News

Latest updates and stories from Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce and its Members

One month left to join VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme

Businesses that deferred VAT payments last year have one month left to join online to pay in monthly instalments under the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has said.

The online portal for the new payment scheme closes on 21 June 2021.

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HMRC invites self-employed to get ready to make their claims

This week, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will start contacting around three and a half million customers who may be eligible for the government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) to explain the application process and help them get ready to make a claim. 

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A decade of bizarre excuses and expense claims

Every year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) receives some imaginative excuses and expense claims following the 31 January Self Assessment deadline. 

Read More

BCC: Small businesses don’t see UK tax system as level playing field

Business believes that the UK tax system is fundamentally unfair and want more support to stay compliant, according to new research released today by the British Chambers of Commerce.
Read More

10 steps to setting up as self-employed

Thinking of setting up your own business or considering self-employment?

Follow HM Revenue and Customs’ simple, 10-step guide to setting up as a sole trader.

Read More

BCC: Cut tax complexity and ‘red tape’ holding back businesses

The vast majority of UK businesses believe the cost of complying with the UK tax system has escalated over recent years, according to new research released today by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in partnership with Avalara.

Read More

BCC: business alarm on potential Brexit VAT bombshell

Commenting on the passage of amendments to the Customs Bill, which commit the government to fully separating the UK from the EU VAT regime, Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

Read More

Latest acquisition sees further growth of specialist media and entertainment arm for top 40 UK accountancy practice

Streets Chartered Accountants, a leading Top 40 accountancy practice, is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of London and Brighton based entertainment specialist accountancy firm

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BCC to Prime Minister: Time to 'fix the fundamentals' for UK growth

Chamber business leaders from across the United Kingdom have today written to the Prime Minister calling for a renewed focus on tackling the barriers to growth and investment in the United Kingdom - and a radical plan for action.

Read More

Expenses and excuses: Aliens, vertigo, and a Glasgow nightclub listed

Every year, following the 31 January Self Assessment (SA) deadline, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) receives a number of imaginative and intriguing excuses for not completing tax returns on time. Each year also sees some widely optimistic expense claims. Recent excuses include:

Read More

BCC: Tackle broken business rates system, Chancellor

Ahead of the Budget on November 22, the British Chambers of Commerce is urging the Chancellor to provide respite for businesses in every corner of the country by freezing business rates for the next two years.

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BCC Budget Submission

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget on November 22, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the government to take immediate action to halt the expected 3.9% increase in business rates valuations next year, as part of a bold Budget that seeks to boost the UK’s productivity.

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Manufacturing Survey Report Launch

MHA MacIntyre Hudson and Lloyds Bank Plc have launched their much anticipated Manufacturing Survey Report for 2017/18. Our survey highlights that, 65% of respondents have achieved revenue growth this last year, compared with 50% the year before.

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New help for small businesses launched

A new online tax forum and dedicated webchat service for small businesses and the self-employed is being launched today by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). A new online tax forum and dedicated webchat service for small businesses and the self-employed is being launched today by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Read More

Chambers of Commerce: Put practicality at the heart of Brexit negotiations

As the Chamber Network gathers in Westminster for the BCC Annual Conference, the British Chambers of Commerce has today  published a business blueprint for the UK government ahead of the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

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BCC gives full reaction to Chancellor’s Autumn Statement

Giving his full reaction to the Autumn Statement, Adam Marshall, BCC Director General, said:

“Philip Hammond has delivered a responsible, solid and focused package that will reassure both business and markets.

Read More

BUDGET 2015: Chancellor pulls off tough balancing act again

Commenting on Budget 2015, delivered today by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

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Poor records lands company boss with criminal record

A director who failed to keep proper business records has been convicted of breaches of the money laundering regulations (MLR) involving an estimated £170,000, in the first prosecution of its kind by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Read More

Deadline day for paper tax returns

There are just days left to send your 2012/13 paper tax return to HM Revenue Customs (HMRC), if you want to beat the 31 October deadline and avoid a penalty.

Read More

BCC: Tories, be ambitious for UK

As the Conservative Party Conference gets underway in Manchester, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is today (Monday) issuing a clear message to the Prime Minister and his colleagues to ‘get moving’ on the delivery of pro-growth policies that will benefit the nation as a whole.

Read More

BCC: Don't rob Peter to pay Paul

Commenting ahead of the speech by the leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, John Longworth, Director General at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

Data payment crackdown

A new crackdown on tax evasion will make information on all credit and debit card payments to UK businesses available to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for the first time.

Read More

Real Time PAYE

More than 1.4 million employer PAYE schemes are now reporting to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in real time since the launch of new tax reporting requirements in April.

Read More

HMRC chases tax cheats

Tax cheats who become insolvent to dodge their companies’ tax obligations face up to five years’ scrutiny from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Read More

BCC: Budget 2013

Commenting on the Chancellor’s Budget speech, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

Online tax week

For the first time businesses are being offered interactive support with their tax affairs by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

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Tax return deadline just around the corner

If you still haven’t sent in your 2011-12 Self Assessment tax return, you’ve got just a few days left to do so and avoid a penalty.

