Readers are advised that The Value Added Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 came into force on 1 July 2014. These regulations include Regulation 4 which provides for an additional category of excepted persons who are now authorised to use the paper return system. In addition the regulations allow the Commissioners for HMRC to approve a new form of electronic return system (telephone filing), the use of which will be restricted to specified authorised categories of taxpayers.

The revised legislation is in response to a consultation earlier this year which the Northern Ireland Tax Committee responded to. That response saw a positive outcome, as previously reported in Chartered Accountants Tax News.