In brief

VAT

Issue 4 of HMRC’s VAT Notes 2016 is available. It contains information about machine games duty.

Contracting out

The latest issue of HMRC’s Countdown Bulletin has been published. Articles cover reconciling active and non-active members with HMRC questions and answers on the guaranteed minimum pensions checker and database management for the scheme reconciliation service. See here.

Foreign exchange

The yearly averages and spot rates for December 2016 have been added to the HMRC foreign exchange rates pages. See here.

Fiscal policy

The Treasury has laid before parliament its updated charter for budget responsibility. See here.

Donations

The Small Charitable Donations and Childcare Payments Act received royal assent on 16 January 2017. It makes changes to the gift aid small donations scheme and technical amendments to the tax-free childcare scheme.

Pensions

The...