Government cracks down on late payments

The government has announced a crackdown on late payments to small businesses and the self-employed.

Late payments cost SMEs £22,000 a year on average, according to Smart Data Foundry, while the Federation of Small Businesses says it leads to 50,000 business closures a year.

The government will consult on new laws that will hold larger firms to account and aim to get cash flowing back into businesses.

In addition, new legislation being brought in the coming weeks will require all large businesses to include payment reporting in their annual reports - putting the onus on them to provide clarity in their annual reports about how they treat small firms. This will mean company boards and international investors will be able to see how firms are operating.

Anna Leach, Chief Economist at the Institute of Directors (IoD), said:

'For small businesses in particular, the time taken to pay an invoice matters. Companies that are paid swiftly can raise their productivity by spending more time on projects of economic value and less time chasing invoices.

'We know from our research that there is a significant lack of awareness amongst businesses of the ability to check on the payment practices of large employers, and even fewer feel able to take enforcement action against their customers.

'By ensuring that there is increased visibility of payment practices, reputational pressure will spur change in poorly performing firms, rather than smaller suppliers needing to try and negotiate in isolation.'

Internet link: GOV.UK IoD

Address

Sam Rogoff & Co Ltd, 3rd Floor, Great Titchfield House, 14-18 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 8BD

Contact us today!

0207 637 5310

© 2024 Sam Rogoff & Co Ltd. All rights reserved. powered by totalSOLUTION

We use cookies on this website, you can find more information about cookies here.
Sam Rogoff & Co Ltd, is a UK Limited Company registered in England and Wales under number 07092178. Sam Rogoff & Co Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (“ICAEW”) under registration number C002545445 and is subject to the ICAEW Code of Ethics. Regulated for a range of investment business activities, and licensed to carry out the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate in England and Wales by the ICAEW. Details of our status can be viewed at www.auditregister.org.uk under registration number C002545445. We are registered for VAT under registration number GB 228 4926 42