Get ready to Lead The Way this Summer!

AFTER an incredible 7 years of Beside The Seaside Walk, The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is delighted to bring you Lead The Way; a fantastic way to celebrate a life, remember loved ones and is an event that everyone can be a part of. After a challenging twelve months, this is your chance to reunite with family and friends and take on a fantastic walking event in support of your local cancer charity.

As well as music, food and drinks the Charity will also be welcoming back their ever popular Pooch Parade, with prizes provided by local businesses including:- The Wagging Tail in Southport, Oh my Dog! Wirral and Tidy Paws Dog Grooming in Heswall. This year's categories are Best in Show, Ultimate Cutie and Clatterbridge Mascot and photography is kindly provided by Jennifer Calvert Photography.

The summer event kicks off on 18 July 2021, at Crosby Coastal Park, where walkers can take on a 3 Mile, 5 Mile or 10 Mile challenge and can enjoy views across the Irish Sea from Crosby Beach. 1 such supporter who will be taking part in Lead The Way:- Crosby is Bob Stone, who has taken part in the event for the last 2 years.

Clatterbridge Event Manager Mark Parkinson said:- "2 years ago Clatterbridge gave the most precious gift of all, the life of a beautiful, talented woman named Estelle, and my dearest friend. The care she received at Clatterbridge has made her a survivor, and I will do the Lead the Way Walk this year and every year that I can, because every penny raised helps, but no amount of money can repay the debt thousands of families and friends owe Clatterbridge for the lives of their loved ones. We look forward to our walks each year as they are so well attended and make for a fantastic day out. For every supporter taking part and every donation made we help the 1 in 2 who need Clatterbridge right now. We 're really excited to once again see everyone enjoy a beautiful day out in the sunshine where we will celebrate, remember, or support our loved ones by helping Clatterbridge to Lead The Way in cancer care."

For your chance to take part in this wonderful summer event, visit:- ClatterBridgeCC.Org.UK.
 

ATT calls on HMRC to tackle 'rogue' R&D claims

THE Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) is urging HMRC to better combat:- 'rogue' advisers who inappropriately seek to maximise research and development (R&D) claims. The ATT was responding to a recent Treasury consultation on R&D tax relief. 1 This consultation sought views on the nature of private sector R&D investment in the UK, how that is supported or otherwise impacted by the SME and large company R&D relief schemes, and what changes are appropriate. Fraudulent claims are not just a risk for the Exchequer. If some companies receive more tax relief than they are entitled to, those who play by the rules may incorrectly feel that there is not a level playing field.

ATT President Jeremy Coker said:- "The Government has an ambitious target to raise total investment in R&D to 2.4% of UK GDP by 20272 but before that is achieved it is important it ensures that the reliefs are up to date, competitive and well targeted. We understand that the vast majority of specialist R&D advisers submit accurate and appropriate claims for R&D relief, but we are increasingly aware that there is a minority of 'rogue' advisers who seek to maximise claims inappropriately, especially where their fee is calculated as a percentage of that claim. This behaviour is driven by 2 factors; the R&D rules are not prescriptive meaning there is a lot of room for interpretation, and claims can trigger a cash repayment, which especially in the current climate, can sound very attractive to companies. ATT members are held to strict standards of behaviour, but these 'rogue' advisers may not be members of any professional body. They are quite a concern among the tax industry, and we continue to receive reports from members about purportedly specialist advisers approaching their clients trying to encourage them to make inappropriate and/or excessive claims. Both HMRC and the tax profession have concerns about how widespread the practice is. We want HMRC to consider how best to target these advisers to ensure they are held to the same standards as members of professional bodies. A more robust sign off for claims; with specific declarations by both the claimant and the adviser preparing the claim; could help, as would education campaigns to raise awareness among claimants and their agents of what to look out for when choosing an R&D adviser and making a claim. We also support introducing a route for concerned tax advisers to report suspicions regarding inappropriate claims made, advice or promotional material sponsored by such agents."

ATT's 'no' to merging of SME and RDEC scheme. In its response to the consultation, the ATT said its members find the Research and Development Tax Relief for Small and Medium Enterprises ('SME scheme') simple to explain to clients. It is also easier to demonstrate the benefits of a SME scheme claim than the other principal R&D tax relief, the Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC).

Jeremy Coker said:- "We believe there is currently no case for consolidating the two schemes into one because the current differences between the 2 schemes reflect the very different natures and needs of SMEs and larger companies. Merging the two schemes would require claimants and their advisers to adapt to new rules, potentially causing confusion and increasing the risk of errors without delivering any significant benefit."

The ATT response also raises concerns about the possibility of decoupling R&D claims from the ordinary Corporation Tax Self Assessment (CTSA) system. While welcome if it sped up processing of claims, the ATT is concerned that allowing R&D claims to made on a standalone basis could weaken the:- 'sense checking' which comes from involving a company's regular agent in making a claim, and could also lead to rushed claims being submitted which are not subject to the full scrutiny of the CTSA process.