News

HMRC finally launches MTD communications plan and simplified guidance
11 October 2018

With only six months left until the launch of Making Tax Digital for VAT, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has finally begun sharing information with businesses about the new regime.

While accountants and professional advisers across the UK have been making clients aware of the new digital system for more than two years, the nation’s official tax authority has remained fairly quiet on what has been described as one of the biggest changes to taxation in the last 70 years.

However, in mid-September HMRC finally began making businesses aware of their plans, initially posting a tweet linking to a new webpage entitled Making Tax Digital: How VAT businesses and other VAT entities can get ready.

The new webpage provides simplified guidance to businesses, outlining the criteria for businesses that will be mandated to join the scheme i.e. those registered for VAT with a taxable turnover above the VAT registration threshold (£85,000).

According to AccountingWEB, HMRC has revealed that it has further plans to increase its social media and public relations activity around MTD, as well as directly contacting those businesses affected via post.

HMRC also confirmed that it will publish details of the compliant VAT reporting products later this year when the current private pilot becomes public. A list of software companies currently working with HMRC is, however, already available here.

Link: Making Tax Digital: how VAT businesses and other VAT entities can get ready.