Tax body calls for delay in online filing

Date: 2nd February 2011

The coalition should delay its plans to introduce compulsory online filing for tax returns as the country is ill prepared.

That is according to the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), which said a number of businesses are facing implementation problems with regard to the proposed changes.

Under current plans, compulsory online filing, using HM Revenue & Customs new iXBRL computer language, will come into force from April 1st this year.

However, after voicing its concerns, the CIOT, along with a host of other tax industry bodies, has called for more time.

Anthony Thomas, CIOT deputy president, said: "With only two months until the planned mandatory implementation of iXBRL online filing, our members and other businesses are facing implementation problems.

"While enthusiastic about online filing and even happy with filing in iXBRL for the tax computations, business is not ready for filing statutory accounts in iXBRL at this stage."

The comments follow the publication of official figures, which revealed that a record 6.9 million people filed their tax returns online in January this year.

Posted by Thomas Fletcher