SFO Annual Report

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has published its 2008/2009 annual report. An MP3 interview with SFO Director Richard Alderman giving his assessment of the report is also available.

ICAEW publishes report on SME access to finance

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) has published a report on the lending climate for small and medium sized entities. Commissioned by the UK Government's Business Department, it is based on research carried out for ICAEW by Ipsos Mori. The report is available to download for free.

UKFI publishes Market Investments Strategy and Annual Report

UK Financial Investments Limited (UKFI), the company which was set up to manage the Government’s investments in the banks, has published its strategy for managing the Government’s stakes in RBS and Lloyds today (13 July). The document also contains its first annual report.

IASB publishes IFRS for SMEs

Last week (9 July) the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) published a new International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) for Small and Medium-Sized Entities (SMEs). It's a self-contained standard about 230 pages long which is tailored for the needs and capabilities of smaller businesses, which make up around 95% of businesses.
The standard can be downloaded for free from the IASB website.

Two new HMRC consultation documents

Last week (9 July) HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) launched two new consultation documents on modernising HMRC powers, deterrents and safeguards. They are available for comment on the HMRC website and the consultations are open until 1 October 2009.

The first document looks at "proposals for modernising and improving HMRC’s information powers, and accompanying safeguards, in two key areas". These are bulk information powers and specialist unnamed taxpayer powers.

The second document looks at ideas for a new and modernised excise checking framework, as well as ways of improving excise administrative procedures, in order to reduce admin burdens for business".