Let’s take a closer look at exactly when MTD reporting requirements will start. We know the Government is insisting that unincorporated businesses, who are not exempt from MTD (turnover £10,000 or less – not confirmed), or permitted to defer for a year (turnover limit TBA) will commence MTD reporting from April 2018.
The draft legislation makes it clear that commencement of MTD reporting will be tied to the business accounting period (see new TMA 1970, Sch A1, para 14). This says that the regulations will not impose a requirement on a person or partnership in respect of any period of account beginning before the tax year 2018/19.
This means a business with an accounting period that starts on 1 April will not be required to make MTD quarterly reports until the period that starts 1 April 2019. Its first quarterly report cover the three months to 30 June 2019 and will have to be submitted by 31 July 2019.
Conversely an unincorporated business which draws up accounts to align with the tax year, will have to commence MTD quarterly reporting from 6 April 2018. Its first quarterly report will cover the three months to 5 July 2018 and will be due to be submitted by 5 August 2018.
Perhaps you would want to consider changing your accounting date to 31 March. The business will need to comply with the rules for changing accounting basis period (see BIM81045), but this could be an opportunity to use any overlap relief which arose on commencement of the business. Unincorporated property lettings businesses are required to draw up accounts to the tax year end.
Written by the Tax Advice Network