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FSB Statement in response to Gordon Brown’s speech, Labour Party Conference.

In response to Gordon Brown’s announcement of support for graduate internships in small businesses, John Wright, National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said:

“Over the past few months, the FSB has been calling for the Government to recognise the importance of small businesses in creating jobs for skilled young people graduating from college and university. Small firms are the country’s job creators – central to our economic recovery – and more than half have said they would employ more staff if they were given the right support.

“The Government’s pledge to set up 10,000 skilled internships is a real victory for the FSB and a victory for small businesses across the country.

“This will help those graduates leaving university at a time when the job market is sluggish at best – they will get real work experience and develop real skills. And small firms will benefit from the skills of this workforce, which they traditionally find harder to recruit. Research from previous schemes shows that one in four graduates are also offered full-time employment in the business at the end of their placement.

“The FSB is committed to promoting this scheme among its membership, and to encouraging all small businesses to link up with university careers services to offer vacancies and create placements.”

Ends

Contacts

Stephen Alambritis: 020 7592 8112 / 07788 422155
Prue Watson 020 7592 8121 / 07825 125695
Marc Shoffman 020 7592 8113 / 07595 067068

Microsoft's grinning robots or the Brotherhood of the Mac. Which is worse?

 

Windows works for me. But I'd never recommend it to anybody else, ever.

Charlie Brooker wrote in The Guardian , Monday 28 September 2009

I admit it: I'm a bigot. A hopeless bigot at that: I know my particular prejudice is absurd, but I just can't control it. It's Apple. I don't like Apple products. And the better-designed and more ubiquitous they become, the more I dislike them. I blame the customers. Awful people. Awful. Stop showing me your iPhone. Stop stroking your Macbook. Stop telling me to get one.

Seriously, stop it. I don't care if Mac stuff is better. I don't care if Mac stuff is cool. I don't care if every Mac product comes equipped a magic button on the side that causes it to piddle gold coins and resurrect the dead and make holographic unicorns dance inside your head. I'm not buying one, so shut up and go home. Go back to your house. I know, you've got an iHouse. The walls are brushed aluminum. There's a glowing Apple logo on the roof. And you love it there. You absolute MONSTER.

Of course, it's safe to assume Mac products are indeed as brilliant as their owners make out. Why else would they spend so much time trying to convert non-believers? They're not getting paid. They simply want to spread their happiness, like religious crusaders.

Consequently, nothing pleases them more than watching a PC owner struggle with a slab of non-Mac machinery. It validates their spiritual choice. Recently I sat in a room trying to write something on a Sony Vaio PC laptop which seemed to be running a special slow-motion edition of Windows Vista specifically designed to infuriate human beings as much as possible. Trying to get it to do anything was like issuing instructions to a depressed employee over a sluggish satellite feed. When I clicked on an application it spent a small eternity contemplating the philosophical implications of opening it, begrudgingly complying with my request several months later. It drove me up the wall. I called it a bastard and worse. At one point I punched a table.

This drew the attention of two nearby Mac owners. They hovered over and stood beside me, like placid monks.

"Ah: the delights of Vista," said one.

"It really is time you got a Mac," said the other.

"They're just better," sang monk number one.

"You won't regret it," whispered the second.

I scowled and returned to my infernal machine, like a dishevelled park-bench boozer shrugging away two pious AA recruiters by pulling a grubby, dented hip flask from his pocket and pointedly taking an extra deep swig. Leave me alone, I thought. I don't care if you're right. I just want you to die.

I know Windows is awful. Everyone knows Windows is awful. Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it. OK, OK: I know other operating systems are available. But their advocates seem even creepier, snootier and more insistent than Mac owners. The harder they try to convince me, the more I'm repelled. To them, I'm a sheep. And they're right. I'm a helpless, stupid, lazy sheep. I'm also a masochist. And that's why I continue to use Windows – horrible Windows – even though I hate every second of it. It's grim, it's slow, everything's badly designed and nothing really works properly: using Windows is like living in a communist bloc nation circa 1981. And I wouldn't change it for the world, because I'm an abject bloody idiot and I hate myself, and this is what I deserve: to be sentenced to Windows for life.

That's why Windows works for me. But I'd never recommend it to anybody else, ever. This puts me in line with roughly everybody else in the world. No one has ever earnestly turned to a fellow human being and said, "Hey, have you considered Windows?" Not in the real world at any rate.

