SDLT

Chris Sanger (EY) examines the smorgasbord of tax measures announced this week

Practitioner views on the Autumn Statement:

• Helen Lethaby (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer) examines the impact on big business;
• Simon McKie (McKie & Co) reviews the private client perspective;
• James Bullock (Pinsent Masons) considers enforcement and compliance issues;
• David Whiscombe (BKL Tax) assesses the impact on SMEs;
• John Whiting (OTS) gives the Office of Tax Simplification’s view; and
• John Hawksworth (PwC) provides an economic perspective.

Incomplete SDLT return

The Scottish government has announced rates for the new land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT), which is to replace stamp duty land tax (SDLT), in its draft Scottish Budget for 2015/16. The nil rate applies up to £135,000, rising to 12% on transactions over £1,000,000.

Toby Price and Martin Walker (Deloitte) consider the potential stamp tax traps arising on IPOs, including pre-IPO reorganisations and overallotment (or greenshoe) options, as well as offering practical solutions

HMRC has issued guidance on late payment of stamp duty, and published details of the new stamp duty penalties that were introduced on 1 October 2014. These apply to all documents submitted for stamping after that date.

Audit firms providing tax services

SDLT: time limit for amending a return

Simon Yeo and Billal Malik consider the judgment in St Matthews (West) Ltd and others v HMRC on the legality of retroactive legislation.

Retrospective legislation and ECHR