Budget
2008
Miscellaneous issues
Charities gift aid
From
2008/09 to 2010/11, charities will be able
to claim a 2% transitional relief for gift
aid donations. The effect will be to maintain
the payment made to them at 22% of the gross
gift, despite the reduction in basic rate
tax to 20%.
Don’t
Forget
Review your will. Your will could
still be used to save significant amounts
of inheritance tax. Think about putting in
place Lasting Powers of Attorney; it could
save a lot of heartache.
Waivers of interest and surcharges –
national disasters
HMRC
will be able to waive interest and surcharges
on taxes in the context of events designated
as national disasters. The first to benefit
will be taxpayers who were unable to pay taxes
on time as a result of the severe floods of
June and July 2007.
Tribunal reform – appeals
The
government will have the power to make changes
under secondary legislation to the operation
of appeals against HMRC decisions. The secondary
legislation is planned to take effect from
April 2009 alongside other tribunal reforms.
Customs powers
Customs
officers will have the power to open and unpack
containers. At present, they have to require
the proprietor of the goods to do this. The
legislation will also make clear that HMRC’s
powers of examination extend to searching
containers and baggage. The changes will take
effect from Royal Assent.
Single-use carrier bags
The
government has called on retailers to take
voluntary action to encourage the move away
from single-use carrier bags. The Climate
Change Bill will legislate so that, if there
is not enough progress on a voluntary basis
by the end of the year, the government can
exercise powers early in 2009 to impose a
charge on these bags.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
