The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Paisley on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost of (a) collecting and (b) enforcing the soft drinks industry levy in each of the next five years; and from which of his Department’s budgets those costs will be met.
Damian Hinds
We will consult on the appropriate compliance arrangements for the levy and will plan resource allocation in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Paisley on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding he plans to allocate to (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) relevant regulatory bodies to ensure importers of soft drinks from outside the UK pay the soft drinks industry levy.
Damian Hinds
We will consult on the appropriate compliance arrangements for the levy and will plan resource allocation in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs is in discussions with Tanzania about a tax treaty between the UK and Tanzania.
Mr David Gauke
The UK is not currently involved in active treaty discussions with Tanzania.
Discussions with Malawi over a new tax treaty began some years ago, and substantive agreement has been reached at official level. The Government of Malawi have stated that they hope to be in a position to sign the new treaty in the near future.
The UK has negotiated a treaty with Lesotho and are currently seeking to arrange signature.
The UK is currently involved in negotiations with Ghana in agreeing a new tax treaty.
Nepal has approached the UK to begin negotiation of a tax treaty. We are seeking suitable dates for discussions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made in updating tax treaties between the UK and (a) Malawi, (b) Lesotho and (c) Ghana.
Mr David Gauke
The UK is not currently involved in active treaty discussions with Tanzania.
Discussions with Malawi over a new tax treaty began some years ago, and substantive agreement has been reached at official level. The Government of Malawi have stated that they hope to be in a position to sign the new treaty in the near future.
The UK has negotiated a treaty with Lesotho and are currently seeking to arrange signature.
The UK is currently involved in negotiations with Ghana in agreeing a new tax treaty.
Nepal has approached the UK to begin negotiation of a tax treaty. We are seeking suitable dates for discussions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made in negotiating a tax treaty between the UK and Nepal.
Mr David Gauke
The UK is not currently involved in active treaty discussions with Tanzania.
Discussions with Malawi over a new tax treaty began some years ago, and substantive agreement has been reached at official level. The Government of Malawi have stated that they hope to be in a position to sign the new treaty in the near future.
The UK has negotiated a treaty with Lesotho and are currently seeking to arrange signature.
The UK is currently involved in negotiations with Ghana in agreeing a new tax treaty.
Nepal has approached the UK to begin negotiation of a tax treaty. We are seeking suitable dates for discussions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers of his Department have had with officials of his Department in which withdrawal of the valuation check service by HM Revenue and Customs was discussed since May 2015; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Gauke
Tax-advantaged employee share schemes are greatly valued by both companies and employers, and the government wants to make sure that the rules surrounding these schemes are as simple and clear as possible. Budget 2016 made a number of changes to the rules for employment-related securities and options which will make these schemes fairer and easier for taxpayers to understand, and therefore encourage businesses to use them.
An HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) commissioned report conducted by Oxera considered the effect of the tax-advantaged employee share schemes on productivity. The report is available at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110203095056/http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/tax-advantaged-report2.pdf.
The government’s most recent assessment of the cost of the tax-advantaged employee share schemes to the Exchequer is provided in the table below.
|
Forecast cost of Income Tax relief (2015-16) |
Forecast cost of National Insurance relief (2015-16) |
|
|
Share Incentive Plan |
£220 million |
£165 million |
|
Save As You Earn |
£180 million |
£140 million |
|
Enterprise Management Incentives |
£70 million |
£40 million |
|
Company Share Option Plan |
£70 million |
£40 million |
HMRC has not withdrawn the valuation checking service for the tax-advantaged employee share schemes. However, HMRC has withdrawn other checks for non-tax advantaged schemes as, in the majority of cases, acceptable valuations were submitted. Therefore, the valuation service added no value and is seen as unnecessary.
The government keeps all areas of the tax system under review and as part of that in always interested in understanding the views of all interested parties.
Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Blackford on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on levels of pension saving of the introduction of the lifetime ISA.
Mr David Gauke
The Lifetime ISA is a complement to the existing pension system. It will provide savers with greater choice and flexibility in how they save for retirement.
From April 2017, people aged 18 to 40 will be able to save up to £4,000 each year into a Lifetime ISA and receive a 25% bonus from the Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 19 April 2016 to Question 33646, what conditions of access have been placed by (a) Jersey and (b) the Cayman Islands on their registers of beneficial ownership.
Harriett Baldwin
I refer the hon. Member to the text of the arrangements concluded between the UK and the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, and to the Oral Statement given by the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) on 11 April 2016, Official Report, column 23.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/beneficial-ownership-uk-overseas-territories-and-crown-dependencies
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2016-04-11/debates/1604111000001/PanamaPapers#contribution-1604116000104
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times the General Anti-Abuse Rule Advisory Panel met in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015 and (d) 2016 to date.
Mr David Gauke
The General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR) was introduced in July 2013, and only applies to abusive tax arrangements entered into from this date.
This means that it will first apply to income tax returns for the tax year ending 5 April 2014, which must have been filed with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) by 31 January 2015.
For cases to be tackled by the GAAR, HMRC must first enquire into tax returns once they are received, and gather all relevant facts. It is therefore still early in the process of litigation action for cases to be tackled by the GAAR.
The GAAR Advisory Panel is an external body separate to HMRC. Their independent role means that they do not report the number of meetings held to HMRC.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax avoidance cases the General Anti-Abuse Rule Advisory Panel made decisions on in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015 and (d) 2016 to date.
Mr David Gauke
The General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR) was introduced in July 2013, and only applies to abusive tax arrangements entered into from this date.
This means that it will first apply to income tax returns for the tax year ending 5 April 2014, which must have been filed with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) by 31 January 2015.
For cases to be tackled by the GAAR, HMRC must first enquire into tax returns once they are received, and gather all relevant facts. It is therefore still early in the process of litigation action for cases to be tackled by the GAAR.
The GAAR Advisory Panel is an external body separate to HMRC. Their independent role means that they do not report the number of meetings held to HMRC.