What to look out for in the Summer Finance Bill

 

Corporation tax loss relief changes are set to be reinstated. This would mean companies can carry forward tax losses and offset them against most types of taxable profits, regardless of which activity the losses relate to.

The original changes also sought to ensure that businesses still pay tax in each accounting period where they make substantial profits, by placing a 50% cap on future profits against which losses can be offset.

Company shareholders, including limited company contractors, will likely soon see a marginal increase in the tax take from any income that they draw via dividends, with a cut to the Dividend Allowance set to be included in the Summer Finance Bill.

The £5,000 tax-free allowance, which was only implemented in April 2016, is set to be reduced to £2,000 from 6 April 2018. Basic rate taxpayers, who would otherwise have made use of the full £5,000 allowance, would pay an extra £225 in tax each year as a result, whilst the Treasury estimates that it will yield almost £1bn more in tax per year by 2020. 

HMRC has already had to rethink its plans for the introduction of its digital tax regime. This comes after warnings from within Parliament of the strain it would impose on small businesses.

As a result, only companies with turnovers exceeding the £85,000 VAT threshold will be required to keep digital records from April 2019. This will initially be for VAT purposes only. Otherwise, MTD is expected to continue along the recently amended timetable, but the Finance Bill will most likely provide more clarity over the taxman’s plans.

Originally announced in the 2016 Autumn Statement, the legislation imposing changes to the tax treatment of non-domiciled individuals was curiously withdrawn on 24 April, 18 days after it was due to take effect.

The Government has confirmed that it will use the Summer Finance Bill to reinstate the proposals, which will include the abolition of permanent non-domiciled status for anyone who has lived in Britain for at least 15 of the past 20 years. 

A National Insurance Contributions Bill will be put forward separately, as NI changes are historically not included in the Finance Bill. Self-employed contractors needn’t worry, as the Government has stressed that changes implemented will not relate to the attempted reforms to Class 4 NICs that were swiftly abandoned.

The Government instead intends to legislate the changes to NICs announced in the 2016 Budget and the 2016 Autumn Statement. This is expected to result in the abolition of Class 2 NICs.

If you believe that some of the measures due to be implemented in the Summer Finance Bill will affect you or your business, or for further guidance on the proposed measures, get in touch with Hillier Hopkins today.

This ​article is written for general interest only and is not a substitute for consulting the relevant legislation or taking professional advice. The authors and the firm cannot accept any responsibility for loss arising from any person acting or refraining from acting on the basis of the material included herein.