On 3 June 2022 the European Commission announced its sixth package of sanctions against Russia. Further details are now available  on the Institute’s webpage on Sanctions. One of the measures is that the provision directly or indirectly of certain business-relevant services such as accounting, auditing including statutory audit, bookkeeping and tax consulting services, business and management consulting, and public relations services to the Russian government, as well as to legal persons, entities or bodies established in Russia are now prohibited. The relevant legal acts, a Decision 2022/884 and a Regulation 2022/879 have been published in the Official Journal. The recitals to Regulation 2022/879 provide a little more detail of the services which fall within the sanctions. They state that “......accounting, auditing, bookkeeping and tax consultancy services cover the recording of commercial transactions for businesses and others; examination services of accounting records and financial statements; business tax planning and consulting; and the preparation of tax documents….” Exemptions to the EU sanction are provided. There is an exemption for provision of services that are strictly necessary for the termination by 5 July 2022 of contracts which are not compliant with the Article (i.e now prohibited by the sanction) which were concluded before 4 June 2022 or of ancillary contracts necessary for the execution of such contracts. Exemption is also given for services that are strictly necessary for the exercise of the right of defence in judicial proceedings and the right to an effective legal remedy. An exemption is given for services for the exclusive use of entities established in Russia but owned, solely controlled, or jointly controlled, by an entity in an EU Member State. Derogations (which would have to be sought) are provided for services necessary for humanitarian purposes. The provisions are somewhat vague. For example, the wording on the applicable date is not entirely clear though it seems that the services are banned with a deadline for cessation of activities ,the provision of services that are strictly necessary, of 5 July 2022. Strictly necessary services are not defined either. On 24 June 2022 the EU Commission updated its FAQs to include an FAQ document on prohibition of certain business relevant services. You can click here to read the FAQs on sanctions on certain business relevant services. In the UK a ban on professional services exports to Russia was announced by the UK government  on May 4th.No further details have been publicly announced although we understand that legislation is being prepared on those sanctions. We will provide further information when available. Please see links below for some recent news items on this issue: European Commission press release on Sixth package of sanctions Arthur Cox, solicitors Linklaters Responses to the Russia/Ukraine Crisis – Sanctions Update No.3 Reed Smith This news item is provided as resources and information only and nothing in the news item  purports to provide professional advice or definitive legal interpretation(s) or opinion(s) on the applicable legislation or legal or other matters referred to in the news item. If the reader is in doubt on any matter in this complex area further legal or other advice must be obtained. While every reasonable care has been taken by the Institute in the preparation of the news item we do not guarantee the accuracy or veracity of any resource, guidance, information or opinion, or the appropriateness, suitability or applicability of any practice or procedure contained therein. The Institute is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of the resources or information contained in the news item. Chartered Accountants Ireland can accept no responsibility for the content on any site that is linked to/from the Institute website. Links are provided in good faith for the potential support of members and students.

The proposals under the NI Protocol Bill would establish green and red channels for goods. The diagram below gives an outline of how this would work. 

