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The rate of income tax deductible at source from most savings income, including bank and building society interest, remains 20% for the year ending 5 April 2005. For taxpayers liable at 22% no further tax is payable. Taxpayers liable at 40% pay the difference between 40% and 20%.
From April 2004, a new four page self assessment tax return is to be introduced. The intention is to reduce the compliance burden for taxpayers with simple affairs including:
employees (other than company directors);
small businesses with a turnover of less than £15,000;
pensioners receiving the state pension, occupational pensions or retirement annuities.
Relief for investors in EIS and VCT has changed as follows:
EIS
investment limits increased for individuals from £150,000 to £200,000 on or after 6 April 2004;
with effect from 17 March 2004, investors who have loans repaid to them by companies will not be precluded from obtaining tax relief for subsequent investments in shares in the companies concerned, subject to certain conditions.
VCT
income tax relief increased from 20% to 40% for tax years 2004/05 and 2005/06;
capital gains tax deferral relief not available for VCT shares issued on or after 6 April 2004;
investment limits increased for individuals from £100,000 to £200,000 on or after 6 April 2004.
For shares and securities issued on or after 17 March 2004, qualifying subsidiaries of companies qualifying for EIS, VCT, corporate venturing scheme and venture capital loss relief will only need to be 51% subsidiaries (rather than 75% as before that date). Subsidiaries whose activities benefit from the EIS money or are property management companies will need to be direct 90% subsidiaries of the EIS company.
From 6 April 2004, income distributions from shares in close companies jointly owned by a married couple will be taxed on the husband and wife according to actual ownership rather than in equal shares.
The Government will be consulting on how to make the accrued income scheme simpler.
A £100 payment is to be made to pensioner households with someone aged 70 or over to help with their council tax bills.
From 6 April 2004, landlords subject to income tax on rental income will be able to claim a deduction of up to £1,500 for the costs of installing loft or cavity wall insulation in a dwelling house which they let.
From 1 October 2004, immediate needs annuities payments made by an insurance company for the provision of an individual's longer-term care will be exempt from tax.
From 6 April 2004, the definition of `offshore installation' will be redefined so that FED remains available only to those parts of the shipping sector for which it is intended.
From 6 April 2005, employers can pay employees a childcare payment of up to £50 per week free of tax and national insurance.
This is a new benefit and relaxes the previous conditions which needed to be met to qualify for exemption. To benefit from the exemption, the childcare benefit must be made available to all employees. Employers must contract with or provide childcare vouchers to pay an approved child carer.
A number of changes have been announced.
From 6 April 2005, a nil charge will apply to employees who take their van home and are not allowed other private use. Where private use is unrestricted, the benefit in kind charge will be £500 (£350 for older vans). From 6 April 2007, the discount for older vans will be removed and the scale charge for unrestricted private use will increase to £3,000 (and if private fuel is provided by an employer an additional fuel charge of £500 will apply).
CO2 emissions that qualify for the minimum percentage tax charge for a petrol car (15%) will be frozen at 140 grams per kilometre for 2006/07.
The fuel benefit tax charge that applies if employees receive free fuel for the company car for their private use will be frozen for 2004/05 (this applies the same percentage as the company car charge against a set figure, which will remain at £14,400).
From 6 April 2004, emergency service workers, such as fire and ambulance personnel, will not face a tax or NIC charge where there is an operational requirement for the emergency vehicles to be taken home.
Certain changes are to be made to the legislation to correct or clarify provisions. The changes apply from various dates. More substantial changes include reinstating certain rules affecting individuals subject to the payment on account system, where the position is being clarified.
Amendments are being made to the rules determining the expenditure on staffing costs which qualify for research and development tax credits and the remediation of contaminated land. Both sets of rules are being amended so that benefits in kind (as an element of employee-related expenditure) no longer qualify for relief.
From 6 April 2004, the exemption for subsidised work place meals has been amended to reinstate the provision which says that a meals subsidy needs to be offered to all employees for the exemption to apply.
Finally a correction has been made to the legislation which relates to relief for employer contributions to non-approved pension schemes. The current law erroneously excludes the situation in which, although there were earnings, no earnings were chargeable under any of the cases of Schedule E.
The Government is continuing to review the residence and domicile rules as they affect the taxation of individuals and will publish a further consultation paper setting out possible approaches to reform.