Chancellor Gordon Brown has announced that this year's Budget will be on Wednesday 17 March, meaning small businesses should now be able to plan for IR591.
The Treasury was unable to explain why the date had been set so unusually early. Normally, Brown likes to keep us all waiting until almost the last moment.
One possibility for such an early date is the backlash that has arisen over IR591. Various professional bodies have vented their collective anger at the Chancellor as it seemed as though small business owners would have no time to plan for the new IR591 regulations, due to come into force with effect from 5th April.
A budget date of 17th March means that small businesses will know what the new provisions will be so they can plan whether to take a dividend before 5th April and avoid the new IR591 regulations.