In this week’s EU Exit Bulletin, we cover what’s known about the publication by the UK government of a Bill to override elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol. We also bring you an update from the latest meeting of the Joint Customs Consultative Committee of which the Institute is a member.  In other news, HMRC has published a declarant checklist for moving to the Customs Declarations Service and we bring you the latest updated guidance on GOV.UK. UK government publishes Bill to amend Northern Ireland Protocol Earlier this week, the UK Government published the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.  The Government also published a policy paper and explanatory notes for the Bill, as well as its legal position.  As announced by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in May, the Bill will disapply key elements of the Protocol that relate to goods trade, VAT, the role of the Court of Justice of the EU as well as subsidy control.     Among the changes, a ‘green lane’ would be provided for trusted British traders moving goods into Northern Ireland that are not intended for the EU single market. Products that are destined for the EU would be placed in a ‘red lane’ and undergo full checks and customs controls.   A dual regulatory regime is also proposed under which traders could choose to follow either the UK or EU’s regime. Furthermore, the UK has proposed that Northern Ireland would follow UK VAT rules for trading in goods and not the EU VAT rules that currently apply. The UK government has provided this diagram in the policy paper outlining a sketch of how the green and red lane system would work (Source: GOV.UK). Full technical details will be published at a later date. Following the publication of the Bill, the EU has re-launched its legal action against the UK, with European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič saying in a statement the UK had “confirmed its intention to unilaterally break international law.” The European Commission also set out details of their infringement proceedings in a statement. The Institute, in a statement following the publication of the Bill, said that the lack of detail in the Bill was a reminder that the current rules, however imperfect, are better than an uncertain alternative that is being proposed. Institute updated on latest on NI Protocol Bill The Institute attended a meeting of the Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC) this week where UK Government officials shared information on what is contained in the NI Protocol Bill. Officials told attendees that there is no change to the procedures currently in place for moving goods and no action is needed by traders while the Bill is making its way through Parliament. In addition, existing stand-still arrangements and grace periods and easements remain in place.  Officials confirmed that secondary legislation will develop the technical detail but were able to share the following: The green lane approach will be underpinned by the existing Trusted Trader Scheme and the current requirement to be established in the UK rather than Northern Ireland specifically would apply here. A dual regulatory regime would be established whereby traders can choose between UK and EU standards. Existing stand-still arrangements and grace periods and easements remain in place and ‘adequate’ time will be given for any new changes to be implemented. Officials stated that they are aware of the concerns that a dual regulatory regime could mean a border on the island of Ireland, but their view is that the Bill does not necessitate a North/South border Officials also acknowledged the design of new schema needs to be prepared with close engagement with businesses and that a system in theory does not always work in practice. Government officials were told that businesses in Northern Ireland needed certainty on the processes which they will face as well as the expected timeline for such changes.  Furthermore, the importance of Northern Ireland continuing to have access to EU markets was also noted. The UK has not sought to disapply this particular article of the Protocol. A consultation process on the new regime will be announced shortly and we will keep members updated. Miscellaneous updated guidance The following documents/guidance relevant to EU exit have been updated/published recently: Overseas NHS visitors: implementing the charging regulations; The Northern Ireland MHRA Authorised Route (NIMAR); Search the register of customs agents and fast parcel operators; Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen; Withdrawal Agreement arbitration panel; Support attestation costs reimbursement application; and Vehicle type approval: establishing a GB road vehicle approval scheme.

From a business perspective the UK Government’s publication of its Bill to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol is a reminder that the current rules, however imperfect, are better than the uncertain alternative that is being proposed, according to Chartered Accountants Ireland. Commenting on the UK’s proposals, Director of Public Policy Dr Brian Keegan said: “No matter how flawed or imperfect the current customs and VAT arrangements are, at least there is some clarity regarding the treatment of goods travelling East/West and North/South. The new Bill that has been presented does not clearly set out any new arrangements to replace the current position. The Bill is unhelpful commercially. It will create further uncertainty for businesses particularly in Northern Ireland. In an era of interest rate and inflationary pressures, this is unacceptable.” The Bill also proposes implementing VAT measures on a UK wide basis, giving UK Ministers the power to override the current application of EU VAT rules in Northern Ireland for goods. Dr Keegan continued: “If the measures set out in the Bill in relation to VAT are pursued, Northern Ireland could no longer be treated as if it were within the EU’s VAT area for goods. This will be detrimental for cross-border business because there would be additional VAT paperwork and payments on imports and exports”.

Speaking at a recent ESRI event, Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe advised that the Summer Economic Statement will be published in the coming weeks. It will set out the framework for the economic and fiscal discussion surrounding Budget 2023 which, as the Minister noted, is taking place against a backdrop of rising borrowing costs, a worrying reliance on corporate tax receipts, heightened economic and geopolitical uncertainty and inflation. Commenting on the work of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare, tasked with examining the underlying structural features of the tax and welfare system, the Minister for Finance remarked:  “Its report will contribute to the debate by making recommendations on how Government can best reform these systems to support economic activity, promote employment and ensure that we have the resources available to secure a stable and prosperous future over the medium-to-long term”.

