Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 - Devolved Taxes Accounts

Foreword

Welcome to the Revenue Scotland Annual Report and Accounts for the Devolved Taxes for 2021-22.

This is the seventh reporting year since the organisation began its operational activity in April 2015, and also the first reporting period of Revenue Scotland’s 2021-24 corporate planning period.

Revenue Scotland is responsible for the collection and management of Scotland’s devolved taxes – currently Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and Scottish Landfill Tax (SLfT). Amounts received from the collection of the devolved taxes, less any permitted deductions, are paid into the Scottish Consolidated Fund in accordance with the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014 (RSTPA).

Revenue Scotland was established by the RSTPA which also sets out the legislative framework for the wholly devolved taxes in Scotland. As a Non-Ministerial Office, Revenue Scotland is part of the Scottish Administration but is directly accountable to the Scottish Parliament to ensure the administration of tax is independent, fair and impartial. Revenue Scotland delegates some of its legislative functions for the collection of SLfT to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). This includes the regulatory functions of the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF) – a tax credit scheme available to landfill operators.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission is responsible for providing independent forecasts of tax revenues in line with the Fiscal Framework. Revenue Scotland provides statistical information about the taxes it collects.

This document sets out the financial information about the devolved taxes required under the terms of the Accounts Direction issued by Scottish Ministers.

A separate document, The Annual Report and Accounts for the Resource Accounts for 2021-22 provides detailed commentary on the performance of Revenue Scotland in delivering its statutory functions.

This document includes Revenue Scotland’s corporate governance arrangements and reporting for the Devolved Taxes Account, audit and risk arrangements, the Independent Auditor’s report and the Financial Statements for the Devolved Taxes Account.

Summary of Devolved Tax Revenue

These financial statements report revenue of £934m (2020-21: £624m).

 

2021-22 Tax, penalties & interest receivable Total £000

2021-22 Budget Act Estimates Total £000

2020-21 Tax, penalties & interest receivable Total £000

Land & Buildings Transaction Tax 807,183 586,000 517,354
Scottish Landfill Tax 125,248 88,000 106,528
Penalties & interest 1,245 0 138
Total 933,676 647,000 624,020

The values in the table above are for tax returns and amendments submitted during 2021-22 and for LBTT & SLfT returns received during April and May 2022 which relate to the period up to 31 March 2022. The returns submitted during 2021-22 may include adjustments to returns originally submitted in earlier years. However, unless these adjustments were accrued into the financial statements of the relevant year, these are accounted for in the year of receipt.

The LBTT tax revenue raised in 2021-22 is dependent on the performance of both residential and non-residential property markets within Scotland. The SLfT tax revenue raised in 2021-22 is dependent on categories and tonnage of waste deposited in landfill sites in Scotland. Revenue Scotland is not responsible for the forecasting of expected tax revenues.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission is responsible for providing independent forecasts of tax revenue and provided the forecast for the Budget (Scotland) Act 2021-22. The Budget (Scotland) Act 2021-22 estimates were included in Scotland’s Economic and Fiscal Forecasts published in January 2021.

Revenue Scotland response to UK fiscal announcement

Further to the UK Chancellor’s fiscal statement of today, 23 September 2022, the Scottish Government will be considering the announcement carefully.

On Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and on Scottish income tax bands, the Scottish Government will set out its plans as part of the normal budget process.

A statement by the Deputy First Minister is available on the Scottish Government website

Revenue Scotland has moved over to a new contact management system to manage calls at our support desk.

On Wednesday 21 September 2022 Revenue Scotland moved over to a new contact management system to manage calls at our support desk. This new system will enable us to triage and manage contacts more efficiently. The telephone number and operating hours remain unchanged.

Revenue Scotland Support Desk: 03000 200 310

Operating hours are: Monday – Friday, 10:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 16:00.

Callers will be presented with 3 options:

Revenue Scotland welcomes new Board members

Three new members have been appointed to the Board of Scotland's tax authority, Revenue Scotland.

The appointment of previous Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (2016-21) Rt Hon Ken Macintosh, digital transformation and emerging technologies expert Idong Usoro, and Robert MacIntosh, Professor of Strategic Management and Pro Vice Chancellor for Business and Law at Northumbria University, have today been announced by the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, Tom Arthur.

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