Until now. Microsoft, hellbent on tackling the conspicuous lack of word-of-mouth recommendation, is encouraging people – real people – to host "Windows 7 launch parties" to celebrate the 22 October release of, er, Windows 7. The idea is that you invite a group of friends – your real friends – to your home – your real home – and entertain them with a series of Windows 7 tutorials. So you show them how to burn a CD, how to make a little video, how to change the wallpaper, and how to, oh no, hang on it's not supposed to do that, oh, I think it's frozen, um, er, let me just, um, no that's not it, um, er, um, er, so how's it going with you and Kathy anyway, um, er, OK well see you around I guess.

To assist the party-hosting massive, they've also uploaded a series of spectacularly cringeworthy videos to YouTube, in which the four most desperate actors in the world stand around in a kitchen sharing tips on how best to indoctrinate guests in the wonder of Windows. If they were staring straight down the lens reading hints off a card it might be acceptable; instead they have been instructed to pretend to be friends. The result is the most nauseating display of artificial camaraderie since the horrific Doritos "Friendchips" TV campaign (which caused 50,000 people to kill themselves in 2003, or should have done).

It's so terrible, it induces an entirely new emotion: a blend of vertigo, disgust, anger and embarrassment which I like to call "shitasmia". It not only creates this emotion: it defines it. It's the most shitasmic cultural artefact in history. Watch it for yourself.

Still, bad though it is, I vaguely prefer the clumping, clueless, uncool, crappiness of Microsoft's bland Stepford gang to the creepy assurance of the average Mac evangelist. At least the grinning dildos in the Windows video are fictional, whereas eerie replicant Mac monks really are everywhere, standing over your shoulder in their charcoal pullovers, smirking with amusement at your hopelessly inferior OS, knowing they're better than you because they use Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard.

Snow Leopard. SNOW LEOPARD.

I don't care if you're right. I just want you to die.

VAT online – how to register

A step by step guide to completing the process ready to file your own VAT returns online, with guidance for agents acting in this area.

From April 2010 VAT returns must be filed online and the liability must be paid online for all businesses with taxable supplies in excess of £100,000 per annum. Businesses which register for VAT with an effective date of 1 April 2010 or later will be required to make their returns and pay online irrespective of size.

Agents will need to start reminding their clients now about this and encouraging them to prepare for the change. Registering to file online is simple if the business has the necessary information, but there may be a delay if the original VAT registration certificate cannot be located.

To register to file VAT returns online on your own behalf (rather than as agent on behalf of a client) you will first need to be registered with the Government Gateway. Choosing VAT Online from the HMRC homepage will allow access to the registration system and the Gateway registration can also be completed here.

For most businesses, this means registering as an 'organisation' which will cover both companies and partnerships. Sole traders will need to register as an individual. The registration process now leads to a page showing the Government Gateway ID, which is subsequently confirmed by post with the arrival of the blue gateway log-in card.

In the meantime you can print this page, which now includes a facsimile of the registration card. It is a good idea to print this at this point if you want to go on and register for VAT online at the same time. There is also a change from the old process in that user passwords are now selected rather than generated by the system, making them easier to manage because the applicant can select an appropriate password which is easy to remember.

The applicant can now register for VAT online. The identity check uses the date of first registration for VAT, so this is where the registration certificate comes in. If the applicant cannot locate the certificate a duplicate can be requested from the HMRC VAT National Advice centre – this is sent to the registered address for VAT. You will also need information from the last VAT return you submitted (unless this is a new registration).

Once this is set up it is possible to file a VAT return online immediately, but if you would like your VAT collected by direct debit arrangement you will need to wait for the activation code and be aware that it takes a few days for the direct debit authority to go live. So it is likely that those with returns for 31 August 2009, due 30 September 2010 are leaving a bit late now to file and pay by direct debit in time for the deadline.

In doing this over the weekend for a new business of mine I found one aspect very confusing. I was trying to register to pay by direct debit, and having done this before I couldn’t remember the exact sequence of events. There seemed to be a direct debit application, but as I progressed through the system I was asked to enter an amount for the payment, so I realised that I was not in the right area.

After going back and forth a lot, I established that there are two different registrations for direct debit, and I needed to access the VAT Online direct debit rather than the normal direct debit process. This is accessed through the VAT returns section, but I had to wait for my activation PIN to be able to set it up last time. I do feel that the guidance on this could be a little clearer.

