Happy New Tax Year!

Like so many of the regulations that govern our lives, the legislative processes underpinning UK tax rules are anachronisms – things that belong to the past.

In this article we take a look at some of the obscurities of the UK tax system which makes it one of the largest and most complex in the world.

For example, the present tax year ends on 5th April 2022. The reason that our tax year ends on this obscure date started in 1582 when Pope Gregory ordered a change of calendar from the version named after Julius Caesar – the Julian calendar.

The British did not make this change in 1582, which the rest of Europe had adopted, and which meant that by 1752 GB was out of sync with Europe by 11 days.

Until 1752, the tax year in GB started on 25th March. To protect its revenue when the change to align with Europe was made, the Treasury extended the tax year to 4th April, the following tax year starting on the 5th April.

This was the position until a mis-match in leap years occurred in 1800 when the Treasury moved the tax year one more day to end 5th April, the current tax year end date.

Is UK Tax legislation the most complex in the world?

Apart from these quirks, the UK tax code is also one of the largest and complex in global terms. With over 23,000 pages of legislation, it’s the longest in the world and as it is often rewritten through a series of updates following budgetary announcements which can make it extremely time consuming to navigate.

This can present a problem, not just for business owners, but for accountants, tax advisors, and even HMRC who are supposed to be the authority on this matter.

How to reduce your tax liabilities

HMRC do offer copious notes on the GOV.UK website that explain the numerous reliefs and allowances that you may be able to claim in order to legitimately reduce your tax footprint. However, this would involve a degree of dedicated research the equivalent of a full-time job.

Which is why, if you answer yes to any of the following criteria, we should have a conversation about tax planning opportunities for 2022-23.

Are you:

• Setting up, running or selling a business?
• Have significant earnings?
• Have personal wealth/assets in excess of £325,000?
• Have assets you are about to sell that would be considered a chargeable gain?
• Required to submit a self-assessment tax return?

Every tax-payers’ personal financial arrangements are to some extent unique, which is why there is no one-fit solution. Like most of out articles, they are only a general guide and you should seek guidance to discuss your specific circumstances.

If you have concerns about your tax position for 2022-23, pick up the phone, we would be delighted to run through your options to save tax in the coming year.