Revenue has updated its Tax and Duty Manual to clarify in paragraph 2 the requirements for submitting an Expression of Doubt. In addition to completing all relevant sections of the tax return, taxpayers must also submit documentation in support of the Expression of Doubt on or before the filing date using MyEnquiries.

A publication aiming to kickstart a conversation with businesses about how to reform the UK’s capital allowances regime was published last month by HM Treasury. Comments on the publication are requested by 1 July 2022. Chartered Accountants Ireland will be responding to this. Send your feedback to leontia.doran@charteredaccountants.ie by Friday 17 June 2022. The Spring Statement sets out some illustrations of the types of changes the Government could make to the current capital allowances regime. Options to do so are being considered ahead of the Budget which is expected to take place in the Autumn. Part of this is continuing to review the latest evidence, including the impact of the super-deduction and views of businesses. The key areas of interest set out in the publication are as follows:- Investment decisions – the Government would welcome evidence from stakeholders on how firms make investment decisions, the relative importance of capital allowances in those decisions, and how they are taken into account, such as by reference to net present values, cash-flow benefits or impacts on effective tax rates; The super-deduction – the Government wants to incorporate the latest evidence on the impact of the super-deduction into its decision-making. As part of this, it is keen to hear views on how the super-deduction has affected the investment decisions of businesses; and The current system of capital allowances – as set out at Spring Statement, the Government acknowledges that the generosity of the permanent capital allowances available in the UK compares unfavourably to some international peers and wants to know what more the capital allowances regime can do to support business investment. The Government would welcome stakeholder views on how far capital allowances rates influences decisions by multinationals on which territory to invest in and on levels of awareness of the current system, how simple it is to understand and operate, and whether it provides adequate support for business investment. In respect of the options set out at Spring Statement, the Government would welcome views on these which included:- increasing the permanent level of the Annual Investment Allowance; increasing the rates of Writing Down Allowances; introducing general First-Year Allowances (“FYA”) for qualifying expenditure on plant and machinery; introducing an additional FYA; and introducing permanent full expensing. Whilst some have called for full expensing to be introduced following the end of the super-deduction on 31 March 2023, at its peak this could cost over £11 billion in a single year. If sufficient funding were to be available, the Government is interested in stakeholder views about whether this would be best spent on full expensing or better targeted through other options (including non-tax options). Similarly, the Government welcomes views on how best to target its approach if less funding is available. The options will have different outcomes for different types of business and for the economy more widely. For instance, the impacts of the options will vary depending on whether a business is incorporated or unincorporated, profit or loss-making, and the extent to which it values an immediate cash benefit. In addition, the options may impact incentives for firms to use debt over equity finance. The Government is therefore interested in views on the advantages and disadvantages of the options, including in light of these factors.

At a recent meeting of HMRC’s Virtual Communications Group, a number of items of interest to our members were discussed, including letters to businesses regarding Making Tax Digital for VAT. These are set out below. HMRC letters on the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) We recently informed readers that HMRC has been writing to recipients of SEISS grants 4 and 5 where an overpayment appears to have been received. HMRC has confirmed that the receipt of this letter does not preclude HMRC from examining other aspects of COVID-supports received by these businesses, including any other SEISS grants received and job retention scheme grants. Other compliance work is still possible. Anti-money laundering letters As outlined in a Tax News story in January, HMRC is continuing to send letters to tax agents in the UK seeking confirmation of their anti-money laundering (“AML”) supervision status to avoid having their tax agent codes suspended. AML supervision is undertaken by the Institute’s Professional Standards department. Any member who receives one of these letters must act on it to ensure they are able to continue to act as an agent on behalf of their clients. Failure to act can lead losing access to some HMRC online services including signing into their HMRC agent online account. Members of Chartered Accountants Ireland who are supervised by the Institute for AML purposes can seek the relevant confirmation letter using the following link:- HMRC AML Supervisor Confirmation Letter. The Institute recently launched webpages providing information and resources to members in the area of anti-money laundering. The pages are located on the Institute’s technical hub (please click here to access) and cover both the Republic of Ireland and the UK on areas such as legislation, supervision, reporting requirements, red flags, know the signs and other resources which we hope members will find useful. Making Tax Digital for VAT HMRC is sending its second round of letters to businesses with turnover less than £85,000 who are required to meet the conditions of MTD for VAT from 1 April 2022. A third letter will also be sent this month before the next 7 July 2022 VAT filing and payment deadline. HMRC is also in discussions regarding closure of its online VAT portal to encourage MTD for VAT take up by this population.    