As far as registering as an agent for clients is concerned there are a couple of glitches which are currently being resolved by HMRC. The first is that if as a practice you are not VAT registered you will not be able to register as an agent for VAT purposes at present. HMRC is expecting to have this resolved in time for the April change, and current indications are that this may be ready in late November, so you should listen for announcements.

For agents who are currently VAT registered the process by which your client authorises you to complete their VAT returns as agent is convoluted. The client must authorise you on the Gateway to act as agent for returns, which means that the client will have to register with the Gateway first. From late November, the online authorisation process currently in use for other tax areas will be extended to allow registration as an agent for VAT returns to be done online. Registering as an agent with the online service for a client will trigger an authorisation code to be sent to the client, which must be supplied to the agent to activate the service, as for other tax areas.

One final point with regard to electronic payment. It is not essential for the client to register to pay by direct debit, but this is by far the most simple way to pay as it is not necessary to initiate the payment once the return has been filed. Registering for direct debit payment also provides an additional three working days before payment is taken, so there is a slight cash flow advantage. The HMRC bank changes will not affect those registered for direct debit payment, but all others paying electronically should ensure that they are using the correct HMRC bank details, as the VAT payment details changed in July 2009.

Source: www.accountingweb.co.uk

Reporting Tax Evasion

HM Revenue & Customs is committed to targeting tax evasion. We know some people don’t pay their fair share of tax and that some businesses get undercut by others not paying tax.

Now you can help us do something about it.

The Tax Evasion Hotline has been set up to make the most of vital information from YOU – the public and the business community. It deals with Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax and National Insurance.

All information, however trivial it may seem, is important to us. It could be the key to stopping fraudulent or criminal activity. However, in order that we can investigate your report we need you to give as much information as possible to help us identify the person or business you are reporting.

Information can be provided using the following methods:

Email

• Make a report online now

Telephone

Tax Evasion Hotline
Freephone 0800 788 887

This Hotline is open 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday, and weekends 8.00 am to 4.00 pm.

Please note this line is closed on bank holidays.

Welsh speaking clients
Tel 0845 3021489

This Hotline is open 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

People with speech or hearing problems using a text phone
Tel 0845 9153296

Open 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Post

Freepost RSBT – YCYX – JYTK
HM Revenue & Customs
Tax Evasion Hotline Team
Albert Bridge House
1 Bridge Street
Manchester
M60 9DX

Fax

0800 7830879

The dos and don’ts of Twitter for accountants

Following on from his recent Accountants’ guide to Twitter, Mark Lee discusses how accountants can maximise their effectiveness on the site by following a few simple rules.

When it comes to using Twitter there are no absolute rules or universally agreed twitterquette (that’s Twitter etiquette for the uninitiated). However, there is a lot that we can learn from the experience of those who've gone before.

Based on my experience over the last year and inspired by a variety of guides to using Twitter for business, I’ve collated a top ten list of dos and don’ts for accountants who use Twitter.

The dos

1. Do be social and interact with your followers and those you follow. Be thought-provoking with some of your tweets and pass on tips and ideas that others may find of interest.
    
2. Do retweet (RT) tweets written by other people that you think are worth sharing with your followers. If you want some of your tweets to be retweeted, keep them to nearer 110 characters rather than 140 as the RT element of the message will often be 15-25 characters long.
    
3. Do recommend books and articles that you’ve read that may be of interest to your followers.
    
4. Do copy behaviour you find that you like on Twitter and avoid replicating behaviour that you dislike. Everyone is different of course but a ‘netiquette’ is developing and worth following.
    
5. Do tweet links to your own or your favourite blog posts so that your followers know what you write about or like, and do ensure that you add a few words at least rather than just posting a link without any description.
    
6. Do use an application like Tweetdeck on your computer to filter topics, create groups, and maximize your time on Twitter.
    
7. Do use an application on your iPhone or BlackBerry to enable you to use Twitter in odd moments when you're away from your desk/office.
    
8. Do remember that your followers may have friends, followers or family who could be looking for a new accountant, even if your followers seem unlikely to do so. They may retweet your messages or simply talk about you if the subject comes up.
    
