave the EU on 29 March 2019, but the transition period will last until 31 December 2020. In relation to Customs duty and VAT and excise duty, the following points should be noted: The existing customs […]
VAT simplification arrangements for triangulation
A recent CJEU (case C-580/16) has held that VAT simplification arrangements for transactions involving triangulation can be operated by an intermediary supplier who is registered for VAT in an EU member state, but may not yet have a permanent establishment there. The CJEU also held that the simplification procedure cannot be disapplied just because of […]
Prioritisation of HMRC projects
At a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) oral evidence session on HMRC’s performance, HMRC indicated they were having to delay certain projects in order to accommodate extra workload created by Brexit. HMRC has informed the CIOT and ATT of some of the affected projects (see the link here). There is also an HMRC update that has […]
VAT in the UK/EU draft Withdrawal Agreement
The UK Government and the EU issued a joint statement on 19 June 2018 providing an update on the latest areas of agreement in the draft legal text of the Withdrawal Agreement. Since March 2018 new agreements have been reached on matters including goods on the market, Euratom related issues and judicial cooperation in civil […]
Preparing for a Brexit no deal scenario
The Government has announced the issue of 25 technical notes discussing how various aspects of the economy might operate in the event of a Brexit no-deal scenario. Further technical notes are due in September. The announcement comments: “A scenario in which the UK leaves the EU without agreement (a ‘no deal’ scenario) remains unlikely given […]
UK immigration update – February 2020
MIGRATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MAC) – A POINTS BASED SYSTEM AND SALARY THRESHOLDS FOR IMMIGRATION The MAC published its report on Tuesday 28 January 2020 on the proposed changes to the Points Based System and salary thresholds. A link to the full report can be found below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migration-advisory-committee-mac-report-points-based-system-and-salary-thresholds SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES The report was issued […]
Further Brexit no-deal technical notes – Accounting and Business Structuring
The Government has issued two new technical notes on what happens if there is a no-deal Brexit concerning corporate reporting and business structuring. The notes below provide a brief summary of the main points covered in these notes. For a further discussion of the tax implications of Brexit, whatever form it takes, please get in […]
HMRC announces interim Transitional Simplified Procedures for Customs
In a move to ease business fears over a no-deal Brexit, HMRC have announced an EU trade simplification which goes further than its initial proposal on ‘postponed Import VAT accounting’ – which would have seen import VAT deferred for all business bringing goods in from the EU. The Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP) for Customs are […]
Brexit – what next?
I started engaging with my clients in the UK and mainland Europe immediately after the EU referendum in June 2016, to try to help them understand the potential tax and commercial impacts of Brexit and to work out a considered action plan. In the early days of post-referendum confusion, it was relatively easy to assess […]
No deal Brexit – changes for UK employers sending workers to the EU, EEA or Switzerland
What is the issue? In HMRC’s latest Employer Bulletin, they issued guidance to employers on the social security contribution position for their UK employees who currently work in the EU, EEA and Switzerland in the event of a “no deal” Brexit. Under EU social security coordination regulations, currently UK employees who work in the EU, […]
VAT pension fund management services exempt from 1 April 2020
As a result of a number of CJEU decisions on the VAT treatment of investment management fees to different types of funds, HMRC issued Brief 3/2017 indicating that from 1 April 2019 VAT exemption would no longer apply automatically to management services provided by insurers, and that the definition of a special investment fund would […]
Brexit – EU press release UK import and export flowcharts
On 12 June the EU issued a press release indicating its no-deal Brexit preparations were fit for purpose and that a ‘no-deal’ scenario on 1 November 2019 very much remains a possible, although undesirable, outcome. In addition the UK Government has issued two flow charts covering preparations for those importing from and exporting to the […]
Brexit planning for 31 October 2019
As we approach the next Brexit deadline of 31 October 2019, it may be appropriate to review how we can assist our clients manage the tax issues around the possible changes. Below are some points on indirect and direct tax issues. Indirect tax Some high level points concerning indirect taxes and procedures for movements of […]
Individuals working overseas may have to pay NICs in both countries after Brexit
HMRC has provided guidance for UK self-employed workers relating to the situation if the UK leaves the EU with no deal. This relates to individuals working in the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. The current rules state that workers only pay social security contributions in one country. However following a no deal, […]
UK Immigration Update – October 2019 Migration Advisory Committee – Call for evidence
DEADLINE – 5 NOVEMBER 2019 On Tuesday 25 September 2019 the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) launched a new call for evidence in relation to minimum salary levels and the Points Based System post Brexit. This is an exciting opportunity to provide input into how the UK immigration system could work after we leave the EU. […]
UK Immigration Update – October 2019 – Brexit
BREXIT As we know now, Parliament has agreed in principle the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) submitted by the current government. However, following a vote on Tuesday 22 October Parliament did not agree to the expeditious timetable put forward to enable the WAB to be passed and the UK to depart the EU on 31 October […]
UK Immigration Update – November 2019
BREXIT An extension to the Brexit deadline has been agreed with the EU until 31 January 2020. This extension covers a period of three months as was predicted in the prior update. As a result, the immediate possibility of leaving without a deal has been prevented until at least that point. Information with regards to […]
Brexit – implications for employee share plans
Amongst the divided opinions it seems one thing can be agreed, that is the need to overcome fears, defeat indecision and avoid a hiatus limbo of non-productivity. As we are assured, nothing changes immediately, however we think it prudent to consider what this historic decision might mean in the context of employee share plans. In […]