Revenue has updated the Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP) manual to include guidance on: The eligibility of an assignee to avail of SARP where they have spent time in the State within six months of their arrival. The requirement for the assignee to spend at least 12 consecutive months working in the State after arrival. Non-application of SARP to employment income qualifying for double tax relief in the State. Administrative requirements. Revenue’s eBrief No. 122/22 contains further details.

HMRC has published updated guidance about the penalties which may arise for not notifying HMRC about overpaid Covid-19 job retention scheme and self-employed income support scheme grants. Guidance has also been published on how to apply for repayment of import duty and VAT on protective equipment or medical supplies brought into the UK from non-EU countries from 30 January 2020 to 31 December 2020. The guidance which has been updated is in the form of compliance check factsheets which are as follows:- Penalties for not telling HMRC about Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant overpayments – CC/FS47 - if you received a grant but were not eligible or you’ve been overpaid, read the updated guidance on what penalties you may have to pay if you do not tell HMRC; and Penalties for not telling HMRC about Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grant overpayments - CC/FS48 - if you've received a grant but were not eligible or you've been overpaid, read the updated guidance on what penalties you may have to pay if you do not tell HMRC.

In this week’s EU exit corner, we bring you the latest guidance updates. See also the most recent EU exit bulletin which features every Friday in Chartered Accountants eNews. HMRC has also published a declarant checklist for moving to the Customs Declarations Service and later today the UK Government is expected to publish draft legislation which will override parts of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland. Chartered Accountants Ireland will keep members updated. Miscellaneous updated guidance The following documents/guidance relevant to EU exit have been updated/published recently:- Overseas NHS visitors: implementing the charging regulations; The Northern Ireland MHRA Authorised Route (NIMAR); Search the register of customs agents and fast parcel operators; Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen; Withdrawal Agreement arbitration panel; Support attestation costs reimbursement application; and Vehicle type approval: establishing a GB road vehicle approval scheme.

Revenue has contacted the Institute to tell us that from 20 June 2022, all employers who claimed EWSS will receive a self-review letter from Revenue requiring them to conduct a final review of their eligibility for all subsidies and PRSI credit received. To assist, Revenue is providing an eligibility review calculator on its website. A sample of the text of the letter has also been provided by Revenue. No further action is required where the employer is satisfied that all claims are valid and correct. Submissions to correct and repay any invalid claims must be made by 30 September 2022. Instructions on how to do can be found on page 30 of the Main EWSS guidelines. Agents will receive a cover letter with a list attached, detailing which of their clients received the EWSS self-review letter. Interest and penalties may apply to incorrect claims for subsidies and/or credits identified where Revenue undertake a review of EWSS eligibility at a later date.

HMRC’s latest schedule of webinars is now available for booking. Spaces are limited, so take a look now and save your place. HMRC’s has also made available a YouTube video which contains an overview of how to report COVID-19 support payments and grants on Company Tax Returns, what happens if you’ve claimed too much and the records that must be kept.  If you have any questions, please send them to team.agentengagement@hmrc.gov.uk prior to the webinar, including the title of the webinar in the ‘Subject’ line of your email. HMRC will answer as many as possible on the day. Introduction to Plastic Packaging Tax: register here Find out about the new Plastic Packaging Tax and what to do if you produce or import plastic packaging. Plastic Packaging Tax – admin and technical aspects: register here This webinar contains more detail about the administrative and technical aspects of the new Plastic Packaging Tax. Making Tax Digital for VAT: register here This webinar will provide some of the basics of Making Tax Digital for VAT. This includes what has changed, using software and keeping digital records, plus an introduction to penalty reform. From April 2022, these requirements apply to all VAT-registered businesses, to include those that have a turnover below the VAT threshold.