9. Do respond when people engage you in conversation. If you want to reply publicly use the @ sign at the start of your tweet (e.g. @bookmarklee). If you want to reply privately and directly use D before the other person's user name: (e.g. D bookmarklee).
    
10. Do engage the people you follow or who follow you in conversation shortly after you connect. Ask them a question, or enquire about something they’ve tweeted, and they’ll be more likely to follow you back.

The don’ts

1. Don't attempt to use the main Twitter website once you've registered, added a photo and your bio. The main Twitter website is not user friendly and will turn you off very quickly. Download an application like Tweetdeck, Hootsuite or Seismic to your computer and you'll find it all gets much easier.
    
2. Don’t feel compelled to answer the basic Twitter question ‘what are you doing?’ – especially if the answer is something mundane. It’s better to imagine the invitation is to answer the question: ‘What is holding your attention right now?’
    
3. Don’t automatically follow everyone who follows you or chase hundreds of followers.  If you do this you will attract spammers, marketing 'gurus', social media specialists, loners and losers. None of them will be prospective clients or advocates. They probably won't even read any of your tweets. They will simply follow you in the hope that you’ll follow back and increase their numbers - and that is a mug’s game that many Twitter virgins play, although it serves no useful purpose.
    
4. Don’t think you need to read everything on your Twitter feed. Think of it as a river. Jump in-stream, participate, and then get out. Never worry about what you’ve missed – it doesn’t work that way.
    
5. Don't assume that all of your followers will see all of your tweets. They only dip in and out - just like you do.
    
6. Don’t set up a standard message to auto-welcome new followers – they won’t click on your links and established Twitter users don’t like them.
    
7. Despite the fact that you may be using Twitter as a marketing tool, don’t try to solicit business or make sales. It looks spammy, and will not secure you new clients. The bottom line is that you will generate enquiries only if your followers get to know and like you, and also if they know you're an accountant and that you like your work.
    
8. Don’t tweet anything you wouldn’t want to be quoted in the press.  Once published, all your tweets are there for posterity and you don’t want any of them to come back to haunt you.
    
9. It should go without saying, but don’t tweet anything about a client without explicit permission. Along the same lines, even if it’s good or exciting news about the client, don’t assume that the client has already made it public. Even if it is public, you may still want to get permission first.
    
10. Don’t expect to ‘get’ Twitter straight away. Apparently 60% of people who try to use Twitter give up within three months. I suspect many accountants will be the same.

 What do you think? Do you agree or disagree or have further tips to share? Please leave a comment with your own ideas and suggestions.

So far, I’ve only described what Twitter is and how you can use it. You may wish to know why you might choose to do so, what you can do with Twitter and how some accountants are benefitting from using Twitter. If you would like to see an article on developing a Twitter strategy for accountants, please leave your comments below and let us know.

Mark Lee is chairman of the Tax Advice Network and consultant practice editor for AccountingWEB.co.uk. Learn more about Mark's approach to Twitter on his Ambitious Accountant blog.

Changes to the Self Assessment registration process for customers who are not self-employed

HMRC are changing the way customers who are not self-employed register for Self Assessment and introducing a new registration form (SA1).

Background

Currently all new Self Assessment registrations for the self-employed are dealt with by a central HMRC team. Registrations for customers who are not self-employed are dealt with in local HMRC offices. This has led to inconsistency in the way new Self Assessment cases are set up and varied levels of customer service.

From 21 September 2009 the central team will deal with all new Self Assessment registrations. This should ensure that all new Self Assessment customers receive the same level of service.

What is HMRC changing?

Customers who are not self-employed will no longer be asked to write to their local tax office when they wish to gat a tax return and register for Self Assessment. They'll now be able to register by ringing the Self Assessment Helpline on 0845 900 0444 or by completing a new form (SA1).

Customers will need a valid National Insurance number - and will be asked to provide information about what's changed, whether they call the helpline or complete the new form.

If they don't hold a valid National Insurance number they must telephone the Department for Work and Pensions on 0845 600 0643 to arrange to attend an Evidence of Identity interview at a Jobcentre Plus or Social Security office.

Find out more about self-employed registrations
Find out more about National Insurance numbers (opens new window)

Customers who aren't self-employed who need a tax return

A new form SA1 has been designed to help customers who aren't self-employed to easily provide all the information HMRC needs. HMRC can then register them for Self Assessment and send out the right tax return pages.

