Making Tax Digital – How will you prepare?
On the 13 July 2017, HM Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs published its second Finance Bill of 2017, which includes changes to the proposed Making Tax Digital initiative.
The government has said it believes that introducing a new digital tax system is still the right direction to move in. However, it has made amendments to the businesses this impacts and the timescales for change. The amendments to Making Tax Digital now mean:
• Only VAT registered businesses will need to keep digital records and only for VAT purposes.
• They will only need to do so from April 2019.
• Businesses will not be asked to keep digital records or update HMRC quarterly for other taxes until at least April 2020 (the original dates had implementation from April 2019).
What does that mean for businesses?
If you are VAT registered then you will need to move to digital record keeping (i.e. use software to record all your VAT invoices and receipts). If you are not VAT registered then digital record keeping is optional. However, these business owners can gain updated income tax estimates whenever they want, which will help with cash flow forecasting.
If you are VAT registered and do not yet use software to record your VAT information (invoices to customers and from suppliers) you need to start planning for MTD. The new implementation date is April 2019. More information can be found on GOV.UK.
Making Tax Digital support from Maximity and Sage.
Here at Maximity, we sell, install, configure, train (all levels) and support Sage solutions. Call us on 01827 312278 for advice on what solution might be best for you and your business. We are committed to helping small businesses adapt their technology to ensure that the transition to the new digital tax system is a smooth one. We will support our customers every step of the way and continue to help clarify exactly what Making Tax Digital means for you and your business.
