Latest News
14th February 2013
Vote on 1% cap on benefit and tax credit rises
8th January 2013
MPs are to vote on controversial government plans to put a 1% cap on annual rises to some benefits and tax credits until 2016. Read more...
Child Benefit changes come into effect today
7th January 2013
The withdrawal of Child Benefit for high income claimants has come into effect today. [PDF] Read more...
Claims that HMRC has failed to communicate Child Benefit changes to one-third of those affected
4th January 2013
HMRC are relying on extensive advertising to reach over one-third of affected Child Benefit recipients for whom HMRC may not hold up to date information. Read more...
Child Benefit changes: Are you aware?
3rd January 2013
HMRC insist that the public are aware of the imminent changes to Child Benefit. Read more...
File your Self Assessment tax return online by 31st January 2013 to avoid penalties
21st December 2012
Online Self Assessment tax returns should be filed by midnight on 31st January 2013 to avoid penalties. Read more...
LITRG issues warning about missed Working Tax Credit payments
20th December 2012
The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group has issued a guide about missing payments of Working Tax Credits.
Claimants may be entitled to receive backpaid tax credits if they submitted a claim for tax credits (and were awarded Working Tax Credit only), and their claim was not backdated (up to three months prior to April 2012, up to one month from April 2012) even though they would have been entitled during the backdating period. If this applies, you may need to contact HMRC. More information is available [PDF] here.
Warning to late tax payers
14th December 2012
HMRC issue a warning to 300,000 people who have failed to return their 2010/11 Self Assessment. Read more...
Chancellor's Autumn statement
5th December 2012
The Chancellor has delivered his Autumn Statement to Parliament. The key issues in relation to HMRC benefits and credits are:
- Child Benefit rates will be frozen for 2013/14 and will increase by 1% in 2014/15 and 2015/16
- Tax credit disability elements will be increased in line with the Consumer Price Index
- Other tax credit elements will be frozen or will increase by 1% for 2013/14
- The Personal Allowance for income tax for 2013/14 will increase to £9,440
Tax avoidance warning from HMRC
26th November 2012
Hundreds of suspected tax avoiders will receive letters in the coming weeks warning them that their financial affairs are under scrutiny. Read more...
Self Assessment deadline information
16th November 2012
The deadline for submitting paper Self Assessment tax returns has passed.
If you send your tax return by 30th December 2012 and your liability is less than £3,000 you can request that HMRC collect the tax owed through your tax code.
Click here for more information on submitting your Self Assessment tax return online.
High earners working abroad may keep all of their Child Benefit
31st October 2012
Under the new Child Benefit scheme, families with a high earner working abroad may keep all of their Child Benefit. Read more...
Universal Credit: benefit claimants may be 'trapped in poverty'
30th October 2012
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has suggested that new Universal Credit payments could leave some claimants worse off. Read more...
Child Benefit letters to be sent out this week
29th October 2012
Around one million families can expect to receive letters from HMRC in the coming days, advising them how they will be affected by changes to Child Benefit.
NI Assembly backs Welfare Reform
10th October 2012
Northern Ireland Assembly members have voted in favour of the Welfare Reform Bill. Read more...
£10 billion benefit cut vow
8th October 2012
The government has vowed to cut a further £10 billion from the benefits budget to fight the deficit. Read more...
Minimum wage and VAT changes take effect
1st October 2012
A rise in the minimum wage takes effect from today, but athletes and hairdressers are likely to see their tax bill increase. Read more...
HMRC Tax Return Initiative
21st September 2012
Get the best terms and conditions for your late Self Assessment by taking part in the Tax Return Initiative, which gives people the opportunity to get their tax affairs in order without fear of large fines and further penalties. Read more...
e-Marketplaces campaign
13th September 2012
Online sellers have until tomorrow, 14th September 2012, to put their tax affairs in order, in the latest income tax campaign. Read more...
For advice on whether you could be considered as an online seller, call 0800 988 2377.
Clegg: Wealthy should pay more tax
29th August 2012
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has suggested that the UK's wealthiest people could be asked to pay more tax for a limited period. Read more...
e-Marketplaces campaign
24th August 2012
Online sellers are advised to disclose their taxable income to HMRC in the latest income tax campaign. Read more...
Do you sell a few personal items, or could you be considered a business seller? Find out more here...
Tax penalties of £1,200 sent out by HMRC
14th August 2012
About 500,000 people are being sent notices of penalties of at least £1,200 for failing to submit their Self Assessment tax returns. Read more...
Important: Tax Credit renewal date is upon us
31st July 2012
If you claimed tax credits during the last tax year (April 2011 - April 2012) you need to renew your award today - even if you're no longer entitled to tax credits. This is to ensure that the information the tax credit office holds about you is correct and up to date. It will also confirm that you received the correct amount of tax credits during the year and that any provisional payments you have received since April 2012 have been correct.
If you don't renew, you may have to repay the tax credits you received in the previous tax year and any amount you have received so far in this tax year.
Renew today by telephoning the HMRC tax credits helpline on 0345 300 3900.