It contains information to help the customer decide whether they need to be registered for Self Assessment and asks them to tell HMRC why they need to complete a tax return.

To register for Self Assessment and get a tax return, the customer can:

• Telephone the Self Assessment Helpline on 0845 900 0444 and ask to register for Self Assessment. They'll be asked to provide a National Insurance number and information on why they need a tax return.
• Telephone the Self Assessment Helpline on 0845 900 0444 and ask for a copy of the SA1 to be sent in the post. They'll then fill it in and send it back to the central team.
• Follow the link below and download the SA1 to fill in and send back to the central team.

Find form SA1 to register for Self Assessment

They should send the completed SA1 form back to:

National Insurance Contributions Office
Central Agent Authorisation Team
Benton Park View
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1ZZ

Special arrangements are being put in place for customers, for example expatriates, who don't need to have a National Insurance number. A further article will be published for these customers shortly.

Customers who are self-employed

Newly self-employed customers, who need to register for National Insurance and/or tax and get a tax return, should either:

• telephone the Helpline for the newly self-employed on 0845 915 4515
• complete form CWF1 - follow the link below, there's a CWF1 form that can be completed online at the end of the article

Find out more about registering as self-employed

When does this start?

The new process will start on 21 September 2009.

Any requests to be registered for Self Assessment that have already been sent to a local tax office will be dealt with by them, and local offices will continue to deal with applications contained in a letter.

Sending form SA1 to the above address or telephoning the helpline shown above will however ensure that the request is dealt with more promptly.

More useful links

Find out more about who needs a tax return

Does price or value matter most to your clients?

Paul Shrimpling of Remarkable Practice explains why price is inextricably linked to value and why your competitors' prices shouldn't dictate what you charge.

Several conversations with a few accountancy firms in recent weeks have made me angry. I’m angry at the natural tendency to accept price sensitivity as a simple compare and contrast exercise with the other firms’ rates in the market. This suggests that other firm’s prices determine what price your firm can charge – what codswallop!
Yes, competitive pricing has an influence but there are four components determining the right price:

1. Your clients’ perception of value
2. Your clients’ willingness to pay
3. How well you communicate your firm's offer
4. Competitors positioning and value strategies

You and your firm can influence point one and three. Points two and four are somewhat out of your hands but require your attention to ensure you are offering something different.

When considering this, it’s worth considering how this works in the car market. Hyundai pursues price conscious customers, whereas BMW does not. It is clear in this market that price is not dominant, or we would all be driving a Hyundai and BMW would not get a look in!

How can you influence your customers’ perception of value?
Communicate your firm’s offer better and the offer associated with your individual services. Do it in a way that lets your clients or prospects see where the functional and emotional value of working with your firm actually lies. Make the value blatantly obvious - then simply communicate with them more often. There’s a line in Paul Dunn and Ron Baker’s book, Firm of the Future, that says:

“If you don’t invest in client relationships, your clients will have no reason not to think twice about experimenting with your competitors.”

To have remarkable client relationships, you must speak or meet with them more often and deliver obvious blatant value.

This next insight comes courtesy of one of my accountancy clients, Matt Donnelly, who said: “You write to your pen pals, you meet up with your mates”. Your pen pals are the clients you write to apart from their annual year end meeting. These clients are easily sidetracked by competitors promoting better relationships. Make sure you’re offering more than a ‘pen pal’ service. To cultivate a remarkable relationship, it’s advisable to create a relationship plan – at least with your most valuable and important clients.

Your firm’s positioning
Higher prices are associated with better quality, better service and better relationships. If you fail to demonstrate, prove or have the quality show up then you’ll lose out to cheaper competitors. Capture and show the blatant, obvious and ‘in-their-face’ benefits of using you and your firm, and you’ll improve your positioning in the hearts and minds of your clients.

Your best tool for doing this is your process. Managing your firm’s processes so that they clearly mean something to your clients will strengthen relationships and deliver value on both sides. For example, change your email processes to phone processes, and your phone processes to meeting processes.

If you don’t do this you will lose clients on price – or rather they’ll use price as the reason for leaving you when actually it’s your lack of a relationship and/or your inability to prove you are worth what you are charging.
So, having considered this, tell me, does price or value matter most to your clients? Leave your comments below and vote in our online poll.

