SA deadline puts pressure on small companies
Government accused of not consulting with third parties
The new self assessment deadlines announced in the March Budget and due to
take effect in 2008 have been slammed by contractors as putting unprecedented
pressure on self-employed, micro companies and individuals with complex tax
returns.
Contractors claim proposals for online tax services were accepted by the
government without consultation with third parties, ContractorUK reported.
In 2008 paper self assessment tax returns must be filed by the end of
September and online forms by 30 November compared with the current deadline for
online and offline of 31 January.
Neil Hamper, national tax spokesman at the Federation of Small Businesses,
said the chancellor accepted recommendations without any consultation.
’This creates a shorter period in which to gather up information to complete
tax returns. For small firms who submit their own returns this will increase the
pressure on them.
‘For those that use accountants it will increase the cost of doing so as
their service provider will have to take on temporary staff to handle the
increased workload. Either way it will cause serious difficulties for small
firms and accountants,’ he added.