For help with your renewal, call us on 0800 988 2377, or visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits
Education Maintenance Allowance may be cut in Northern Ireland
31st July 2012
EMA, which is paid to young people who continue in education, may be reduced in Northern Ireland. Read more...
Reviewer of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) medical assessments to stand down
30th July 2012
The person in charge of reviewing ESA medical assessments is to stand down. Read more...
'Wrong' to pay tradespeople in cash
24th July 2012
Paying tradespeople in cash so that they might pay less income tax is 'morally wrong', saysTreasury Minister David Gauke. Read more...
Tax Credit Fast Track process
3rd July 2012
- A person or their partner who is starting paid work and losing entitlement to Income Support (IS), Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA (IB)) or Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA (IR));
- A person who is making a new claim for JSA (IB), Income Support (IS) or ESA (IR) and a new claim for Tax Credits;
- A person who is already receiving IS/JSA (IB)/ESA(IR) who has a first child joining the household;
- A person who has been granted leave to remain in the UK by UKBA and has gone straight from NASS support into work.
Tax and tax credit payments
29th June 2012
HMRC accounts for 2011/12 showed that up to £2.5 billion was overpaid in tax credits and up to £290 million underpaid as a result of fraud and error. Read more...
HMRC staff striking over job cuts
25th June 2012
Some 55,000 HMRC staff are striking over job cuts and 'creeping privatisation'. Read more...
Ulster Bank Payment Delay - salaries and benefits
22nd June 2012
Ulster Bank has confirmed that there continues to be a delay in some payments being made and is attempting to make arrangements so that people wishing to access funds are able to do so. Read more...
Further delay to Ulster Bank payments
21st June 2012
Some benefit and salary payments could be delayed until Friday, say Ulster Bank. Read more...
Ulster Bank benefits payments delayed
20th June 2012
Benefit payments have been delayed for some Ulster Bank customers due to a technical failure. Read more...
How the Tax Credit income disregard affects you if your income falls
30th May 2012
Did you know that the first £2,500 of any decrease in income will not affect your current tax credit award? Read more about this complex issue here...
New tax and spending calculator launched
28th May 2012
The government has launched an online service allowing people to check how their income tax and national insurance are spent. Read more...
Has enough been done to collect UK tax?
24th May 2012
Impressive efforts have been made to collect UK tax, but more could have been done without job cuts, MPs say. Read more...
Calls for a single 30% income tax rate
21st May 2012
A [PDF] 2020 Tax Commission report calls for a single income tax rate of 30%. Read more...
NI pensioners 'missing out' on benefits
16th May 2012
Pensioners in Northern Ireland may be missing out on up to £200m of unclaimed benefits, the assembly's Public Accounts Committee reports. Read more...
Welfare reform beginning to take effect in Great Britain
10th May 2012
Letters explaining a benefits cap are arriving with claimants in Great Britain from today. Read more...
Tax and Benefits advice
3rd May 2012
Tax and Benefits advice was provided to women in Northern Ireland at a recent event organised by the Women's Information Group. Read more...
'Longer wait' for HMRC tax advisers
2nd May 2012
Waiting times for callers to the HMRC helpline have increased. Read more...
HMRC forecasts that the highest rates of tax will be paid by 4.1 million people during this financial year.
2nd May 2012
HMRC forecasts that 3.8 million people will be taxed at the 40% higher tax rate and a further 307,000 will be taxed at the 50% additional rate. Read more...
Late (2010/11) tax returns should be sent online to HMRC before the end of April, as penalties rise from 1 May.
24th April 2012
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is urging anyone who has still not done their 2010/11 tax return to send it online before the end of April, or be charged daily penalties from 1 May. Read More...
Labour bids to block 'granny tax' in House of Commons
19th April 2012
Labour will attempt to block attempt to remove age-related tax allowances for pensioners in the Commons later. Read more...
Calls for Child Benefit to be cut for children who skip school
17th April 2012
There are calls for Child Benefit cuts to be made to parents in England whose children skip school. Read more...
Tax and benefit changes take effect tomorrow
5th April 2012
Millions affected by tax and benefit changes from tomorrow. Read more...
Couples: Contact HMRC or your tax credit award may end
30th March 2012
Couples with children should contact HMRC before 6th April 2012 if they work between 16 and 24 hours per week and one of the couple:
• is aged 60 or over, or
• qualifies for the disability element of Working Tax Credit, or
• is incapacitated (in receipt of sickness benefits), or
• is an inpatient in hospital, or
• is in prison, or
• is entitled to Carers Allowance
Until 5th April 2012, lone parents and couples with children have been required to work at least 16 hours per week in order to be eligible to receive Working Tax Credit. From 6th April 2012, lone parents will still be required to work at least 16 hours per week but couples with children will be required to work at least 24 hours per week unless they meet one of the criteria above.
Unfortunately, HMRC have failed to make it clear to claimants that it is their responsibility to inform them before 6th April 2012 if they meet one of the criteria above. If the claimant does not inform HMRC of their exemption to the new rule, their tax credit award may stop and they will be required to make a fresh claim.
