Archive for September, 2013

Check HMRCs callers IDs

Thursday, September 5th, 2013

Readers will be aware that there a multitude of emails circulating on the internet purporting to be from HMRC. In almost all cases these will be some form of scam, attempting to gather personal information from you in exchange for the promise of a tax refund or similar inducement.

HMRC have confirmed, on numerous occasions, that they do not email taxpayers. They may telephone, send you a letter or knock on your door, but they will not send you an email.

However, if someone does turn up at your door, purporting to be from HMRC, how do you know the person is who they say they are? To deal with this HMRC have issued instructions: how to check a caller’s ID.

‘To provide a safeguard against bogus callers in these situations, HMRC has introduced a new Field Force Verification Helpline.
To access the helpline, customers [taxpayers] should follow these simple steps:

• Ask to see the Collector’s photo ID
• Make a note of the ID number on the photo ID
• Call 0300 200 3862
• Provide HMRC with the ID number you’ve noted

The operator will then be able to confirm to you whether or not your caller is genuinely an HMRC Collector.

Every customer visited, from now onwards, will be given a copy of a leaflet showing the rights and responsibilities by the Collector on arrival at the customer’s premises. This also includes the Field Force Verification Helpline number.’
 

Minimum wage crack down by HMRC

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013

Businesses should be aware that HMRC polices the National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation. Not only do they fine employers who breach the regulations, they also enforce the payment of underpaid wages to staff.

HMRC have recently released figured confirming that 26,000 workers were paid less than the minimum wage.

• 708 employers had been fined with charges of up to £5,000, after it reviewed 1,693 complaints in 2012-13, and
• affected workers were given an average of £300 each in back-pay.

Investigated cases included the illegal use of interns, unpaid extra hours and workers being forced to buy company clothes as uniform. The NMW is currently £6.19 an hour for workers aged 21 or over.

From 1 October 2013 the NMW rates are:

• 21 and over: £6.31 per hour
• 18 to 20: £5.03 per hour
• Under 18: £3.72 per hour
• Apprentices under 19 years or in the first year of their apprenticeship: £2.68 per hour.

If you are unsure if your working practices comply with the NMW legislation you should take professional advice.