Do you use HMRC online services? Don’t be caught out by the planned downtime to some services. HMRC are warning about the non-availability of specific services on the HMRC website, a range of services are impacted. Check the relevant page for information on planned downtime.

The OECD recently added new transfer pricing profiles for Egypt, Liberia, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka. The transfer pricing profiles focus on a country’s domestic legislation regarding key transfer pricing principles, including the arm's length principle, transfer pricing methods, comparability analysis, etc.). You can find the full list of transfer pricing profiles at www.oecd.org.

A subgroup on tax enforcement has been established by the European Commission and Member State tax authorities. The ‘Freeze and Seize’ Task Force, steered by Commissioner Didier Reynders, will escalate efforts against sanctioned Russian and Belarusian individuals and companies and their associates. The task force will uncover tax crimes, recover unpaid taxes, and facilitate the implementation of EU sanctions.

The financial year-end can be an overwhelming and stressful time for the audit function. Amy Cradock sets out some steps you can take to help lessen the load and ensure an efficient financial year-end. A well-prepared audit can help to minimise the risk of missed reporting deadlines, added costs and the demands on management. Here are some steps you can advise clients to take when preparing for an audit. Set out a clear project plan In advance of the financial year-end, meet with your auditors or clients, and work out a clear project plan for timelines and deliverables. This can act as a tracker throughout the audit process. Allocating responsibilities A critical part of audit readiness is allocating responsibilities internally. This includes scoping the level of resources and expertise necessary and setting a timeline for project management. Documentation and filing Advise clients to keep all documentation in a secure, easy-to-access location to avoid a scramble when the auditors arrive. They should keep track of debt agreements, leasing arrangements, lawsuits, complex transactions, technology modifications, and contracts with major customers and vendors. Don't leave everything until year-end The financial year-end can often be hectic when trying to complete  month-end and year-end reconciliations. Avoid leaving everything until this very busy time to prepare for your audit. Complete reconciliations and prepare any required information for the audit in the lead up to the year-end. Once you do reach year-end, you will only need to complete reconciliations from that month and any additional required accruals. By doing the work in the lead-up to year-end, you will be able to conduct the audit efficiently and with the proper resources. Identify significant changes Organisations preparing for an audit should consider how their financial situation has changed in the past year. For example: Are there new projects or agreements? Is there more revenue coming in? Have you accesses grants or government supports over the past 12 months? It is also important to note any non-financial changes in the company. Have internal control systems been altered, or have new processes been introduced? Organisations should note these changes as they could indirectly impact the fiscal findings for the financial year. Incorporate lessons from the previous year's audit Most year-end audits will have adjustments made and management letter points. These can be a great starting point to help  draw more accurate conclusions for the current year's audit. Schedule a planning meeting with those performing the audit and other decision-makers to see how you can navigate the previous year-end recommendations and improve the accuracy of this year's audit. Communication The auditor and the client should be in constant communication. Frequent communication is key to ensuring queries, questions and requests are addressed promptly to prevent delays while minimising the pressure on everyone. I recommend weekly calls throughout the audit process, with an audit project plan and the use of a tracker to help oversee progress. Inventory For companies performing a year-end physical inventory count, my advice is to plan carefully and educate your teams. Consider counting before year-end and doing a roll forward, with approval from the auditor. Like your year-end sales cut-off, you should also have a solid process in place to ensure proper shipping and receiving cut-off. Amy Cradock is Director of Financial Accounting & Advisory Services at Grant Thornton Ireland.

