Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 4th September 2014
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Amendment to regulations for filing VAT returns
coins
Following a tribunal ruling, changes have been made to regulations for filing VAT returns.
Changes made following tribunal ruling over online filing

HM Revenue & Customs have confirmed a change to regulations for the filing of VAT returns after a tribunal ruled that UK VAT law failed to take into account the difficulties some individuals have in filing returns online.

From April 2012 the vast majority of businesses were legally mandated to file their VAT returns online. While many found it easy to make the transition from paper filing, HMRC was contacted by a number of individuals to explain their difficulties in filing in returns online. The businesses were advised of digital assistance options to meet the legal obligation, including that they should use public libraries, the computers of friends or family, use the services of an agent or, if none of these were appropriate to use the existing filing by telephone service.

However in response to appeals against the requirement to file online, the First-tier tribunal ruled that UK VAT law failed to take account of an individual's ability to comply on account of age, disability, computer literacy and remoteness of location and, as such, was a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The judge also held that HMRC could not rely on the fact that telephone filing had been made available to certain businesses to remedy the breach as it had not been legislated for or properly publicised.

Following formal consultation Regulation 25A of VAT Regulations 1995 has been amended to enable HMRC to make a Commissioners' direction approving telephone filing as an alternative method for filing for businesses that satisfy HMRC that it is it not practicable to use the online service and to provide an exemption for businesses that satisfy HMRC that it is not reasonably practicable for them to use the online service so that such businesses can file on paper. 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

RCVS Knowledge appoints Veterinary Evidence editor-in-chief

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has welcomed Professor Peter Cockcroft as editor-in-chief for Veterinary Evidence.

A world-renowned expert in evidence-based veterinary medicine, Prof Cockcroft will lead the strategic development and editorial quality of the open-access journal. He was previously in the role from 2017-2020.

Katie Mantell, CEO of RCVS Knowledge, said: "We are excited about the extensive knowledge of evidence-based veterinary medicine and clinical veterinary research that Peter brings, and we look forward to working with him over this next phase of the journal's development." 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
CVS Group hit by cyber attack

CVS Group, which owns more than 450 veterinary practices in the UK, has been hit by a cyber attack.

In a statement, the group said the incident involved unauthorised external access to a limited number of its IT systems. As soon as the attack was discovered, the group took its IT systems temporarily offline, causing 'considerable operational disruption'.

It has warned that the security steps taken and ongoing plans to move its operational systems and IT infrastructure to the Cloud are likely to have an ongoing impact over a number of weeks.

Due to the risk that personal information was accessed, CVS has informed the Information Commissioner's Office. The company is working with third party consultants to investigate the incident.