Since 6 April 2016, a tax exemption for “trivial” benefits provided to employees has been made available to employers. The legislation allows an employer to provide a benefit costing £50 or less to an employee without triggering a tax or National Insurance charge, whilst also removing the need to report.
For any companies who previously relied on an EU directive in relation to Withholding Tax (“WHT”), there will be a need to consider the impact between the UK and other EU entities. The terms of the relevant Double Tax Treaty (“DTT”) should be reviewed to determine if there is any reduction, or possibly even elimination, of the withholding tax obligation. There may also be a requirement to make a new or amended claim to the relevant tax authority too.
The Government’s announcement on their plan to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars in the UK from as early as 2030 has left many businesses concerned about the cashflow impact of replacing business vehicles.
The Wealth Tax Commission have now published their final report which considers whether a UK Wealth Tax should be introduced, and if so, how this could be applied. Although the Chancellor was quoted in July 2020 as dismissing the introduction of a Wealth Tax, the deficit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to increase and six months on the country is back in a state of lockdown with much of the economy closed for business. The Commission have estimated that a one off Wealth Tax could raise one-quarter of a trillion pounds.
Following the UK’s exit from the EU, both parties have reached an agreement regarding the details of the National Insurance rules to be applied between the EU states and the UK from 1 January 2021. This agreement largely replicates the current EU social security coordination regulations and aims to ensure workers who move between the UK and the EU are required to only pay into one country’s social security scheme at a time, usually the country where the work takes place. There are special provisions for multi-state and detached workers, with current rules continuing to apply to those protected by the Withdrawal Agreement.
*Updated 26 January 2021*
