47881_Budget_2015_Web_Accessible

2.147 Tobacco Duty rates – As announced at Budget 2014, duty rates on tobacco productswill increase by 2% above RPI. These changes will come into effect from 6pm on 18 March2015. (Finance Bill 2015)2.148 Tobacco levy – The government will continue the consultation on whether to introducea tobacco levy through informal consultation with stakeholders.2.149 Anti-illicit tobacco package – The government will introduce a package of measuresto tackle the illicit tobacco trade, including:••establishing a cross-government ministerial group to oversee future evolution of the antiillicittobacco strategy••introducing a registration scheme for users and dealers in raw tobacco with a technicalconsultation on the design and scope of the scheme (Future Finance Bill) (30)••an informal targeted consultation with other departments, law enforcement agencies,legitimate business and health groups on sanctions••HMRC will commission academic research to provide evidence to galvanise action on theinternational stage2.150 Tobacco anti-forestalling restrictions – The government will be introducing measuresto tighten tobacco anti-forestalling rules and apply penalties for non-compliance, in order toprevent tax avoidance. The measures will apply to forestalling behaviour ahead of Budget 2016and beyond. (Finance Bill 2015)2.151 Gaming Duty bands – The government will increase Gaming Duty bands in line withRPI for accounting periods starting on or after 1 April 2015 (Finance Bill 2015).2.152 Horserace Betting Right – The government will bring forward legislative proposalsto replace the 1963 Horserace Betting Levy with a new Horserace Betting Right. The newauthorisation scheme will apply to all bookmakers, wherever located, who take bets from Britishcustomers on British racing and will be administered directly by the racing industry.2.153 Deductible VAT relating to foreign branches – The government will no longer allowbusinesses to take account of foreign branches when calculating how much VAT on overheadcosts they can reclaim in the United Kingdom. This measure will affect partly exempt businessesand they will have to implement the change from the beginning of their next partial exemptiontax year falling on or after 1 August 2015. (27)2.154 Revalorisation of the VAT registration and deregistration thresholds – From 1April 2015 the VAT registration threshold will be increased from £81,000 to £82,000 and thederegistration threshold from £79,000 to £80,000.2.155 VAT and transport agency – Finance Bill 2015 will legislate to ensure that theorganisation to replace the Highways Agency will be eligible for VAT refunds from 1 April 2015.(Finance Bill 2015)2.156 VAT refunds for shared services – Non-departmental public bodies will be included inthe VAT refunds scheme from 1 April 2015. (Future Finance Bill)86 Budget 2015