For more information call our freephone Tax and Benefits helpline on 0800 988 2377 or email tax@adviceni.net
Tax Credits helpline closure
28th March 2012
The tax credits helpline will be closed for system upgrades relating to the new tax year for four consecutive days from Friday 6th to Monday 9th April inclusive. The helpline will reopen on Tuesday 10th April 2012.
New National Minimum Wage rates approved
22nd March 2012
The Government has approved the new National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates from 1st October 2012.
The adult rate will increase from £6.08 to £6.19 per hour
The rate for 18-20 year olds will remain unchanged at £4.98 per hour
The rate for 16-17 year olds will remain at £3.68 per hour
The rate for apprentices will increase by 5p to £2.65 per hour
The freezes and the below-inflation rises mean that all groups will see a reduction in earnings in real terms. Read more...
Budget 2012: Additional income tax applied to higher earners in receipt of Child Benefit
21st March 2012
Taxpayers whose income exceeds £50,000 and who are in receipt of Child Benefit or whose income exceeds £50,000 and whose partner is in receipt of Child Benefit will face an additional income tax charge from 7th January 2013. This will replace the government's original proposal to remove Child Benefit from higher rate taxpayers. [PDF] Read more...
Budget 2012: Chancellor George Osborne has delivered his Budget today
21st March 2012
For further information about the main announcements affecting HMRC customers, click here.
Budget 2012: Charity appeals to chancellor to deliver a 'family friendly' budget
21st March 2012
The Family and Parenting Institute (FPI) urges chancellor to protect families in today's budget. The charity believes that families with children have been hit hardest with recent tax and benefit changes. Read more...
Budget 2012: Tax allowances set to rise further
21st March 2012
The chancellor is expected to announce an increase in the amount people can earn before they start paying tax in his Budget later. Read more...
U-turn over Working Tax Credit increased hours requirement for carers
19th March 2012
The Government has agreed to introduce an exemption to the increased hours requirement for Working Tax Credit for couples where one partner is a carer. Where one of the couple is entitled to carer’s allowance, they will continue to receive Working Tax Credit (WTC) by working 16 hours a week. Without this change, they would have been required to work 24 hours a week, with one partner working at least 16 hours, or face losing Working Tax Credit.
In our social policy briefing paper, issued last month, we state: "Advice NI would ask HMRC to consider introducing a further exception to the increased hours requirement for those who are entitled to Carers’ Allowance (either payable or with an underlying entitlement). This would give recognition to the fact that working hours are likely to be limited where one member of a couple spends at least 35 hours per week caring for someone who is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate, or Attendance Allowance at the higher rate. Carers’ Allowance by its very nature is an earnings replacement benefit, indicating that those in receipt of this benefit will have limited ability to work." Advice NI welcomes this policy change.
Read our full policy paper [PDF] here.
Misleading letter sent to over one million tax credits claimants
12th March 2012
A misleading statement in a HMRC letter sent to over a million tax credits claimants may persuade people to leave the tax credits system which could result in them missing out on tax credit payments. Read more...
Osborne pressed to reverse tax credit cuts
12th March 2012
Concerns grow for children of parents on low incomes if chancellor pushes changes through in March Budget. Read more...
Child Poverty Action Group campaign to Save Child Benefit
8th March 2012
CPAG highlight the importance of Child Benefit as a universal benefit for children. Read more...
Child Benefit cut 'will see parents cut necessities'
7th March 2012
Changes to child benefit payments will leave many parents cutting back on vital necessities. Read more...
Welform Reform Live event
6th March 2012
A major conference on Welfare Reform in Northern Ireland is taking place today in Belfast. This event is fully booked but will be streamed live. Follow the event on Twitter using the tag #wrni
Budget 2012: "Perverse anomalies" in Child Benefit changes
5th March 2012
Perverse anomalies in planned Child Benefit cuts. Read more...
New HMRC Tax Credit helpline number
13th February 2012
HMRC have a new Tax Credit helpline number - 0345 300 3900. Read more...
No penalties for late returns of Self Assessment submitted by midnight on 2nd February 2012
27th January 2012
Due to a planned strike and to prevent customers being disadvantaged, HMRC will not apply penalties to late returns of online Self Assessment submitted by midnight on 2nd February 2012. Read more...
Self Assessment day 'leniency' vow from HMRC
26th January 2012
Taxpayers who face fines should be dealt with leniently, due to a planned strike on deadline day. Read more...
Welfare Reform: Lords bid for benefits cap concessions
23rd January 2012
Peers will press for changes to plans for a £26,000 cap on benefits when the measure is debated in the House of Lords later. Read more...
Benefits cap not about punishing people - Duncan Smith
20th January 2012
Iain Duncan Smith talks about the planned capping of benefits. Read more...
Self Assessment - Deadline Approaching
20th January 2012
Do it online by 31st January or face a penalty. Read more...
Migrants on work-related benefits study published
20th January 2012
The government has published its first ever estimates for the proportion of foreign-born people who are claiming working-age benefits in the UK. Read more...
Child Benefit cut will go ahead
13th January 2012
Chancellor George Osborne has said that the planned Child Benefit cuts for higher rate taxpayers will go ahead, despite earlier hints that fairness would be considered. Read more...
