Spring Statement addresses digital payments

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a consultation on the future of cash and digital payments, in his Spring Statement this week. According to Paul Falvey, tax partner at BDO, this will seek to address the problem of tax not being paid by those making money from online platforms. Falvey said: ‘HMRC is suggesting the possibility of both carrot and stick; they already have powers to compel UK-based platforms to provide them with details of their customers but this obligation can be avoided by non-UK based providers. A possible solution is to extend this rule outside the UK.’