HM Treasury launched a consultation document on 21st July entitled; ‘Tax relief on travel expenses and overarching contracts’, the consultation period ended on 13th October. To date Crystal Umbrella have been actively working with HMRC, Treasury and Parliament to attempt to answer all the questions raised within the document and to ensure that our Industry’s views are fully understood and concerns voiced.
As a founder member of the Association of Employment Management companies (AEMC), Crystal Umbrella plus other members of the AEMC held an initial meeting with the Treasury to establish their reasoning behind the consultation document and what they believe the outcome needs to be and why. Subsequently we were offered a meeting at Downing Street with the one of the special advisers to establish further information regarding the expenses consultation and received invitations to attend both the Labour Party & Conservative Party conferences. Time was taken to speak with various MP’s and others to raise the profile of the consultation and its consequences.
Crystal Umbrella have also attended and made comment and contribution at both Lawspeed & KPMG consultation reference meetings who have also submitted representations. We feel that both Lawspeed and KPMG have represented the issues clearly and clarified the details within documents extending over 42 pages.
Crystal Umbrella has also submitted its own independent representation outlining our findings from the meetings with AEMC, HMRC, Treasury and Downing Street. This document was not intended to deal with the detailed legal issues as these were clearly identified within the Lawspeed submission; however we do feel that we have identified and laid out the fears of our contractors and industry alike. As part of our submission we have also written to over 90 MPs, Special advisers, the Chancellor and the Prime Minister plus members of the Treasury Select Committee in an attempt to raise the profile of this consultation process and to ensure it gets a fair hearing.
Crystal Umbrella believe it has always been the intention of the Treasury to announce the detail of the expenses consultation within the pre budget speech due early November, with a view to releasing potential changes in April 09. We are hopeful after reading the various submissions that the Treasury will listen and common sense will prevail during this time of economic uncertainty, and thereby enable the AEMC and its members to work with HMRC and Treasury to sensibly police the industry. We are not idealistic but are truly trying to demonstrate to HMRC that as an industry we are listening and that collectively we want to be compliant in a way that suits and benefits all parties. Our aim is to benchmark standards and rules so that all Umbrella companies are forced into compliancy so contractors and agencies alike know which ones are safe to use.
All submissions made to date that we have read, all identify the same thing; that changing legislation is not the way to solve the problem. We are hopeful that any action will be deferred to enable the industry to coalesce and start the process of self governing within HMRC guidelines. We are also hopeful that HMRC will agree a standard for applying for dispensations to help create a level playing field which still does not yet exist.
Contact Details:
Colin Howell
Web Site: http://www.crystalumbrella.com
Email:[email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 800 848 8888
Address:
Street: Bluecoats House, Bluecoats Avenue,Ware Road
City: Hertford
Country: England
Zip Code: SG14 1PB
