R&D spending hits £47.5bn in 2019/20

Businesses claimed an estimated £7.4 billion in R&D tax relief in the 2019/20 tax year, an increase of 19% from the previous year, Government data shows. This corresponded to £47.5bn of R&D expenditure from those businesses, 15% higher than last year. The...

Calls resurface to abolish business rates

The Labour party plans to scrap business rates and hike the rate of the new digital services tax to build a level playing field between high street shops and online stores, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves told delegates at the Labour conference on 27 September 2021....

Business rates threaten 4 out of 5 retailers with closure

A survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) suggests business rates are having a "devastating impact" on the retail sector, with 83% of retailers saying they are likely to close their store unless rates are reduced. In its survey of "leading retailers", the BRC...

Call to scrap proposed basis period reform

Going ahead with proposals to change basis periods ahead of the expansion of Making Tax Digital would be a "backwards step" for affected businesses, warns the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Responding to HMRC's consultation proposals...

Fresh concerns over capital gains tax rise

Capital gains tax could be about to rise as Chancellor Rishi Sunak seeks to raise funds and decrease Government borrowing, according to a report in the Express. Speculation of this originally emerged after the publication of a report by the Office for Tax...