As you may be aware, in December last year HMRC announced the new ‘Making Tax Digital’ scheme. This will result in all businesses having to submit quarterly tax reports by 2018, which many will see as a burden on their current resources. There also remains considerable uncertainty over how it may operate and the issue of free software. BASDA – the Business Application Software Developers Association – is the only UK based trade organisation especially for software developers. We represent businesses both big and small when it comes to legislative changes that will affect them, offering a voice to those who lack time or resources.
BASDA Chairman Kevin Hart
So what are we doing to engage with HMRC and support our members?
- Annual Summit – At our Annual Summit in May we invited Julian Hatt, Head of Stakeholder Engagement at HMRC, to speak about the latest developments of Making Tax Digital as well as what the scheme means for the software industry. Julian also interacted with our members by answering their questions and addressing their concerns.
- Digital Advisory Group – Our Chairman sits on HMRC’s Digital Advisory Group and is the only representative for the software industry in this group. This group is actively involved in developing Making Tax Digital.
- Accountants in Practice Specialist Interest Group – This group is open to all members and discusses matters affecting the software products that firms of accountants use. The group has already met with HMRC to discuss how Making Tax Digital might manifest itself within computer software used by accountants and their clients.
- Making Tax Digital Working Party – We are in the process of setting up a working party which will directly engage our members with HMRC. This working party will primarily address the issues of free software and the contents of quarterly updates.
If you would like to benefit from the work BASDA does then sign up for membership today. Click here to join BASDA now or call 01494 868030 for more information.