This weblog was first printed in April 2022 and up to date in January 2023.
In the event you’re a VAT-registered enterprise, you might have acquired a letter or electronic mail from HMRC, informing you that the brand new penalty system for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT is now in place.
Arriving firstly of this 12 months, the system is described as simplified penalties for late VAT submissions and funds, with a aim of creating these fairer and extra proportionate for purchasers.
And whereas penalties might sound like stick, quite than carrot, there’s loads of carrot in relation to MTD compliance. Small companies and their advisors can use MTD for VAT as a springboard to digital transformation, embracing this opportunity to undertake these instruments to drive effectivity not simply within the tax course of, however all through their companies.
Nonetheless, non-compliance can now lead to actual penalties. And with that in thoughts, we’ve damaged down the penalties for failure to satisfy MTD necessities, as a way to guarantee no nasty surprises come down the road.
What’s the MTD penalty system?
The brand new points-based MTD penalty system is coming into play from January 2023. You’ll obtain one level for each submission deadline missed, whereas penalties for not complying with MTD will rely upon how incessantly you submit.
Companies that incessantly miss deadlines will accrue factors that may translate into fines in the event that they attain a sure factors threshold. There are different methods to be penalised, too – for those who don’t have digital data or digital hyperlinks in place, for instance.
In the event you submit yearly, accruing two factors will lead to a penalty. In the event you make quarterly submissions, 4 factors lead to a penalty. This can even apply to MTD for Earnings tax Self Evaluation (ITSA). For month-to-month submissions, taxpayers who gather 5 factors will face a penalty.
In the event you attain your submission penalty threshold, you’ll incur a high-quality.
Whereas it is possible for you to to enchantment factors and penalties for MTD, you’ll want to make use of the evaluations and appeals course of, and have an inexpensive excuse for lacking a deadline.
When does the penalty system begin?
The penalty system will roll out in January 2023 for MTD for VAT, changing the existing penalty regime.
For non-VAT registered sole merchants and landlords, penalties will apply when MTD for ITSA comes into impact in April 2024.
Do MTD penalty factors expire?
MTD penalty factors expire after two years, counted from the month after you acquired the purpose.
For instance, for those who acquired the penalty level in April, the timeline would start in Could. Factors don’t expire if you’re on the penalty threshold.
How a lot are the fines?
You’ll be topic to a £200 high-quality for those who attain the penalty threshold. Then, each following failure to make a cost on time will incur a further high-quality.
How can I keep away from penalties?
You’ll have a separate factors complete for each submission obligation you’ve. That implies that for those who submit a VAT return but additionally must comply with MTD guidelines for ITSA, requiring quarterly updates, you might accrue factors for each, individually.
As for how one can comply, that half is straightforward: you comply with the principles. Guarantee you’ve suitable software program and digital hyperlinks in place, and that you just submit what it’s good to on time.
It’s necessary to do not forget that, as the brand new points-based system comes into pressure, taxpayers who’re persistently compliant however make the occasional error received’t be unduly penalised. Solely those that are responsible of constant non-compliance will face penalties and sanctions.
With that in thoughts, you possibly can neglect the stick, and concentrate on the carrot of digital transformation and elevated effectivity for your corporation.
