• At-a-glance
• Administration of Tax
• Personal Taxation
• Employment Taxation
• Business Tax
• Corporation Tax
• Capital Gains
• Savings and Investments
  
• Inheritance Tax
  
• Charities
  
• Trusts
• Anti-avoidance
• Value Added Tax
• Stamp Taxes
• Insurance Premium Tax
• Environmental Taxes
• Excise Duties
• Landline Duty

EXCISE DUTIES

Tobacco Products Duty

The rates of tobacco products duty will be increased by 1% in real terms with effect from 6pm on 24 March 2010.

Alcohol Duty

The rates of alcohol duty will be increased with effect from 29 March 2010. Duty rates for all still ciders, and sparkling cider exceeding 1.2% alcohol by volume (abv) but not exceeding 5.5% abv, will increase by 10% above inflation. Duty rates for all other alcoholic drinks will increase by 2% above inflation. This will increase the price of a typical pint of beer by 2 pence.

Cider

The Finance Bill will include legislation to provide a power to amend the definition of cider for the purposes of alcohol duty in order to protect its integrity. This will take effect from the date of Royal Assent to the Finance Act.

Excise Duties and Gambling

The Finance Bill will include legislation to reduce the rate of bingo duty from 22% to 20%, increase the amounts of amusement machine licence duty (AMLD) in line with inflation, and raise the gross gaming yield (GGY) bandings for gaming duty in line with inflation. The reduced rate of bingo duty will take effect for accounting periods beginning on or after 29 March 2010. The increases to AMLD will take effect for any licence applications received by HMRC after 4pm on 26 March 2010. The changes to the GGY bandings will take effect for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2010.

Tackling Tobacco Smuggling in the Post

Postal operators have the power to pass packages suspected to contain smuggled goods to Customs. With effect from the date of Royal Assent to Finance Act 2010, HMRC no longer have to notify addressees that they are opening such packages. They are also no longer required to invite them to be in attendance when the packages are opened.