Government caps business energy bills

Wholesale energy prices for businesses will be capped at ‘less than half’ of the anticipated winter levels under the government’s support package. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme offers discounts for all firms for six months from 1 October. Hospitals, schools and other settings such as community halls and churches will also get help. Under the scheme, revealed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industry (BEIS), wholesale prices are expected to be fixed for all non-domestic energy customers at £211…

HMRC is reminding businesses that they will no longer be able to use their existing Value Added Tax (VAT) online account to submit VAT returns from 1 November. By law, all VAT-registered businesses must now sign up to Making Tax Digital (MTD) and use compatible software to keep their VAT records and file their returns. According to HMRC, more than 1.8 million businesses are already using the MTD for VAT service. Over 19 million returns have been successfully submitted through…

Action Fraud has warned that criminals are using the ongoing cost-of-living crisis to target the public with energy rebate scams. Action Fraud revealed that more than 1,500 reports have been filed with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) regarding scam emails purporting to be from energy regulator Ofgem, offering customers energy rebates. In order to protect themselves from scams, Action Fraud has advised individuals to contact an organisation directly if they have doubts about an email; refrain from using numbers…

HMRC will raise interest rates on tax debt from 11 October following the 0.5% increase in the base rate. This means that the late payment interest rate will increase to 4.75% from 11 October 2022. The rate last increased to 4.25% on 23 August. This is the highest rate since the height of the financial crisis in January 2009. Late payment interest is payable on late tax bills covering income tax, national insurance contributions (NICs), capital gains tax (CGT), Stamp…

HMRC has published more details on how Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT) will work for buy-to-let landlords and sole traders with qualifying income over £10,000. The new income tax framework for MTD for IT will be mandatory from 6 April 2024. HMRC is now asking for users to sign up for the test phase. The new system will replace self assessment tax returns for anyone who qualifies for MTD for IT as they will have to…

Average household energy bills will rise to £3,549 in October following the decision of energy regulator Ofgem to raise the price cap. The record 80% hike will see a typical default tariff customer paying an extra £1,578. The rise follows a 54% increase in April, which saw average bills surge to £1,971 a year. Ofgem Chief Executive, Jonathan Brearley, said: ‘We know the massive impact this price cap increase will have on households across Britain and the difficult decisions consumers…

Economic analysts have warned that the rate of inflation could keep rising in 2023 as a result of rising energy prices. Think tank the Resolution Foundation stated that inflation could go above 15%, whilst investment bank Citi said that it is ‘entering the stratosphere’ and could reach 18.6%. Predictions outlined by the Bank of England (BoE) have suggested that inflation could rise to over 13% later this year. Commenting on the matter, James Smith, Research Director at the Resolution Foundation,…

Trade body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has stated that the Energy Profits Levy, also known as the ‘windfall tax’, on UK energy firms should be scrapped by 2025 or it could risk having a ‘detrimental impact’ on investment in the sector. OEUK said that a new round of windfall taxes would ‘leave the UK facing decades of energy insecurity’ and only serve to ‘heap further costs on consumers’. The trade body warned that imposing new taxes would ‘make the UK…

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the government to increase the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates ‘immediately’ in order to guarantee decent living standards for families. Research carried out by the TUC found that UK poverty levels are ‘likely to get worse’ if ministers continue to hold down pay. Additional financial support for families announced by the Treasury this year will be offset by cuts to real-terms pay and other living costs, the business group added. The TUC…

New company car advisory fuel rates have been published and took effect from 1 September 2022. The guidance states: ‘you can use the previous rates for up to one month from the date the new rates apply’. The rates only apply to employees using a company car. The advisory fuel rates for journeys undertaken on or after 1 September 2022 are: Engine size Petrol 1400cc or less 15p 1401cc – 2000cc 18p Over 2000cc 27p Engine size LPG 1400cc or less…