Hmrc

Almost 260k hospitality workers on furlough at end of July

10-Sep-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The hospitality sector has seen the biggest drop in workers on furlough this summer, but the trade still has more than a quarter of a million jobs on the scheme, new official figures have found.

One-in-five hospitality workers still furloughed

30-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 19% of employees in the hospitality sector were on furlough at the end of June 2021, official figures have revealed.

What is furlough fraud and what happens if operators commit it?

15-Sep-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser takes a look at what furlough fraud is and the consequences of employers committing it.

How to have a nose for fake alcohol

14-Feb-2017 By Poppleston Allen

Our legal experts give advice on how to spot when there might be something amiss with a new drink you're being offered.

Pubs could face £10,000 fine over using illicit wholesalers

18-Jan-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Pubs trading with illicit wholesalers could face a fine of up to £10,000, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has warned.

Want to distil your own spirits? You'll need a licence

22-Feb-2016 By Ben Winstanley

In the second part of an in-depth look at running a pub distillery, Ben Winstanley speaks to excise duties consultant Alan Powell to learn more about what licences you need to get started

Industry reacts to profit fears over 'undrinkable beer'

20-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

The British Beer and Pub Association has said it will investigate 'ways to promote awareness and best practice', including pre-entry industry training, in the wake of serious concerns from tenants about how much drinkable beer is in a barrel.

Greene King defends IPA cost rise after Budget duty cuts

08-Apr-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Greene King has defended its decision to increase the cost per barrel of its IPA at the same time as passing on beer duty cuts.

Paying tax: Bending the rules could prove costly

31-Oct-2014 By Jason Piper

With swathes of taxation, red tape and bureaucracy seemingly smothering the efforts of licensees to make a decent living, the temptation to bend the rules a little can seem attractive. But such a course could prove a costly mistake. Jason Piper lifts...

Greene King loses tax appeal

29-Apr-2014 By John Harrington

Greene King, the brewer and pub operator, has lost an appeal relating to its tax avoidance scheme and could be forced to pay back roughly twice the amount of tax it tried to avoid.

JD Wetherspoon like-for-like sales rise 5.2%

14-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon has reported a 5.2% rise in like-for-like sales in the 26 weeks to 26 January, with profits before tax and exceptionals up 8.5% to £37.8m.

HMRC demands return of pubs’ machine tax rebates

26-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub operators will shortly receive demands to pay back the “several hundred million pounds” collectively owed in “overpaid” tax rebates in 30 days, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed.

Pub trade faces paying back 'hundreds of millions' in overpaid tax rebates

29-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

The pub trade must pay back “several hundred million pounds” in overpaid tax, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has said.

HMRC to pursue pubs for overpaid VAT

23-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is to pursue pub operators and licensees to recover money previously paid out in overpaid VAT.

Revenue losses from illicit wine up to £700m, HMRC estimates

14-Oct-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The revenue losses from the illicit wine market in 2011/12 were at least £350m and possibly as high as £700m, a new report from HM Revenue & Customs has estimated.

Pubs could face £5K penalty under Government alcohol duty fraud proposals

23-Aug-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Pubs could be forced to check that their drinks and wholesaler suppliers are registered to sell alcohol to businesses under new Government plans, or face a £5,000 penalty or sanctions against their licence.

HMRC says 98% of gaming machines registered for Machine Games Duty

13-Jun-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has said that approximately 98% of the gaming machines on the market are now registered for the new Machine Games Duty (MGD) tax.

PAYE reporting is changing - is your pub ready?

21-Jan-2013 By Jane Brothwood

The way employers report Pay as You Earn (PAYE) details to HM Revenue & Customs is changing. If you haven’t already prepared for this overhaul you need to do so now. HM Revenue & Custom’s Jane Brothwood explains

HMRC clamps down on VAT returns

12-Jan-2013 By Helen Gilbert

HM Revenue and Customs is clamping down on firms that fail to submit VAT returns.

Machine Games Duty: last day for pubs to register

11-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

Licensees have until the end of today to register for the new Machine Games Duty (MGD) to avoid facing financial penalties from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Only 1% of pubs register for machine games duty

29-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Tens of thousands of pubs could face penalties if they fail to sign up to the new machine games duty (MGD) before the end of 2012.

MPs slam HMRC for failing to effectively tackle alcohol fraud

29-Aug-2012 By Michelle Perrett

A group of MPs have slammed HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for failing to effectively tackle alcohol fraud and have claimed the Government department does not understand the implications for the industry of introducing fiscal stamps on beer bottles.

Red tape fear for gaming machine duty

31-Jan-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Pubs will face a raft of red tape under plans to change Machine Games Duty (MGD) unveiled by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on Tuesday.

Hosts’ VAT rebate warning on AWP machines

17-Nov-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees have been told to hang fire on spending their VAT rebates on amusement with prizes (AWP) machines despite a court ruling in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) last week.

Good news for pubs over AWP tax ruling

14-Nov-2011 By John Harrington

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has suffered a serious set back in its attempt to reclaim VAT rebates on amusement with prizes (AWP) machines that have been issued to pub operators and licensees.

Gang leader jailed over £1.8m duty fraud

06-Oct-2011 By Gurjit Degun

The leader of a gang involved in evading £1.8m in excise duty has been jailed after an HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) investigation into the sale of illicit alcohol.

Pubs warned over AWP VAT rebates

02-Jun-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Licensees need to set aside their VAT rebates on amusement with prizes (AWP) machines, warns expert. A European Court of Justice case, scheduled for 30 June, could set a precedent allowing HMRC to appeal the refunds.

Police seize illicit alcohol from Lancashire stores

08-Mar-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Over 1,000 litres of illegally imported beer and spirits were seized during a crack down on Lancashire off-licences. Among the goods taken from...

Illicit alcohol seized from Stoke pub

16-Feb-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Around £60,000-worth of illicit tobacco and alcohol products have been seized from an unnamed Staffordshire pub. An investigation by HM Revenue and...

New warning on counterfeit sales

06-Jan-2011 By John Harrington

Pubs have been given a fresh warning about the dangers of selling smuggled alcohol after 11 shops had their licences revoked or suspended en masse...

Pub quiz machines escape tax

03-Aug-2010 By James Wilmore

Pub quiz machines based on Monopoly and Cluedo are games of skill and not liable for machine tax, the government has ruled. HM Revenue and Customs...

Molson Coors to help in duty fraud fight

10-Dec-2009 By Lesley Foottit

Molson Coors has teamed up with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to combat alcohol duty fraud.

Tax scam targets hosts

29-Oct-2009 By John Harrington

Licensees have been targeted in a massive internet tax scam that has hit tens of thousands of people. Adnams tenant Alan Randall was sent an email...

Scam email warning

30-Jul-2009 By Gemma McKenna

Licensees are warned that a bogus email saying they're eligible for a tax refund is in circulation. The email resembles an official communication...

Enterprise confident of Reit conversion

28-Mar-2008 By Ewan Turney

Enterprise Inns expects to get the go-ahead to convert to tax-efficient Real Estate Investment Trust status

Taxman takes TIPs off-line

07-Jan-2008

Information to help tax inspectors understand the pub trade has been removed from the Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website, prompting...

Flood-hit pubs' tax break hope

27-Jul-2007 By John Harrington

Flood-hit pubs may be eligible for tax breaks, the Government has announced. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has said it will: - Defer collection of...

Analysis: Taxman issues new tronc guidelines

20-Oct-2006

Detailed new guidelines have been issued by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on the procedures for distributing tips to staff through tronc...

In the line of duty

05-Oct-2006

As if the smoking ban and licensing changes haven't given pubs enough to worry about, licensees also have to keep an eye on their spirits packaging...

Take the strain out of paying

06-Jul-2006 By Ewan Turney

Paying staff on time and the right amount needn't be tricky and time-consuming, says Ewan Turney - just choose the right method: Set up as an...

Chefs set to face payments probe

01-Dec-2005

by Lucy Britner Customs officers are poised to launch an investigation into 'back-handers' allegedly made to chefs by suppliers. Independent tax...

Taxman targets illegal payments to chefs

29-Nov-2005

Food pubs are being warned that the taxman is taking a close interest in payments made by suppliers to chefs in return for orders. Her Majesty's...