News

Jan 26, 2021 - HMRC waives penalty for late filing of self-assessments

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced that it will waive fines for self-assessments that miss the 31 January deadline, as long as they are filed online by 28 February.

Typically, not meeting the deadline would result in an automatic £100 penalty.                                                                                                                       

The tax agency said more than 8.9 million customers have already filed their tax returns.

However, taxpayers are still required to pay their tax bills by 31 January.

Treasury Committee chairman and Conservative MP for Central Devo...

Jan 26, 2021 - Care workers at risk of missing out on EU settled status

Care workers eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme seem unaware of the need to apply, a new report has found.

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) surveyed 290 social care workers and found that as many as one in three had never heard of the Settlement Scheme, which allows EU citizens and their family members who apply before 30 June 2021 to remain in the UK despite Brexit.

Survey responses were collected between January and March 2020, mostly from eastern Europeans. The results showed that “1 in 7 care workers surveyed online either did not know or were not sure what the EUS...

Jan 25, 2021 - UK firms told to set up in EU to avoid trade disruption

UK firms that export to the EU say they are being encouraged by the government to set up subsidiaries in the bloc to avoid disruption under new trade rules.

Firms have been hit by extra charges, taxes and paperwork, leading some to stop exporting to the EU altogether.

But several say they have been told that setting up hubs in Europe would minimise the disruption, even if it means moving investment out of the UK.

The Department for International Trade said it was "not government policy".

"The Cabinet Office have issued clear guidance, available at www.gov.uk/transition, and we encourage all bu...

Jan 22, 2021 - When can an immigration decision involving human rights be appealed?

The distinction between a “claim” and an “application” was at the heart of the Upper Tribunal’s recent decision in Yerokun (Refusal of claim; Mujahid) Nigeria [2020] UKUT 377 (IAC).

Mr Yerokun made an application for permission to remain in the UK based on his human right to private and family life. This application was refused, but he was granted leave “outside the Immigration Rules” for a period of six months. Since his human rights application for a longer stay had been refused, he appealed. In 2018, the First-tier Tribunal agreed that he had a right of appeal against the refusal and procee...

Jan 22, 2021 - UK borrowing hits highest December level on record

UK government borrowing hit £34.1bn last month, the highest December figure on record, as the cost of pandemic support weighed on the economy.

It was also the third-highest borrowing figure in any month since records began in 1993, the Office for National Statistics said.

The figures underline Chancellor Rishi Sunak's problems as he prepares his March Budget.

Separately, a survey suggested activity at UK firms fell sharply this month.

The closely-watched Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) from IHS Markit/CIPS found a "steep slump in business activity" during in January as lockdown measures conti...

Jan 21, 2021 - Minor offence can trigger deportation, human rights court confirms

The European Court of Human Rights has confirmed that the final offence committed by someone before deportation action is taken against them does not need to be particularly significant if they have a history of serious offending. In Munir Johanna v Denmark (application no. 56803/18) and Khan v Denmark (application no. 26957/19) the court has confirmed the earlier decision of Miah v the United Kingdom (application no. 53080/07).

Danish deportation law is quite different from the UK system. The applicants in these cases were issued with suspended deportation orders by the Danish criminal courts...

Jan 18, 2021 - Covid: Airport support scheme to open in England

The government has announced plans for a financial support scheme aimed at airports in England.

The scheme is expected to open this month in response to new travel curbs introduced to slow the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The suspension of the travel corridors at 4am on Monday 18 January means arrivals who have departed from or transited through any country outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man will be required to self-isolate for 10 days.

Passengers will need to show proof of a negative coronavirus (Covid-19) test to travel to England. The emergency measures at the b...

Jan 15, 2021 - Post-Brexit customs systems not fit for purpose, say meat exporters

UK meat exporters have claimed post-Brexit customs systems are "not fit for purpose", with goods delayed for hours, sometimes days, at the border.

The British Meat Processor Association said even experienced exporters were struggling with the system.

It said meat exports to the EU were 25% of normal levels for this time of year.

Some meat importers were starting to look at alternative suppliers in Spain and Ireland.

Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processor Association, said: "Fundamentally, this is not a system that was designed for a 24/7, just-in-time supply chain. The expor...

Jan 15, 2021 - UK economy shrank by 2.6% in November

The UK economy shrank by 2.6% in November as fresh lockdown restrictions in England reduced economic activity, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it meant gross domestic product was 8.5% below its pre-pandemic peak.

This decline means the UK’s six-month run of growth since the first lockdown ended has now halted, and could be the first step towards a double-dip recession.

The services sector was hit hard, although some manufacturing and construction activity improved.

The closure of businesses such as pubs, hairdressers and many shops meant the sector contract...

Jan 15, 2021 - Insurance firms must pay many small firms for Covid lockdown losses

Tens of thousands of small businesses are set to receive insurance payouts covering losses in the first national lockdown, following a court ruling. The Supreme Court ruled that insurers must pay out for coronavirus-related losses.

In the lockdown of last spring, many firms took out business interruption insurance policies to cover them for unexpected events that caused them to stop trading. But many insurers refused to pay, arguing only the most specialist policies had cover for such unprecedented restrictions.

It was agreed that a selection of policy wordings should be tested in court, setti...

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