Mobile apps that support record keeping for small businesses below the VAT threshold are being created by the software industry following an HMRC consultation . . .
On 16 April, HM Revenue and Custom’s Press Office released news on HMRC’s website that mobile applications are in production for self-employed or small businesses below the VAT threshold to help maintain their tax records and calculate possible tax liabilities. The mobile apps are said to be ‘mostly free’ and will ‘complement existing HMRC record-keeping guidance and tools’.
Director of Business, Customer and Strategy at HMRC, Naomi Ferguson, said:
“More and more small businesses use Smart phones as part of their business. These apps will provide the opportunity to keep track of records on the go, wherever business people are. Record keeping is often an add-on to day-to-day running of small businesses and the apps will hopefully help to make it an integral part of the business.
“We are really excited to see the arrival of the record keeping mobile apps. The consultation with the software industry has been a positive process and has led to a number of high quality apps being available. We welcomed the opportunity to work with them to help customers with their record-keeping responsibilities and access our guidance.”
HMRC joined forces with the Business Application Software Developer Association (BASDA) alongside individual developers to create the record-keeping mobile apps. Mobile-Apps that will be available include:
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- Forbes Receipt Keeper;
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- Earnest;
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- ZipZipBooks;
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- MyBizTracker;
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- Text2SaveTax;
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- Quick File;
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- Sage Record Keeper, and
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- Moneybox
Commenting on the mobile apps, Exchequer Secretary, David Gauke, said:
“These apps help take forward our commitment to tax transparency in a very direct and practical way. They can make SMEs feel more confident about their record-keeping and provide a direct link to the business’s finances, freeing up time which can be better spent on the day-to-day running of the business.”
HMRC have not and will not be carrying out any testing on the mobile applications, stating in their press office release that: ‘Customers are encouraged to ask their suppliers for more information about the security aspects of the products and services they provide’.
The mobile apps under production will be available for iPhones, Windows phones and Android. Although they won’t be available to Blackberry handsets from the outset ‘there may be other apps covering Blackberry in the future’.
Kevin Kinsella Jnr, of KinsellaTax, said:
“Anything that makes life easier should be welcomed. I look forward to trying the various mobile apps as and when they are available.”
Mobile applications are part of HMRC’s 2012/2013 campaign to ‘help small businesses with their record-keeping obligations’.
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