Gove orders HMRC to support SMEs in the event of no-deal

Ministers including Michael Gove have ordered HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to support “cash-strapped” small business in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Representatives from 19 of the UK’s largest business federations met with ministers at No 10 yesterday (8 August) to discuss how to accelerate “business preparedness” for leaving the European Union on 31st October with or without a deal.

The business federations spoke with the current chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, BEIS minister Jo Johnson, and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Digital and Broadband Matt Warman about the government’s preparation work

According to a report by Sky News, Michael Gove told the business groups that HMRC has been “instructed” to find ways of assisting SMEs through the potentially difficult period.

Gove added that it does not mean stopping normal tax-collecting actions, but that the tax body should prioritise measures to “ease the ‎burden” on SMEs facing financial strain.