New leaflets HMRC has issued these new leaflets in April 2011: VAT information sheet 21/10 VAT on natural gas and electricity; Notes on taxation of Skipton Fund Ltd for individuals infected with hepatitis C Guidance on completing form P35 Customs notice 179: motor and heating fuels excise duty Supplements to VAT notices 700/1 and 700/11...Read More

Confiscation of vehicle A woman had her vehicle restored after it was confiscated for tobacco smuggling. She had lent the vehicle to her estranged husband to collect their children from school, and did not know that he has taken the vehicle overseas. Mrs Lorraine Smith [2011] TC01093  Read More

Sale and leaseback A lease of land and leaseback of land with plant and machinery was a single supply. Therefore no part of it could be zero-rated. Queen Mary, University of London [2011] TC01094  Read More

Whether car “made available” A director or employee can only be assessed to the benefit of a car if “made available” to his or her. The fact that a director does drive the car is not sufficient to establish this. Michael Golding [2011] TC01097Read More

Reasonable excuse A reasonable excuse for a late tax return is not restricted to exceptional circumstances as HMRC contends. HMRC was strongly criticised for its narrow interpretation. (See separate article) Yusuf Budiadi [2011] TC 01098; Mr T J Fisher [2011] TC01100  Read More

Yachts From 1 June 2011, it is generally no longer possible to recover UK acquisition VAT for a yacht supplied by a UK company but where the yacht does not arrive in the UK. The provisions of Business Brief 12/97 cease to be effective. HMRC Brief 20/11. 16 May 2011  Read More

Intra-EU supplies A European Court has ruled on the VAT treatment when a company in one member state supplies goods from a second state to a third state, such as if a UK-registered company supplies goods from France to Germany. The law is that UK input tax may only be claimed where output tax has...Read More

Large partnerships HMRC will provide a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) to all partnerships that have either: • ten or more partners, or • five or more partners and the annual turnover exceeds £5 million, or • the turnover exceeds £15 million. Partnerships without a CRM already will be contacted during June 2011.  Read More

Single compliance HMRC is testing a single compliance process for all taxes. This is being trialled for six months from 1 June in 10 locations with a view to being adopted nationally in 2012.  Read More

Stamp duty land tax New forms must be used from 4 July 2011. These are SDLT1, SDLT3 and SDLT4. These can be downloaded from the HMRC website  Read More