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HMRC has called on construction businesses to submit their VAT returns digitally, after a survey revealed that 68% of decision makers in the sector have lost paper receipts.
The poll run by YouGov for HMRC also found that 92% of senior decision makers personally bank online, almost two-thirds (62%) support all tax accounts being digitalised and one in four (25%) working in a small business are spending over 10 hours a week on administrative tasks.
HMRC called on businesses to test its new Making Tax Digital (MTD) service for submitting VAT returns.
Most businesses above the VAT threshold will need to keep their records digitally and submit their VAT return using compatible software when MTD is introduced for periods starting on or after 1 April 2019.
In practice, the vast majority of businesses won’t need to send their first MTD return until August at the earliest, but if they aren’t already keeping their records digitally they will need to start doing so, HMRC warned.
Mel Stride, financial secretary to the Treasury, said: “Anything that helps businesses to manage their tax more easily so they can focus on what they do best – innovating, expanding, and creating jobs and profits – is what every modern business needs. In a world where customers and suppliers are already banking, paying bills and shopping online, it makes sense for HMRC and businesses to bring tax affairs fully into the 21st century.
“Going digital with business records and taxes is the next step to businesses getting more control over their business and their finances.”
Theresa Middleton, director of the Making Tax Digital for Business programme, said: “There is no change to ‘what’ information is provided through MTD, just ‘how’ it is recorded, generated and provided. We want to help businesses be ready for the changes which kick in for VAT periods which start on or after 1 April. We’ll have written to every business required to join this year by the end of February, but even back in December over 80% of them were aware of the changes they need to make and the vast majority of those are already preparing. More than 16,500 businesses have already signed up to do their VAT digitally – why don’t you join them?”
Webinars and videos for Making Tax Digital are available Making Tax Digital for Business – stakeholder communications pack
