News Article - 14 May 2007
Category:

Small businesses are being pressured into completing their tax returns online by the government, it has been claimed.

According to the Forum of Private Business (FPB), the needs of smaller firms are being ignored by the government.

In addition, the organisation states that the £150 incentive to file online is unfair with regard to smaller businesses which lack the resources to train new workers.

Chief executive of the FPB, Nick Goulding, said: "This £150 becomes a gift for the already advantaged bigger firms, as if small firms did not have enough unfair competitive practices to cope with."

He added that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) should not be "trying to dictate to people the method by which they declare their tax liability".

The tax body should not try to bully firms into communicating their tax figures in HMRC's chosen way or impose extra costs upon them; rather, it should seek to do its job by checking the amounts people pay, Mr Goulding stated.

On Tuesday June 12th, HMRC will be inviting small businesses to attend an event at Brighton Racecourse where they can receive advice and guidance on tax-related issues.

Article keywords:

---

More industry news

• Think tank warns UK may have already slipped back into recession
• Growing demand for HR staff in technology and international sectors
• Boosting business growth a ‘priority’ to avoid Eurozone slowdown
• HMRC launches alternative disputes pilot scheme this week
• December employment statistics disregard gloomy recruitment predictions
• Eurozone manufacturing PMI shows modest improvement
• UK scores highly for economic governance by ratings agency
• Government launches two-year project focusing on manufacturing sector
• Burden of regulation on UK businesses ‘too high’

Back to news home page »