CEOs welcome: Time to plan ahead

It’s been hard to know whether we are coming or going this month, what with the numerous government announcements and changes surrounding the mini Budget, Growth Plan and medium-term fiscal plan. By the time you read this, we’ll also have heard any fresh announcements on 31 October. We have seen many members and employers engage with the changes through social media, producing really helpful summaries for clients and the public alike. What is clear, is that individuals and organisations are finding it really difficult to plan ahead with any certainty.

As you might imagine, our teams have been called upon to speak to the press about the unfolding tax announcements and U-turns, and we’ve been publishing summaries, commentary and updates on the technical pages of our websites. You will also be receiving links to these in our Tuesday email newsletter. Remember that you can access this at any time online and on your portable devices at this link: www.lexisnexis.co.uk/ciot-att-newsletter. See the Briefings section from page 44 which shows you some of our coverage.

Please do look out for an email from us inviting you to renew your data preferences for receiving information from us. Our preference centre ensures you can choose the information you would like to receive, which is most relevant to you and your area of specialism.

We are really looking forward to the launch of our new Diploma in Tax Technology (DITT) qualification on 21 November. Dr Daniel Susskind is our keynote speaker. He is a Research Professor in Economics at King’s College London and has authored books ‘The future of the professions’ and ‘A world without work’. He will be joined by our DITT panellists who will introduce the qualification, explain the syllabus and advise how you can register to be one of the first to study and hold this new qualification. Everyone is welcome to attend the online launch, and more information is available at: bit.ly/3ge0oM9.

Our Branch volunteers and team have lined up an excellent programme of online and in-person events for you. Whilst we continue to harness the benefits and convenience of online participation, we’ve appreciated the positive feedback and atmosphere for in-person activities.

If you are feeling a little hesitant about this, please do speak to our friendly team who will be pleased to reassure you about the measures we have in place to ensure you feel safe and supported. Many local branches are celebrating anniversaries over the next few months.

If you haven’t been to a branch meeting before, this is an excellent opportunity to meet fellow members in a social setting. Look out for the Saturday emails which include details of all the upcoming events.

The ATT are looking to recruit new Council members to replace those who are retiring at the next AGM having served their maximum 12 year term. If you would like the opportunity to contribute your skills and expertise, and play a fundamental role in the strategic development of the ATT, we would like to hear from you. Details of how to apply are at: bit.ly/3TdvwKt.

And finally, a huge WELL DONE to the KiliTax team of five who conquered Mount Kilimanjaro. They have raised £22,000 for the tax charities and are still hoping to reach their target of £34,000. You can find their page at justgiving.com/team/KiliTax2020 and a write up of their experiences on page 48.