The end of the tax year is almost here, so those of you who administer the payroll function for your business are nearing a busy time and need to ensure you are prepared for a few changes which occur this year.

Online Filing

The first change affects those who have not previously filed their Employer Annual Return online. 2009/10 is the first year that online filing is mandatory for all employers regardless of the size of the business. Paper filing of forms is no longer an option. Therefore if you have not previously been registered for electronic filing you must ensure you now register with HMRC’s PAYE Online Service which can be done via the HMRC website.

Late Payment Penalties

Another change which will affect employers from May 2010 is the introduction of late payment penalties if your PAYE is paid late. Currently interest is only charged when the PAYE payment is received late at the end of the tax year.

From May 2010 your PAYE payment will need to be received on time either each month or each quarter depending upon which basis you pay.  Businesses will have to ensure that HMRC always receive postal payments by the 19^th of the month or that electronic payments are received in HMRC’s bank account by 22^nd of the month to avoid a late payment penalty. The new late payment penalties will apply to all employers and contractors that do not pay on time.

Details of whether you have incurred a penalty will not be sent out until April 2011 but will apply for the whole of the 2010/11 tax year. Penalties will start at 1% of the late amount and will increase to 4% depending upon how many times you pay late. You will not have to pay a penalty if only one payment is late unless it is more than six months late. Payments that are more than six months late may attract a penalty of 5% and a further 5% if still outstanding after more than twelve months.

This is an important change for employers who should ensure they get in to the practice of paying their liability on time each month not just at the payroll year end to avoid any extra costs.

If you have any queries regarding the preparation of your payroll my colleagues at our in-house payroll bureau PayScheme will be happy to help. Contact a member of the team direct on 01767 220199.

The information provided in this blog illustrates my opinions and experiences, it does not constitute advice and I do not accept responsibility for any actions taken or refrained from as a result of reading this post.

The new ‘VAT online service’ (VOS) was launched by H M Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in November in prepartion for the compulsory online filing of VAT returns and electronic payment of liabiliies for VAT periods commencing 1st April 2010.

These new regulations will be enforced and effect all

• existing VAT registered businesses with a turnover (excluding VAT) of £100,000 or more (taken from the previous four returns submitted)
• businesses that register for VAT on or after 1st April 2010, regardless of turnover.

Once your business has been required to file online once, it must continue to do so.  The only exemptions are businesses involved in an insolvency procedure or those who have satisfied HMRC that the religious beliefs are incompatible with the requirement to use electronic communications!

If your business is VAT registered, you can expect to receive a letter from HMRC during February 2010 notifying you of your obligations.

There are proposals for this to be just the first step of the process and that all VAT registered businesses should manage their VAT returns and payments electronically from 1st April 2011.

The new VOS will enable users to

• Register for VAT
• Enrol for electronic filing
• View previously submitted electronic returns
• Set up email alerts to remind business owners of when returns should be submitted

Of course, if you do not want to be burdened with this, your accountant will be able to act as your agent in the same way as they can file payroll and self-assessment returns.  They will ask you to an authority to act (HMRC form 64-8 is not adequate for VOS) and may re-issue their letter of engagement to clarify the terms of this service.

More information can be sought from your accountant or HMRC’s online services website

The information provided in this blog illustrates my opinions and experiences, it does not constitute advice and I do not accept responsibility for any actions taken or refrained from as a result of reading this post