6 - Self-Assessment and Tax Mitigation Flashcards
What taxes are paid via self-assessment?
Income tax
Class 2 and 4 NICs
Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
Which type of people may use self-assessment?
Self-employed
Directors
Company Partners
Those with investment and/or property income
Those who are liable to pay High Income Child Benefit Charge
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold and how/when is the benefit tapered down?
It is a tax charge that applies to anyone with an income over £50,000 who gets Child Benefit, or whose partner gets it.
For every £100 over the threshold, the benefit is reduced by 1% and effectively lost at £60,000.
How is the High Income Child Benefit Charge collected?
Via self-assessment
What is a Notification of Chargeability and when does it need to me made by?
Advising HMRC of your intent to do a tax return, for the first time.
Before 5 October (window of 6 months after tax year end it relates to)
Can a penalty apply for failing to supply a Notification of Chargeability?
Yes
What are the deadlines to submit a tax return and when is the owed tax then due?
Paper – 31 October
Electronic – 31 January
Owed by midnight on 31 January
What is the late penalty for failing to submit a tax return before the due date?
£100 applied immediately
£10 per day, charged once the return is 3 months late for a maximum of 90 days
the higher of £300 or 5% of the tax due, applied if the form is 6 months late
a further £300 or 5% of the tax due (whichever is higher), applied if the form is 12 months late.
What will HMRC do if you pay too little tax or pay too late?
Charge interest and penalties
What will HMRC do if you pay too much tax?
Pay interest
HMRC interest charges and penalties are set using which rates?
Usually the Bank of England rates
HMRC can carry out a compliance check on anyone’s tax return, what are these also known as?
An enquiry
Why might HMRC carry out a compliance check on your tax return?
Suspicion or random check
How soon after submitting your tax return do HMRC normally perform a compliance check, if required?
Within 12 months
What is the likely outcome of a compliance check on your tax return?
Amendment to your tax return
At what point does a tax return become un-submitted?
When it becomes amended
For how long can a taxpayer amend their own tax return after it’s been submitted?
Within a year of submitting, or 15 months if submitted by paper
What is GAAR and what is it’s purpose?
General Anti-Abuse Rule - it prevents taxpayers entering into abusive tax arrangements/avoidance schemes, not yet registered with HMRC. It also helps them pay the right amount of tax.
What is the penalty if a case is tackled through GAAR?
Up to 60% of the counteracted tax
Tax avoidance schemes should be disclosed to HMRC as per which set of rules?
Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes (DOTAS)
What is an Accelerated Payment Notice?
A notice to pay a tax charge before a dispute has been settled under GAAR
What is the purpose of an Accelerated Payment Notice?
To prevent people using tax avoidance schemes having advantage over those who do not
What are the 5 reasons that an Accelerated Payment Notice might be issued to a taxpayer?
Caught out by GAAR
Taxpayer been involved in a tax avoidance scheme under DOTAS
Received a follower notice
Compliance check or open appeal
Tax advantage declared by use of avoidance scheme
What is a Follower Notice?
A notice for a taxpayer to amend their tax return due to an illegitimate tax advantage.
What is the penalty for failing to act upon a Follower Notice?
30% of the disputed tax
Further 20% charged depending on the outcome
Is there a right to appeal an APN?
No
When are the first two payments on account and the final balancing payment due?
- Payment on account - 31 January (of the tax year concerned)
- Payment on account - 31 July (after tax year concerned)
- Balance of payment - 31 January (after tax year concerned)
What is the penalty for a late balancing payment?
5% after 30 days
Then 5% at 5 months
Then 5% after another 6 months (11 months total)
Payments on account are liable to which 3 types of taxes?
Income tax
Class 4 NICs
High Income Child Benefit Charge
What taxes are paid on the balancing payment?
Class 2 NICs
Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
Student loan repayments
How is the balancing payment calculated?
The difference between the actual tax payable and the tax already paid by payments on account
In which 2 circumstances might the payments on account not be required?
Income in the last tax year was less than £1,000
80% of their income tax was taken via PAYE