New laws set to come into place in Ireland will bring significant change for both employees and employers. Moira Grassick looks at pending legislation and what employers can do to start preparing. Employment law is constantly changing, so employers must keep track of what is on the horizon. Current changes to employment laws are a top priority for both Government and the Oireachtas, with a raft of new laws being proposed to deal with everything from domestic violence to probation periods.  Although many of these laws are in their early stages, they are expected to pass, meaning employers must prepare for the changes they will bring about. There is a clear indication that cross-party support on several Bills will have a direct impact on the employment relationship by as early as July and August of this year. Paid leave bills underway The Government recently approved a publication of the draft Sick Leave Bill 2022 providing for up to three paid sick days per year. This is planned to increase to five days in 2024, seven days in 2025 and 10 days in 2026. Under the new rules, employers will need to pay 70 percent of normal wages up to a maximum of €110 per day. This isn't the only new type of paid leave that has been proposed, however. The equality committee is set to discuss a bill to introduce paid leave for survivors of domestic violence. This would allow time off for medical visits, criminal and civil legal proceedings, counselling sessions, or for victims to look for a new home. Tips and gratuities Amendments to the National Minimum Wage bill may soon mean that employees in the service sector will be entitled to all tips and gratuities paid by customers. Up until now, it has been up to an employer to pay customer tips to employees. Service charges could be used to subsidise employee pay, so employers may need to make changes to their payroll system in anticipation. Retirement Older workers in Ireland will also be receiving better government support. Although there is no mandatory retirement age in Ireland, an exception allows employers to introduce it if the reason for doing so can be objectively and reasonably justified. The new Employment Equality (Abolition of Mandatory Retirement Age) Bill 2022 would abolish this loophole, meaning that it would be less likely that older workers would be forced out of work before they chose to leave. Redundancy Lengthy legal battles have led to proposed changes in the rules surrounding redundancy. An amendment to the Companies Bill (2021) and the Protection of Employment Bill (2017) aims to provide preferential creditor status to employees in collective redundancies. It follows the campaign by Debenhams employees to receive their full redundancy pay after the company went into liquidation. Right to disconnect With so many people still working from home, many employees will be happy to hear about the Right to Disconnect Bill. Thirty percent of home workers in Ireland have stated that they regularly work past their contracted hours. This bill would allow all home- and office-based employees to have the right not to work routinely outside normal hours. Stay aware Changes to company climate policies, potential changes to pay rates in specific sectors and a drive to ensure clarity around working conditions will all soon be discussed in the Dáil. Every employer must be aware of these potential changes to comply fully with all legislation. Moira Grassick is COO at Peninsula Ireland. 

To be truly successful in the fast-changing world of work, employers must start to think more strategically about the skills they need now as well as the skills they will need in the future, writes Niamh O’Brien. We are hearing a lot these days about emerging workplace trends and disruptors, such as Artificial Intelligence, smart working, and the gig economy. While it’s clear that all are having a marked impact on how we work and experience the workplace, what is less clear for many employers is how best to factor these far-reaching changes into their ongoing approach to people management. Evolution of technology, processes and skills Technology not only influences the work employees do but can also change the entire working environment—by facilitating remote working and providing access to a broader talent pool, for example, or transforming everyday processes and procedures. As a result, employers must start to think differently about their people, the skills they need right now, and the skills they are likely to need tomorrow. For many, this will require a more strategic, agile, and future-focused approach to managing their talent pool—not just for ‘right now’, but also for the future. Adding to this challenge are the evolving needs and demands of today’s workforce. More people are looking for greater opportunities to experience meaningful work, greater flexibility in their working lives, and more opportunities for personal development, training and upskilling. Employer value proposition To be truly successful, your people strategy must therefore encompass and build on all of these elements, but—no matter how complex or demanding the process of putting it together may be—your future-focused people strategy won’t, in itself, be enough.   As with any strategy, the real challenge often lies in bringing it to life, and it’s impossible to talk about people strategy without touching on Employer Value Proposition (EVP). Your EVP – that is, your employee branding and the way your organisation markets itself to attract talent – is integral to your people strategy. Without robust employee branding, you will lose people to your competition. The only way to gauge an active and engaged EVP is through measurement and KPIs. Keep on top of this and you are far more likely to achieve the desired results. This is because a measurable strategy, with clearly defined KPIs and a cyclical model of assessment and realignment, is far more likely to deliver results. Future-proofing your people strategy Your strategy should also span your entire talent ecosystem, including permanent employees, temporary or contingent staff, contractors, consultants, and gig workers. Only by mapping flexible solutions, which allow you to fill skills gaps in your organisation today and plan for the future, will you be able to implement a truly effective people strategy that can support long-term growth. Niamh O’Brien is Director of Talent Management at BDO.

