HMRC makes Government Gateway easier to access
It has been reported that some taxpayers have been struggling to access their tax accounts on Government Gateway. How has HMRC now made this easier to do?
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Accounting for VAT if there is no cash payment
Your business has submitted repayment returns for the last two quarters and you are concerned that you might have underpaid output tax on some supplies where no money has changed hands. Are your concerns justified?
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Treatment of distributions under review
The government has launched a consultation on modernising the tax treatment of distributions and repayments of capital by companies. The proposals could affect the distinction between dividends taxed as income and capital payments subject to CGT. What changes are being considered?
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Tax relief on equipment you haven’t paid for (yet)
The timing of tax relief for purchases of equipment isn’t straightforward when payments are delayed or goods are purchased through hire purchase (HP) agreements. How can you use these rules to your advantage and get tax relief before you’ve paid the final invoice?
Personal and business tax accounts require a Government Gateway login to access. However, some taxpayers have been struggling to set up an account due to the strict ID requirements. Naturally, the requirement to verify the identity of the individual is crucial due to the sensitive nature of the information contained in the accounts, but using Verify (the government’s former digital sign in service) was removed in April 2022, reducing the number of options available.
HMRC has responded by permitting GB driving licences to be used as one of the two ID options. Taxpayers can now choose any two items from the following:
- tax credit claim details
- P60 or most recent payslips
- UK passport details
- information held on a credit file (such as loans, credit cards or mortgages)
- a self assessment tax return (in the last three years)
- GB driving licence (DVLA-issued) or NI driving licence (DVA-issued)





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