All has been quiet on the UK tax consultation front for the last few months. But that will change in the coming months. Since the Summer Budget there have been several consultations of interest opened.

Tackling offshore evasion

Response date: 8 October 2015

Announcing four new consultations in this area, HMRC is inviting comments on a package of civil and criminal options to tackle offshore evaders and the enablers of offshore tax evasion.

The four consultations are:

Strengthening civil deterrents for offshore evaders

This consultation seeks views on the options to further strengthen civil deterrents for tax evaders.

Civil sanctions for enablers of offshore evasion

This consultation seeks views on the design of civil sanctions to tackle enablers of offshore evasion.

A new corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent the facilitation of evasion

The government announced its intention to introduce a new corporate criminal offence for failure to prevent tax evasion. This consultation seeks views on the design and potential impacts of the offence.

A new criminal offence for offshore evaders

The government has confirmed its intention to introduce a new criminal offence for tax evaders.

These consultations give further detail on how the options will work in practice and seek feedback on their reasoning, structure and effect. HMRC would be interested to hear from tax and legal professionals, and those involved in offshore investments, including those who may be affected by the new proposals.

Income Tax: Extension of averaging period for farmers

Response date: 7 September 2015

This consultation discusses the extension of the averaging period for farmers’ profits to 5 years. This consultation explores ways in which the extension could be designed and implemented.

Employment Intermediaries and Tax Relief for Travel and Subsistence

Response date: 30 September 2015

Proposals to remove home-to-work travel and subsistence tax relief where a worker is employed through an employment intermediary and thus under the supervision, direction or control of any person are considered in this consultation. We understand a fuller consultation on travel and subsistence generally will follow later in the year.

Tax Treatment of Income from Sporting Testimonials – Proposals for Legislation

Response date: 2 September 2015

This consultation outlines proposals for legislating the scope of the tax treatment of income from sporting testimonials.

Strengthening the incentive to save: a consultation on pensions tax relief

Response date: 30 September 2015

The government is interested in views on the various options that have been suggested for how the system could be reformed. These range from a fundamental reform of the system to less radical changes (such as retaining the current system and altering the lifetime and annual allowances), as well as options in between.

Replacing Wear and Tear Allowance with Tax Relief for Replacing Furnishings in Let Residential Dwelling-Houses

Response date: 9 October 2015

This consultation seeks views on replacing the wear and tear allowance with a new relief that allows a deduction for the actual costs of replacing furnishings in let residential properties.

Review of Deeds of Variation for tax purposes: call for evidence

Response date: 7 October 2015

At Budget 2015 the government announced a review into the use of Deeds of Variation (DoV) for tax purposes. The government wants to work with stakeholders to review how DoV are used to ensure that they are not being abused.

Views are being sought about the use and effect of DoV to gain a better understanding of them and to inform the review. The call for evidence questionnaire has been designed with the aim of understanding what role the tax advantages play when a decision is made to vary a will by a DoV.