Finance Bill 2012 and Explanatory Notes have now been published together with a number of information notes on the following areas: the Enterprise Management Incentives scheme, Capital Gains Tax entrepreneurs’ relief and a Technical note on the Patent Box proposals.

Finance Bill 2012 reflects the various legislative changes announced not only at Budget 2012 but also proposals that have been ongoing for some time, including major reform of the UK's controlled foreign company legislation.

A useful summary of all changes which will be effective Finance Act 2012 and those that will not be enacted until next year can be found in the HM Treasury document ‘Overview of Tax Legislation and Rates’ which is available at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/fb2012_ootlar.pdf.

This document sets out the detail of each tax policy measure announced at Budget 2012 as follows:

• Chapter 1 provides detail on all tax measures to be legislated in Finance Bill 2012 or that will otherwise come into effect in 2012–13.

• This includes confirmation of previously announced policy changes and explains where changes, if any, have been made following consultation on the draft legislation. It also sets out new measures announced at Budget 2012.

• Chapter 2 provides details of proposed tax changes announced at Budget 2012 to be legislated in Finance Bill 2013, other future finance bills, programme bills or secondary legislation.

The Government also launched a number of consultations in March on areas announced in the 2012 Budget including the following:

The Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme invites comments from all charities that make claims under Gift Aid and receive small donations of cash, particularly smaller charities, and their agents, advisers, nominees and representative bodies. Comments are requested by 25 May 2012

See http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_ConsultationDocuments&propertyType=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_PROD1_031993

Simpler Income Tax for the Simplest Small Businesses is a consultation on proposals for introducing a voluntary simplified cash basis for Income Tax and simplified arrangements for certain expenses. The proposals are relevant to individuals carrying on a trade or profession as a self-employed sole trader, or in partnership with other individuals. This consultation closes on 22 June 2012.http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_ConsultationDocuments&propertyType=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_PROD1_031991

Chartered Accountant's Ireland coverage of Budget 2012 is available at:-http://charteredaccountants.newsweaver.ie/tax/tds0y3sl05f

Finance Bill 2012 is available at:-http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-12/financeno4.html and explanatory documents at:-http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/finance_bill_2012.htm