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Seeking Chamber members to attend focus group on new auto-enrolment rules.

JobCentre Plus in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire are looking for five Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce members to take part in a 90 minute breakfast event in St Albans on auto-enrolment of pensions.

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HMRC: October reminder for paper tax returns

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reminding anyone sending their 2011/12 tax return on paper that they need to do so by the 31 October deadline, if they want to avoid a penalty.

Paper tax returns received on or after 1 November will result in a £100 penalty – even if there is no tax to pay or the tax due is paid on time.

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HMRC: PAYE Real Time Information – six months to go

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is kicking off its Real Time Information (RTI) awareness campaign this month. This includes writing to employers running the 278,767 Pay As You Earn (PAYE) schemes in the East of England.

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One month left to join VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme

Businesses that deferred VAT payments last year have one month left to join online to pay in monthly instalments under the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has said.

The online portal for the new payment scheme closes on 21 June 2021.

Read More

HMRC invites self-employed to get ready to make their claims

This week, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will start contacting around three and a half million customers who may be eligible for the government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) to explain the application process and help them get ready to make a claim. 

Read More

A decade of bizarre excuses and expense claims

Every year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) receives some imaginative excuses and expense claims following the 31 January Self Assessment deadline. 

Read More

BCC: Small businesses don’t see UK tax system as level playing field

Business believes that the UK tax system is fundamentally unfair and want more support to stay compliant, according to new research released today by the British Chambers of Commerce.
Read More

10 steps to setting up as self-employed

Thinking of setting up your own business or considering self-employment?

Follow HM Revenue and Customs’ simple, 10-step guide to setting up as a sole trader.

Read More

BCC: Cut tax complexity and ‘red tape’ holding back businesses

The vast majority of UK businesses believe the cost of complying with the UK tax system has escalated over recent years, according to new research released today by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in partnership with Avalara.

Read More

BCC: business alarm on potential Brexit VAT bombshell

Commenting on the passage of amendments to the Customs Bill, which commit the government to fully separating the UK from the EU VAT regime, Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

Read More

Latest acquisition sees further growth of specialist media and entertainment arm for top 40 UK accountancy practice

Streets Chartered Accountants, a leading Top 40 accountancy practice, is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of London and Brighton based entertainment specialist accountancy firm

Read More

BCC to Prime Minister: Time to 'fix the fundamentals' for UK growth

Chamber business leaders from across the United Kingdom have today written to the Prime Minister calling for a renewed focus on tackling the barriers to growth and investment in the United Kingdom - and a radical plan for action.

Read More

Expenses and excuses: Aliens, vertigo, and a Glasgow nightclub listed

Every year, following the 31 January Self Assessment (SA) deadline, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) receives a number of imaginative and intriguing excuses for not completing tax returns on time. Each year also sees some widely optimistic expense claims. Recent excuses include:

Read More

New help for small businesses launched

A new online tax forum and dedicated webchat service for small businesses and the self-employed is being launched today by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). A new online tax forum and dedicated webchat service for small businesses and the self-employed is being launched today by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Read More

Chambers of Commerce: Put practicality at the heart of Brexit negotiations

As the Chamber Network gathers in Westminster for the BCC Annual Conference, the British Chambers of Commerce has today  published a business blueprint for the UK government ahead of the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

Read More

BCC gives full reaction to Chancellor’s Autumn Statement

Giving his full reaction to the Autumn Statement, Adam Marshall, BCC Director General, said:

“Philip Hammond has delivered a responsible, solid and focused package that will reassure both business and markets.

Read More

BUDGET 2015: Chancellor pulls off tough balancing act again

Commenting on Budget 2015, delivered today by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

Poor records lands company boss with criminal record

A director who failed to keep proper business records has been convicted of breaches of the money laundering regulations (MLR) involving an estimated £170,000, in the first prosecution of its kind by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Read More

Deadline day for paper tax returns

There are just days left to send your 2012/13 paper tax return to HM Revenue Customs (HMRC), if you want to beat the 31 October deadline and avoid a penalty.

Read More

BCC: Tories, be ambitious for UK

As the Conservative Party Conference gets underway in Manchester, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is today (Monday) issuing a clear message to the Prime Minister and his colleagues to ‘get moving’ on the delivery of pro-growth policies that will benefit the nation as a whole.

Read More

BCC: Don't rob Peter to pay Paul

Commenting ahead of the speech by the leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, John Longworth, Director General at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

Data payment crackdown

A new crackdown on tax evasion will make information on all credit and debit card payments to UK businesses available to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for the first time.

Read More

Real Time PAYE

More than 1.4 million employer PAYE schemes are now reporting to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in real time since the launch of new tax reporting requirements in April.

Read More

HMRC chases tax cheats

Tax cheats who become insolvent to dodge their companies’ tax obligations face up to five years’ scrutiny from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Read More

BCC: Budget 2013

Commenting on the Chancellor’s Budget speech, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

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