Labour pledge statutory maternity pay rise for 20,000 new mums in Scotland
More than 20,000 news mums in Scotland will benefit from an increase in statutory maternity pay if Jeremy Corbyn wins the race to Number 10, Labour have said.
HMRC
HMRC crackdown on big business tax avoidance paying off, report suggests
The taxman collected an extra £9.8 billion through investigations into the UK’s biggest 2,000 companies last year, according to new research.
Trial date set for Aberdeen prosecutor accused of sending ‘racially aggravated’ and ‘offensive’ messages online
The trial of a prosecutor accused of sending “racially aggravated” and “offensive” messages is to take place later this month.
Goals Soccer Centres £12m accounting scandal ‘may be materially higher’
Bosses at Goals Soccer Centres, the five-a-side football pitch operator, have admitted that the £12 million black hole in their accounts could be far higher.
HMRC issues apology for delays to tax relief claims
HMRC has apologised for taking up to seven months to process R&D tax relief claims which was alleged to be preventing some UK companies from progressing.
Don’t rely on the taxman to help with new off-payroll rules
The long-awaited consultation into off-payroll working rules for the private sector from April 2020 drew to a close on May 28.
VAT recovery practice review by HMRC will be valuable, says HIE
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has said an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review of its VAT recovery practices, which has been under way for the past 20 months, will be “valuable” in updating its methods.
Aberdeen fish processing firm claims honest mistake led to £300,000 tax dodge
A north-east fish processing company has blamed decades of poor book-keeping after being fined nearly £120,000 by the taxman.
Construction industry faces big VAT changes
From October 1, 2019 significant changes are being introduced to the VAT treatment of supplies in the construction industry.
BBC could cover tax bills for staff investigated by HMRC after pay change
The BBC may cover tax costs for presenters left in financial trouble after they were “forced” into new pay arrangements.
Freelance or employee? Time to wake up to the differences
When Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) commissioners are disappointed it usually means that a great many people are happy.
Lorraine Kelly wins £1.2 million tax battle
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has won a £1.2 million battle with HMRC after a tax tribunal judge ruled she was not an ITV employee.
VAT ruling encouraging for farmers, says expert
A farm buildings VAT-recovery ruling in favour of a farmer against HMRC has been welcomed as an “encouraging outcome” by chartered accountants Saffery Champness.
Lord Hall admits BBC staff were ‘pushed’ into pay arrangement without benefits
BBC director general Lord Tony Hall has admitted his staff were given no choice but to take employment without sick pay or maternity leave, which left top talent facing massive tax bills.
‘Witch mother-in-law put a curse on me’ among strangest late tax excuses
A witch’s curse, a postbox that was too tall and a slow-learning maid are just some of the most outlandish excuses HM Revenue and Customs have received from people who completed their tax returns too late in the past year.
Harry Potter star Rupert Grint in legal battle for £1m tax refund
Harry Potter film star Rupert Grint is challenging a ruling denying him a £1 million tax refund.
Celebrity bodyguard jailed for £419,000 tax swindle
A celebrity bodyguard was jailed for four years yesterday after being convicted of swindling the taxman of £419,000.
Concern as Scottish income tax receipts £550million lower than forecast
Concerns were raised about tax changes in Scotland yesterday after it emerged that income tax receipts were £550million lower than forecast in 2016/17.
Warning after Oban woman duped in iTunes scam
Police in Oban are sending out a warning after an elderly woman and other members of the public were duped by an iTunes gift card scam.
VAT fraudster who tried to gain £70,000 from HMRC jailed
A gambling addict who worked as a police administrative assistant was jailed for eight months after falsifying her joiner husband’s VAT returns to gain £70,000 from HMRC.
Police charge man after finding a container filled with more than £1m worth of suspected illicit cigarettes
A 58-year-old man has been charged after an estimated 3.6 million suspected illicit cigarettes were seized by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
British cheese exports soar
The global appetite for British cheese is growing with the value of exports up 23% last year to £615 million.
Loophole closed on bonuses for bosses
A directors’ bonuses tax loophole that deprived the public purse of £55million has been successfully closed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
BBC ‘faces revolt’ over presenters’ tax bills
BBC presenters being hit with tax demands are urging the corporation to help foot their HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) bills.
Aberdeen man hid 65,000 illegal cigarettes in parents’ garage
An Aberdeen man has been spared jail after police discovered 65,000 illegally imported cigarettes in his parents’ garage.
Dornoch woman faces jail after “making up” VAT returns for husband’s business
A former local authority admin assistant was warned she faces jail after she falsified VAT returns to gain £70,000 from HMRC.
Highland businessman admits £18,500 VAT offence
A Highland businessman overcharged a client by £18,500 after including VAT on his invoices when his business was not registered for the tax.
Moray woman jailed for £2.4m tax swindle was living on family handouts
The shocked family of a Moray woman jailed over a £2.4million tax swindle has revealed that she was living on handouts from relatives.
£43,000 tax fraud fisher jailed for 14 months
A fisherman who netted £43,000 of taxpayers’ money by failing to declare his earnings for almost a decade has been jailed.
Moray architect conned the tax man out of £27,000
A Moray businessman swindled more than £27,000 from the taxman during a two-year fraud.
Electronics firm boss challenges tax court action
A Moray businessman has vowed to defend his company after the taxman launched a legal bid to have it wound up.
Scottish potato merchant jailed for VAT fraud
A wholesale potato merchant from Perthshire has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for VAT fraud.