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Amendment to regulations for filing VAT returns
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Following a tribunal ruling, changes have been made to regulations for filing VAT returns.
Changes made following tribunal ruling over online filing

HM Revenue & Customs have confirmed a change to regulations for the filing of VAT returns after a tribunal ruled that UK VAT law failed to take into account the difficulties some individuals have in filing returns online.

From April 2012 the vast majority of businesses were legally mandated to file their VAT returns online. While many found it easy to make the transition from paper filing, HMRC was contacted by a number of individuals to explain their difficulties in filing in returns online. The businesses were advised of digital assistance options to meet the legal obligation, including that they should use public libraries, the computers of friends or family, use the services of an agent or, if none of these were appropriate to use the existing filing by telephone service.

However in response to appeals against the requirement to file online, the First-tier tribunal ruled that UK VAT law failed to take account of an individual's ability to comply on account of age, disability, computer literacy and remoteness of location and, as such, was a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The judge also held that HMRC could not rely on the fact that telephone filing had been made available to certain businesses to remedy the breach as it had not been legislated for or properly publicised.

Following formal consultation Regulation 25A of VAT Regulations 1995 has been amended to enable HMRC to make a Commissioners' direction approving telephone filing as an alternative method for filing for businesses that satisfy HMRC that it is it not practicable to use the online service and to provide an exemption for businesses that satisfy HMRC that it is not reasonably practicable for them to use the online service so that such businesses can file on paper. 

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."