In this week’s EU Exit Bulletin, we cover the decision by the UK government to delay the publication of a Bill to change elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol. We also bring you an update from HMRC regarding the new second-hand motor vehicle export VAT refund scheme as well as the latest EU exit guidance available on GOV.UK. In other news, the National Audit Office has published a report assessing how UK regulators have managed taking on new responsibilities following EU Exit. UK government delays Bill to amend Northern Ireland Protocol   A Bill that would enable the UK government to override elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol was not published this week as expected. Instead, amidst reported warning of political unrest in the UK, the Bill will be published some time next week. The Bill would allow the UK to disapply parts of the agreement and instead impose its own solutions.  According to a statement by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in May, among the changes, a ‘green lane’ would be provided for trusted British traders moving goods into Northern Ireland that are not intended for the EU single market. Products that are destined for the EU would be placed in a ‘red lane’ and undergo full checks and customs controls. The Institute attended a meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee on Customs following Liz Truss’s statement and were told that a notice period would be given for any changes that will be brought in. We will keep members updated on developments. VAT second-hand margin scheme As covered by us in a previous update, the UK government intends to introduce a new second-hand motor vehicle export refund scheme in October 2022 which will allow traders to claim a refund of VAT when moving a second-hand motor vehicle from Great Britain to Northern Ireland for resale.  HMRC has contacted the Institute to say that the existing guidance on the scheme will not be updated as planned in May. However, until the refund scheme is implemented, businesses can continue to rely on existing guidance when applying the margin scheme in Northern Ireland.  The UK has requested that the EU’s margin scheme continue to apply in Northern Ireland on a limited basis until the new second-hand motor vehicle export refund scheme is implemented. The guidance can be accessed using this link. We will keep members updated. New Trader Journey Assistant A new tool for traders, the Trader Journey Assistant, has been made available for traders on Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA). The tool poses a series of questions which will help traders understand the declarations requirements for goods movement. The tool will also direct traders to the relevant guidance to be able to complete declarations and pay any associated customs duties. Miscellaneous updated guidance The following documents/guidance relevant to EU exit have been updated/published recently:- Exporting active substances manufactured in Great Britain for use in EEA and Northern Ireland; TCA Partnership Council Decision number 3 (5 May 2022); Trade and Cooperation Agreement Governance; Community, Common Transit and TIR newsletters; Apply to import multiple low value parcels on one declaration; Moving excise goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland by parcel; Check simplified procedure value rates for fresh fruit and vegetables; Sending parcels to and from Northern Ireland; Moving excise goods as freight under the Northern Ireland Protocol from 1 January 2021 Webinar: moving goods between Spain and Great Britain; Webinars about moving goods from Belgium to Great Britain; Webinar: moving goods from the Netherlands to Great Britain; Webinars about moving goods from Portugal to Great Britain; Webinars about moving goods from Italy to Great Britain; EEA-qualified and Swiss healthcare professionals practising in the UK; Report goods arriving at a UK port on a commercial vessel; VAT and overseas goods sold to customers in the UK using online marketplaces; VAT and overseas goods sold directly to customers in the UK; Medical devices: UK approved bodies; Delaying declarations for goods brought into Great Britain; New rules for international road haulage from 2022; and Transport goods in Europe in vans or car and trailers.