Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that the review of the loan charge is undertaken (a) independently and (b) rigorously.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Disguised Remuneration (DR) schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary remuneration with the sole purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions. The loans are provided on terms that mean they are not repaid in practice, so they are no different to normal income and are, and always have been, taxable.
The Government chose to accept Section 95 and will lay a report by 30 March which will review the effect of changes made to the time limits for recovery or assessment where tax loss arises in relation to offshore tax, and compare these with other legislation including the charge on DR loans. The Government will consider all the relevant evidence available in the timeframe legislated by Finance Act 2019. The charge on DR loans is unchanged as a result of the new clause and will apply to DR loan balances on 5 April 2019.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has also widely publicised a simplification to the process for those who want to settle their use of DR schemes before the loan charge arises on 5 April 2019. DR scheme users who currently have an income of less than £50,000 and are no longer engaging in tax avoidance can agree a payment plan of up to five years without the need to give HMRC detailed information about their income and assets. This arrangement has been extended to seven years for scheme users who have an income of less than £30,000.
Those who consider they need more than five (or seven) years to pay what they owe or who earn £50,000 or more should still come forward and talk to HMRC about payment terms. There are no defined minimum or maximum time periods for payment arrangements but HMRC will ask for more information including details of their income and assets so that they can tailor any payment plan to their individual financial circumstances.
Anyone who is worried about being able to pay what they owe should get in touch with HMRC as soon as possible.
Since the announcement of the 2019 loan charge at Budget 2016, HMRC has now agreed settlements on disguised remuneration schemes with employers and individuals totalling over £1 billion. Around 85% of the settlement yield since 2016 is from employers, with less than 15% from individuals.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that HMRC treats people affected by the loan charge in a sensitive and supportive but appropriate way.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) wants to help people put things right and is working hard to help individuals get out of avoidance for good.
Anybody who wants to settle their tax affairs ahead of the 2019 loan charge or who is worried about being able to pay what they owe should get in touch with HMRC as soon as possible.
HMRC have already provided a number of assurances, including that they will never force somebody to sell their main home to pay for their DR debt, or the loan charge.
HMRC has also widely publicised a simplification to the process for those who want to settle their use of DR schemes before the loan charge arises on 5 April 2019. DR scheme users who currently have an income of less than £50,000 and are no longer engaging in tax avoidance can agree a payment plan of up to five years without the need to give HMRC detailed information about their income and assets. This arrangement has been extended to seven years for scheme users who have an income of less than £30,000.
Those who consider they need more than five (or seven) years to pay what they owe or who earn £50,000 or more should still come forward and talk to HMRC about payment terms. There are no defined minimum or maximum time periods for payment arrangements but HMRC will ask for more information including details of their income and assets so that they can tailor any payment plan to their individual financial circumstances.
HMRC takes its duty of care very seriously for vulnerable people and people who are worried or anxious about their tax affairs. HMRC has guidance and training in place for their staff on how to provide support, and can refer customers to HMRC’s specialist team for those who need enhanced support where appropriate. They will tailor their support to meet the needs of the individual.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that the review of the loan charge will report by the end of March 2019.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Disguised Remuneration (DR) schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary remuneration with the sole purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions. The loans are provided on terms that mean they are not repaid in practice, so they are no different to normal income and are, and always have been, taxable.
The Government chose to accept Section 95 and will lay a report by 30 March which will review the effect of changes made to the time limits for recovery or assessment where tax loss arises in relation to offshore tax, and compare these with other legislation including the charge on DR loans. The Government will consider all the relevant evidence available in the timeframe legislated by Finance Act 2019. The charge on DR loans is unchanged as a result of the new clause and will apply to DR loan balances on 5 April 2019.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has also widely publicised a simplification to the process for those who want to settle their use of DR schemes before the loan charge arises on 5 April 2019. DR scheme users who currently have an income of less than £50,000 and are no longer engaging in tax avoidance can agree a payment plan of up to five years without the need to give HMRC detailed information about their income and assets. This arrangement has been extended to seven years for scheme users who have an income of less than £30,000.
Those who consider they need more than five (or seven) years to pay what they owe or who earn £50,000 or more should still come forward and talk to HMRC about payment terms. There are no defined minimum or maximum time periods for payment arrangements but HMRC will ask for more information including details of their income and assets so that they can tailor any payment plan to their individual financial circumstances.
Anyone who is worried about being able to pay what they owe should get in touch with HMRC as soon as possible.
Since the announcement of the 2019 loan charge at Budget 2016, HMRC has now agreed settlements on disguised remuneration schemes with employers and individuals totalling over £1 billion. Around 85% of the settlement yield since 2016 is from employers, with less than 15% from individuals.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has made to support the Steel Industry once it loses access to the Research Fund for Coal and Steel as part of the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
If the UK leaves with a withdrawal agreement, we will continue to participate in EU programmes, including the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, during the implementation period.
In the event the UK leaves the EU without an overall withdrawal agreement, the Government will guarantee the payment of awards for UK organisations which successfully bid directly to EU programmes, until the end of 2020, for the whole lifetime of projects agreed. This includes where a project continues beyond the end of 2020.
The Government is continuing to work with the steel sector, unions and Devolved Administrations to develop a long-term viable solution for the UK steel industry.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will commit to ensuring that the annual budget for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is no less, in real terms, than the EU and UK funding streams it replaces.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The government has committed to establish the UK Shared Prosperity Fund after we have left the European Union and EU Structural Funds. As the Secretary of State for Housing set out in a written statement on 24 July 2018, details of the operation and priorities of the Fund will be announced following the Spending Review.