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MARCH 2015 PRO INSTALLER
PRO BUSINESS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
AGM event
to support
Installers
HMRC could scrap
fine for late selfassessment returns
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) could be
set to ditch the initial
£100 penalty for late
self-assessment tax
returns under radical
new Government plans.
The tax authority admitted the current system was
punishing honest taxpayers
who miss the deadline by
a day as a ‘simple mistake’
or an ‘uncharacteristic
failure’.
At present, those who file
their tax return 24 hours
late are billed £100; the
same fine as someone who
misses the deadline by
almost 12 weeks.
HMRC is therefore
considering replacing the
automatic fine, which has
been in effect for the last
20 years, with penalty
points in the style of motoring penalties designed
to punish repeat offenders
rather than those who
make a one-off error of
judgement.
HMRC believes the
current system ‘makes no
distinction between a customer who misses a deadline by a day or two and
someone who has made no
attempt to comply at all’.
The proposals could mean
thousands of taxpayers
who fail to file their self-assessment forms on time
each year could escape a
financial penalty.
HMRC added: “We want to
consider whether we could
better differentiate between
deliberate and persistent
non-compliers and those
who might make an occasional error.
“One option could be a
progressive system similar to penalty points for
motoring offences so that
initial financial penalties are
avoided, but more substantial penalties then apply
for more serious failures or
for persistent non-compliance.”
HMRC has confirmed it
will also review the current
list of reasonable excuses
for late tax returns with the
potential for extending its
raft of justifications in due
course.
Prior to the 31st January
deadline for online self-assessment tax returns for
2013-14, 10.2 million returns were filed on time, but
890,000 were overdue.
Chas Roy-Chowdhury, of
the Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants, said
the existing penalties were
an unjust source of income
for the Government.
“We seem to have lost
sight of the fact that the
taxpayer is the unpaid
administrator of tax compliance and we should be
looking to smarter ways of
dealing with late filers.” Said
Roy-Chowdhury.
Industry-leading organisation Network VEKA is
making preparations for
its ever-popular AGM
and Awards Evening
at the end of March.
With a large number of
sponsors supporting
the event, specialist
hardware company ERA
is the Main Sponsor.
Attendees will be able to
visit exhibitors at the ‘Network VEKA Business Centre’
and talk to suppliers such
as finance and marketing
specialists, affiliate companies, training partners and
more, to learn how their
services can help enhance
their business.
This part of the day will be
rounded off by the official
AGM programme, with
Network VEKA MD John
Ogilvie and The VEKA UK
Group’s MD Dave Jones.
The Gala Dinner and
Awards Evening will kick
off with a champagne
reception sponsored by
Renolit. Visitors will be welcomed once again, by Brand
Ambassador Steve Davis
and have the opportunity
for celebration photos with
the Six-Time World Snooker
Champion.
Network VEKA MD, John
Ogilvie, says: “This year’s
event is gearing up to be
one of our best yet. We even
have a new award this year
with lots of our member
companies currently battling
it out to have one of their
team shortlisted for ‘Fitter
of the Year’. We will be
announcing the shortlist
soon.
“We’re looking forward to
celebrating another successful year of maintaining high
standards with our membership.”
For more information
email: rjohnson@
networkveka.com
For further information
visit www.networkveka.
co.uk
Fines highlight dangerous
lack of asbestos training
Following a Health & Safety Executive investigation,
Chelmsford magistrates fined
an unscrupulous Ipswich roofing contractor £10,000 last
month for handling asbestos
at a farm in Essex without the
correct certification or training.
In dealing with the substance
improperly the contractor exposed
staff to deadly cancer causing
spores. As General Manager of the
UK Asbestos Training Association
(UKATA), Craig Evans would like
to remind readers of the dangers of
asbestos and that it’s important that
only those with the correct training
should handle it.
Asbestos, which is still the biggest
workplace killer in the UK, causes
the rare and incurable form of lung
cancer known as mesothelioma.
The danger occurs when materials
containing asbestos are disturbed
or damaged, leading to the deadly
spores of the ‘hidden killer’ to be
released into the atmosphere where
they are inhaled.
Craig said: “It’s important that
those in the construction trade
likely to come into contact with asbestos know how to identify it and
deal with it safely.
“Dealing with asbestos without
the full training and knowledge
can lead to putting both your own
health and the health of those
around you in jeopardy; that’s the
reason why the Health & Safety
Executive continue to dish out fines.
Those in the construction industry
should consult our list of approved
members in order to gain the correct certification at www.ukata.org.
uk.”