New Scottish Landfill Tax Rates 2020/21
2 April 2020
The Scottish Landfill Tax (Standard Rate and Lower Rate) Order 2020 has now been approved by the Scottish Parliament and came into effect on 1 April 2020. As a result, taxable disposals made or treated as made on or after 1 April 2020 will be subject to the following rates of SLfT:
Scottish Landfill Tax
SLfT is a tax on the disposal of waste to landfill and is charged by weight on the basis of two rates: a standard rate for active materials; and a lower rate for less polluting (referred to as ‘inert’) materials.
Operators of landfill sites in Scotland are liable for SLfT, and this cost is passed on to the local authorities and businesses who dispose of waste at the landfill sites.
Revenue Scotland administers SLfT with support from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
SLfT rates
From 1 April 2020, the standard rate of SLfT has increased from £91.35 to £94.15 per tonne and the lower rate from £2.90 to £3.00 per tonne. The increase was announced in the Scottish Parliament in February 2020 as part of the Scottish Budget 2020-21. It will mean that rates and bands remain the same as those in place in the rest of the UK.
Revenue Scotland Amends Interest Rates in Line with Bank of England Rate
25 March 2020
On 19 March 2020, the Bank of England announced a 0.15% decrease in the base interest rate (now 0.10%). Revenue Scotland has amended its rates accordingly and these will take effect from Wednesday, 25 March 2020.
COVID-19
17 March 2020
Revenue Scotland continues to closely monitor the developing COVID-19 situation. At present our operating hours remain as normal.
Further updates regarding any changes to this will be provided through the Revenue Scotland website and Twitter.
About us
Revenue Scotland is Scotland's devolved tax authority. Established in 2015, we've evolved from a fledgeling organisation to an established and respected tax authority with a reputation for effective and efficient tax administration.
Our role and governance
As a non-ministerial office, we are accountable to the Scottish Parliament, ensuring proper oversight while maintaining the confidence of taxpayers. Our board is appointed by the Scottish Ministers, while our senior leadership team is responsible for our daily operations.
We are an efficient organisation and consistently operate at less than 1% of the revenue we collect, meeting the OECD benchmark for efficient tax administration.
Revenue Scotland Amends Interest Rates in Line with Bank of England Rate
17 March 2020
On 11 March 2020 , the Bank of England announced a 0.5% decrease in the base interest rate (now 0.25%). Revenue Scotland has amended its rates accordingly and these will take effect from Tuesday, 17 March 2020.
Revenue Scotland Launches Draft Equality Outcomes Consultation
13 March 2020
Revenue Scotland has today (13 March 2020) launched a consultation on its Draft Equality Outcomes for 2020-24, outlining how the organisation will strengthen equalities in its operations both as a public service provider and employer.
Minister for Public Finance & Digital Economy announces Scottish Budget 2020-21
The Minister for Public Finance and the Digital Economy, Kate Forbes MSP, has proposed changes to LBTT rates and bands for lease transactions. The changes, announced in her Budget statement to Parliament today (6 February 2020), will take effect from 7 February 2020.
The proposals introduce a new rate of 2% payable where the net present value (NPV) of the rent payable under the lease is above £2 million. The revised rates and bands are:
Revenue Scotland annual stats summary shows Scottish capital accounts for majority of residential LBTT declared due
24 January 2020
The City of Edinburgh has accounted for between 30 and 33 percent of residential Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) excluding Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) declared due in Scotland every year since collection of the fully devolved tax began.
Since April 2015, the Scottish capital has seen LBTT (excluding ADS) declared due from residential sales at more than three times that of other local authorities, with no other region accounting for more than 9 percent in any one year.
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