The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Gordon Brown) announced tax incentives for small businesses investing in computer technology and e-commerce in the budget on March 21.
Over the next three years, companies will be able to write off against tax the full cost of purchases of computers or investments in e-commerce. Advice for small businesses planning to go on-line will be available through the Government's small business advisory service.
The Chancellor also announced that businesses filing their tax and VAT returns via the internet would enjoy a £100 tax cut and a further £50 cut would be available for electronic filing of working families tax credit returns.
The Chancellor concluded his budget statement by announcing large increases in funding for the National Health Service (see p457).
Sanitary protection The rate of VAT on sanitary protection products for women is to be cut to 5 per cent with effect from January 1, 2001, the Paymaster General (Ms Dawn Primarolo) announced on March 21. She said that delay was to enable retailers time to adjust their pricing structures.