From 4 April 2022, applicants applying to renew certain licences will need to pass a tax check before their licence applications can be considered. Initially, the requirement will only apply in England and Wales. However, the Government have consulted on extending the requirements to Scotland and Northern Ireland from 2023.
Licences affected
Tax conditionality (the need to pass a tax check before a licence is renewed) will apply to licences to:
- drive taxi and private hire vehicles (such as mini cabs);
- operate a private hire vehicle business;
- carry on the business of a scrap metal dealer on a site; and
- carry on business as a mobile collector of scrap metal.
The check will only apply to licence renewal applications, not to first-time applications. However, the licensing authority will need to provide first-time applicants with information on what they need to do to comply with their tax obligations, and check that the applicant has received that information, before considering the licence application.
Nature of the tax check
The new tax check will apply in addition to the existing requirements imposed by the licensing authority. The purpose of the check is to confirm that the applicant is registered for tax. The check should only need to be completed about once every three years.
If you are applying to renew a licence on or after 4 April 2022, you will be able to complete the check, which will comprise a few short questions, via your Government Gateway account. The Government are to make guidance on completing the check available on the Gov.uk website. A helpline will also be available.
Once you have completed the check, you will be given a code. The code is important, and you must give it to your licensing authority as they are unable to progress your licence renewal application without it.
HMRC will inform the licensing authority whether you have passed the tax check. However, they will not provide them with any details of your tax affairs.
Planning ahead for the tax conditionality
In preparation for the introduction of tax conditionality, it is advisable to ensure that your tax affairs are in order, and get them up to date if they are not. HMRC have published a communications pack explaining what this will mean for licence applicants. It is worth a read.
We can help
If you will be required to pass the tax check in order to renew a licence that you need to operate your business, we can help you ensure that your tax affairs are in order: Pi Accountancy | Expert Business Advice | Gloucester & Swindon (pi-accountancy.co.uk)