HMRC delays new VAT penalty rules
The first step towards alignment of VAT and direct tax penalties was due to take place in just two months but yesterday the government announced a delay. What’s the full story?
HMRC’s original timetable for the harmonisation of its late filing penalty and late payment interest regimes across most direct and indirect taxes was due to start on 1 April 2022 with the scrapping of the VAT surcharge rules. Following the announcement by the Treasury on 13 January this has been put back by nine months until 1 January 2023.
When the new rules take effect late filing penalties will be charged using a points system. Points will be added to a taxpayer’s record for each late filing and penalties will escalate the more points are racked up. For late payments there will be varying charges according to how late each payment is.
HMRC’s updated guidance about the new penalty and interest rules can be viewed here and here.
Related Topics
-
HMRC checks directors’ loans are paid up
HMRC is writing to agents to check corporation tax returns for previous years are correct as it used to be possible to add a future date for an anticipated loan repayment. What’s the issue and what should you do if your advisor receives a letter?
-
Working from home tax relief scrapped in Budget
Employees who are required to work from home are currently able to claim tax relief at a flat rate of £6 per week. That's changing from 6 April 2026. What's the full story?
-
Government quietly confirms change to key tax deduction
The headlines for individuals at last week's Budget were all about the income tax hikes. But the small print contained confirmation of another important change. What’s the full story?


This website uses both its own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and navigation on our website in order to improve its contents (analytical purposes: measure visits and sources of web traffic). The legal basis is the consent of the user, except in the case of basic cookies, which are essential to navigate this website.