MEMBERSHIP INSIGHT
On your behalf
Policy team update The CIPP policy team provide an outline of recent activity
Agent Strategy Group In November, Jill Smith, CIPP policy manager, attended the Agent Strategy Group meeting which included discussion about making tax digital for business (MTDfB). This highlighted the important role agents play encouraging and supporting their clients to keep digital records; especially new clients as, moving forward, it will make the transition process easier if/when it becomes mandatory for everyone to be digital. In response to many agent queries, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has now given a limited number of agents, beta access to a new digital agent service account. This new online service is not a replacement function; it is basically the front-door to all MTDfB. Making tax digital for individuals was also covered. A key aim is for agents to have as many tools as possible to be able to complete their clients’ tax accounts. Simple assessment has already begun as we know, which allows HMRC to make a calculation of income tax liability without the need for an individual to complete a self-assessment tax return. The long-term strategy for agents was also discussed and HMRC is investing in process design and work for agents focusing on three strategic pillars: digital services for agents; raising professional standards; and working in partnership. HMRC’s aim is that the ‘standards pillar’ will bring about working towards a single HMRC agent standard so that all agents are a member of one professional body. Watch our news pages for further updates on the improvements to come for the agent community.
Statutory Payments Consultation Group
of continuous service will be entitled to statutory parental bereavement pay, as long their normal weekly earnings for the period of eight weeks ending with the relevant week are not less than the current lower earnings limit for class 1 National Insurance contributions. All employees, regardless of length of service, will be entitled to two weeks of statutory parental bereavement leave. There were also updates at the meeting about the green paper proposal to introduce a flexible statutory sick pay system; this is still at the discussion stage so no real news to report on this just yet. With regard to the extension of shared parental leave and pay to grandparents (of which there was no mention in the 2017 Autumn Budget), it has not been ruled out but the government is exploring/considering options for the public for supporting working families. Government Gateway validation codes A two-step verification process protects government credentials from hijack or malware by asking the customer to enter a six-digit code, sent to a mobile phone or landline, each time they log into their digital services. This is an issue that has prompted discussions through various channels, including CIPP’s LinkedIn group. There are reports of issues where, in particular, an office has only one landline, no work mobile phones and several pay as you earn (PAYE) references to deal with. Many people understandably want to avoid having to use their personal mobile phone for work purposes. One solution that has
Jill also attended the Statutory Payments Consultation Group meeting at the end of November. One of the first items on the agenda was the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill which is currently making its way through parliamentary scrutiny. Although this is a private bill it has the backing of the Conservative party and the Opposition. There were several questions raised at the meeting such as: when would payments be made, will there be public consultation on the detail, will there be at least an eighteen-month lead time for software developers? We will have to wait for information on the finer details. ...wait for information on the finer details When the Bill receives Royal Assent and becomes an Act, it will amend the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA) to entitle parents who lose a child (under eighteen years) to two weeks of statutory parental bereavement leave. Currently, the ERA gives a ‘day one’ right for an employee to have ‘reasonable’ time off work to deal with an emergency, such as a bereavement involving a dependant. ‘Reasonable’ is not defined and will depend on the situation. An employer does not have to pay an employee for this time away from work, but many employers offer paid special or compassionate leave. Only employees with at least 26 weeks
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | February 2018 | Issue 37 4
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