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The Chamber has received reports from businesses (both members and non-members) that a company is calling selling advertising relating to the Olympic Games. This company claims to be calling either from or on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce but we do not have any agreement with any companies relating to this. If you receive a call from any company claiming to be calling on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, please check our list of stakeholders by clicking here If the company calling is not on this list, please take some further details and call the membership team on 0845 641 1641.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued an alert to VAT-registered businesses across the UK about important changes that come into effect this spring. From 1 April 2012, all VAT-registered businesses must send their VAT returns online and pay their VAT electronically. Currently, only newly-registered businesses, and those with turnovers of more than £100,000, have to file and pay their VAT online. The new rules will cover VAT returns filed for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2012. If you’re not already filing your VAT online, switching now makes sense. By doing this, you’ll avoid a last-minute rush, and be able to enjoy the benefits of online filing sooner rather than later. These benefits include: * an automatic acknowledgement that your return has been received; * a handy arithmetic checker to help make sure you’ve done your sums correctly; and * an email alert to remind you when your next online return is due (as, after April, HMRC will stop sending out paper returns to customers who are now required to file online). To file your VAT return online, you’ll need to register for HMRC’s VAT Online Service – visit www.online.hmrc.gov.uk and click “Register” under the “New user” section. Then follow the instructions. Affected businesses will also need to set up their preferred electronic payment method. Visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/payinghmrc/vat.htm for more information on the various options. Further help and advice is available from HMRC’s website If that doesn’t answer your question, call the VAT Online Services Helpdesk on 0845 010 8500 (available between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday).