The UK is Making Tax Digital; Tax Groups Should Consider Doing the Same

As they contemplate what the New Year may bring, VAT taxpayers in the UK might be excused for being less than enthusiastic about the new penalties for late filings and late payments that will take effect January 1, 2023. For many businesses, new sanctions will replace the Default Surcharge, which served as a combined late payment and late submission penalty, with a more complex system. It’s all part of the Making Tax Digital initiative, which requires digital record-keeping within software that’s compatible with the systems used by the UK revenue authority, HM Revenue and Customs.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that to stay in compliance with rapidly changing rules, regulations and digital reporting requirements like the UK’s, businesses will need to drive their own “making tax digital” initiatives.

As my colleague, Vertex VAT Director Peter Boerhof, points out in a recent ITR article, companies often assume that the tax functionality built into their ERP systems can manage their VAT requirements. But the reality is, it’s often not sophisticated enough for the job. “Consequently, businesses that are still using slow, laborious processes for invoicing, filing, and handling returns run the risk of audit failure,” Peter notes. “Non-compliance can cost businesses thousands, if not millions, on top of unpaid or overclaimed VAT.” Not to mention the risk of penalties, fines, and reputational damage.

A tax engine that integrates with the ERP platform can improve audit performance while streamlining the preparation of filings and relieving the burden of monitoring changes in tax legislation. It can also support digital sales by applying the indirect tax determination in real time.

In his article, Peter explains how Vertex helped one customer improve its indirect tax compliance with a solution that can upload and transfer data and connect all finance functions throughout multiple territories. The client was able to move away from a reliance on spreadsheets and custom-made, ad-hoc feeds with a more structured approach to VAT returns and in-built workflows that keep the company audit-ready at all times. Check it out – it’s a good example of how Vertex can help tax groups simplify and streamline global indirect tax compliance.