Tue, 9 Mar 2015Tax simplification and late payment support top UK small businesses’ wishlist for Budget 2015, according to a survey by YouGov and serviced office space supplier Flexioffices.

Of the 818 small business “decision makers” surveyed, 20% would like to see corporation tax breaks and relief for small businesses and start-ups. Some suggested they would like to see a complete abolishment of business rates for companies with annual turnover under £800k.

More straightforward tax was an issue for 19% of respondents, most of them working in the areas of finance and accounting, while late payment support was an issue for 11%.

They called for stronger penalties for late payments, especially from large organisations. The highest proportion of respondents in this group was from England’s North-West.

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE), has also called for tax simplification, a cut in corporate tax and business rates, and tougher sanctions on late payers.

It has also called for an increase in spending on broadband and transport infrastructure, especially in rural areas, to improve connectivity for small businesses; and a change in the tax treatment of training for the self-employed.

In addition, it says plans to restrict travel and subsistence expenses should not be applied to limited companies, and maternity pay and pensions for the self-employed should be reviewed, to make it easier to work in this way.

The wishlists were largely in line with a recruitment industry election wishlist, compiled by Recruiter in December, which found tax, action on late payment, regulatory issues and apprenticeships were all high on the agenda.

The Budget will be announced on 18 March.