Paul Shrimpling
www.remarkablepractice.com

High corporation tax rates 'may drive business out of UK'

Businesses operating in the UK may look to move overseas should the government not make immediate changes to the current system of taxation, it has been argued.

Research carried out by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) found that more than 80 per cent of sector executives feel that they could be forced to desert the UK for more favourable tax regimes overseas should ministers not make the UK more competitive.

As well as a cap on corporation tax, the ABI has also called for more incentives to be rolled out to encourage insurance firms based overseas to open up operations in the UK, again so as to boost competition.

According to Stephen Haddrill, director general of the professional body, tax regimes such as Bermuda and Ireland now offer a number of significant economic advantages over the UK.

"The rise of Bermuda in recent years in the reinsurance sector shows how easily other countries can capture significant quantities of financial business from London, despite all its strengths and talent," he explained.

This comes just days after BNP Paribas warned that UK economic growth could be hindered once the recession is over due to high levels of corporate tax.

Getting educated about tax

Full time students pay income tax just like everybody else but research from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) reveals that more than half of the UK’s 2.3 million university students don’t realise this.

The good news is many of those who have paid tax will be entitled to get it back if they have earned less than £6,475 during this year.

Students can find all the information they need at: www.direct.gov.uk/studenttaxadvice.

Students who think they may have paid too much tax can use the student tax calculator on our website (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/stc.htm) to find out if they are due a cash refund and HMRC plans to launch a tax fact Facebook application complete with a refund calculator.

Three out of every four students take paid work, and if they have worked over the summer vacation or intend to get part-time work during term-time HMRC wants to help them to get the facts about tax right so that they don’t pay more tax than absolutely necessary on their hard-earned cash.

HMRC’s research also shows that there is no such thing as a typical student job – summer posts range from retail and hospitality to counting the number of passengers on trains or setting up bouncy castles for a city council.

Jane Frost, Director of HMRC Individuals Customer Directorate said:

“The start of the academic year is a good time to get educated about tax.

Making sure your tax code is right from the start of your paid employment can save you money and is good training for life after graduation. We want to help students understand how the tax system works ideally so they pay the right amount of tax from the outset and can claim what is due.”

Key questions for Students

As well as being aware of their Personal Allowance, students should also find out:

· What do I do with forms such as the P45, P60 and P38(S)?

Students who plan to work only during the holiday periods, and expect to earn no more than the Personal Allowance (currently £6,475) in the tax year can ask their employer for a P38(S) which they should complete and return to their employer at the start of their job. A P45 is given out at the end of a job and shows the pay received and tax deducted between the start of the tax year (6 April) and the date the employment ceased (if before 5 April the following year). The P60 summarises the yearly earnings and tax paid for a particular job. Students with more than one job at the 5 April each year will receive a P60 from each employer. The P45 and P60 forms should be kept in a safe place for future reference.

· What does my tax code mean?

Your tax code shows how much you are allowed to earn before paying any tax. This helps employers to work out how much tax to deduct from your pay.

· What if I have more than one job?

Like everyone else, students only have one Personal Allowance for each tax year and if they start a new job without finishing their first job, their second employer will ask them to fill out and sign a form P46. The employer uses the information on the P46 to notify HMRC that a new employee has started and to ensure the correct code is operated on earnings from the second job.

· What are National Insurance contributions (NICs)?

NICs pay for social security benefits that you may receive later in your life and to help pay for the National Health Service. National Insurance contributions are recorded against a person’s name using a National Insurance Number. NICs are deducted at source from pay by employers and cannot be claimed back. They are only paid once your income exceeds £110 a week. You’ll need to keep a record of your National Insurance Number for any dealings with your tax office and your employer(s).

· Who do I need to tell when I change address?

HMRC needs to be kept informed of your address. This is the individual’s responsibility – don’t assume your college or university will do it - and ensures you won’t miss any important letters or forms – or rebates!

Notes to editors

1. About the Student Tax advice campaign

A new website for the campaign aims to become the first port of call for students with questions about tax: www.direct.gov.uk/studenttaxadvice.

2. About the survey

ICM interviewed a sample of 501 UK students who were asked about their summer jobs. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk.  Poll carried out via Survey Monkey.

3. Latest student numbers published in January 2009 by DIUS and HESA: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000829/index.shtml .

Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office

Press enquiries only please contact:

Contacts

NDS Enquiries

Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department

ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk