13 Apr 2009
Help from the UK Government has enabled 6570 Scottish companies to defer tax payments totalling £122m to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the past four months, new figures published today reveal.
Scottish Secetary Jim Murphy said it was an 'example of the real help being provided to businesses and people across Scotland to deal with these difficult economic times.'
Since the Pre-Budget Report last November, HMRC has agreed with 6570 firms in Scotland that they can defer tax payments which include Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE. This help has been taken up in every part of Scotland (see regional table below) from the 10 companies in Shetland to 750 in the City of Glasgow.
Mr Murphy said that a 'Real Help Now in Scotland' booklet would be published later this week, prior to the UK Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on Thursday, which pulls together all the many types of help available for businesses and individuals. The booklet provides advice and contact details for a whole range of people including homeowners worried about meeting their mortage payments, employees concerned about losing their job or businesses looking to raise capital.
Jim Murphy said:
'These figures are an example of the real help being provided to businesses and people across Scotland to deal with these difficult economic times. Thousands of firms across Scotland are agreeing to defer tax payments right now. We want to help these firms deal with the pressures they are facing and get through this recession.
'Later this week we will publish a Real Help Now in Scotland booklet which sets out the full range of assistance that is on offer and makes it easier for people to find the help most suited to them.
'The UK Cabinet meets in Glasgow on Thursday with the economy top of the agenda. We will be hearing directly from people across Scotland about their experiences and we will also be discussing how to build on the significant progress made at the G20 London Summit.'
Regional breakdown of business taxes deferred by HMRC in Scotland
Aberdeen City - 220 cases with a total of £8m tax
Aberdeenshire - 240 cases, £3m tax
Angus - 140 cases, £2m tax
Argyll and Bute - 150 cases, £1m tax
Clackmannanshire - 60 cases, £3m tax
Dumfries and Galloway - 210 cases, £3m tax
Dundee City - 140 cases, £2m tax
East Ayrshire - 150 cases, 33m tax
East Dunbartonshire - 130 cases, £2m tax
East Lothian - 110 cases, £1m tax
East Renfrewshire - 110 cases, £4m tax
City of Edinburgh - 670 cases, £13m tax
Eilean Siar - 20 cases, £0m
Falkirk - 170 cases, £2m tax
Fife - 410 cases, £6m tax
Glasgow - 750 cases, £20m tax
Highland - 380 cases, £4m tax
Inverclyde - 40 cases, £1m tax
Midlothian - 100 cases, £2m tax
Moray - 110 cases, £1m tax
North Ayrshire - 130 cases, £2m tax
North Lanarkshire - 340 cases, £7m tax
Orkney Islands - 30 cases, £0m tax
Perth and Kinross - 290 cases, £4m tax
Renfrewshire - 230 cases, £6m tax
Scottish Borders - 230 cases, £3m tax
Shetland Islands - 10 cases, £0m tax
South Ayrshire - 150 cases, £4m tax
South Lanarkshire - 420 cases, £6m tax
Stirling - 190 cases, £4m tax
West Dunbartonshire - 40 cases, £0m
West Lothian - 200 cases, £5m tax
SCOTLAND TOTAL - 6570 cases, £122m