HMRC officials to speak at Softworld
HMRC keynote speeches to headline at Softworld show
Keynote speeches from two senior HM Revenue & Customs officials will
headline next week’s Softworld trade exhibition as the industry grapples with
what experts are describing as a period of fundamental change on tax IT in
particular.
The event, which takes place at the Novotel in Hammersmith on 6 and 7 March,
will see head of Carter communications and stakeholder engagement Julian Hatt,
provide an update on modernising online services and discuss the current state
of play on implementing Lord Carter’s March 2006 recommendations.
His colleague Kris Romanski, head of the VAT liability and IPT division, will
discuss the reverse charge VAT mechanism that
HMRC is introducing to
control carousel fraud.
According to Denis Keeling, chief executive of the Business Application
Software Developers Association, the two seminars address issues central to the
most dramatic period of upheaval business software will have to adapt to since
Y2K.
‘Legislative and standards changes due to come into force during 2007 are
likely to cause a headache for any organisation that relies on business software
and could force many to upgrade, or even replace their existing systems,’
Keeling said.
Keeling believes reverse charge VAT, the follow-up to the Carter review and
the new Construction and Industry Scheme were all areas that would place
pressure on business software vendors and users.
‘The impact of some of the changes should not be underestimated. The new
reverse charge VAT rules arguably represent the most significant change to tax
law to accounting and IT systems in 14 years, while the new construction
industry scheme requirements are not just relevant to the companies in the
construction industry, but for any organisation employing sub-contractors on
projects of more than £1m,’ Keeling said.
In addition to top level HMRC contacts, visitors will also have access to
leading advisers and business software experts.
Keeling will be on hand to discuss what is involved in choosing and
implementing business software systems.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
partner Chris Potter, will speak on managing technology risks within SMEs and
Colin Kerr, finance director of the Specialist Schools Academies Trust, will
give a workshop on IT strategy.