New research suggests 58% of eligible sole traders in Wales still have work to do ahead of the first Making Tax Digital quarterly reporting deadline on August 7.

THREE in five sole traders in Wales are not fully prepared for a major change to the way they report their income and expenses to HM Revenue and Customs, according to new research.

A survey commissioned by Lloyds found that 58% of Welsh respondents still had work to do before they were ready to comply with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

The figure was slightly higher than the UK-wide result, where 55% of those surveyed said they were not yet fully prepared.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax became mandatory in April for sole traders and landlords with qualifying annual income of more than £50,000.

Those covered by the rules must keep digital records and use compatible software to provide HMRC with quarterly summaries of their income and expenses.

The deadline for the first quarterly update is Friday, August 7.

Nathan Morgan, Area Director for Wales at Lloyds, said: “Making Tax Digital represents one of the biggest administrative changes many sole traders will have experienced for years.

“Our research suggests that while businesses recognise the benefits of digital record-keeping, many are still working through what they need to do before the first submission deadline.

“With small business owners already balancing multiple demands on their time, simplicity matters.

“That is why we have built HMRC-recognised Making Tax Digital for Income Tax functionality directly into eligible Lloyds Business Accounts at no extra cost, helping customers manage tax administration alongside their everyday banking.”

Despite the concerns over preparedness, some Welsh sole traders said the new system had already brought benefits.

Among those preparing for the first update, 41% said digital tax management had helped them become more organised, while 16% said it had reduced the stress associated with completing tax work at the last minute.

More than three quarters of respondents in Wales, 79%, said they would find it useful to manage tax records, deadlines and administration through their banking app or online banking.

Lloyds has integrated Making Tax Digital software into its business banking service. The tool allows customers to maintain digital records, categorise income and expenses, save receipts and prepare quarterly updates.

The qualifying income threshold will fall to more than £30,000 from April 2027 and more than £20,000 from April 2028.

The Lloyds research was conducted by Censuswide among 1,000 UK sole traders with income of at least £50,000 between June 29 and July 6. Landlords were not included in the survey.

New High Street venue combines ice cream, coffee, event tickets and local radio under one roof

A NEW community-focused ice cream parlour and events hub has opened its doors in the centre of Haverfordwest.

Pure West Parlour welcomed its first customers during a successful “Soft Scoop Launch” on Friday, July 24, and will now open from 10am until 4pm, Monday to Saturday.

The new venue, located at 2 High Street, next door to Pure West Radio’s headquarters, has been designed as more than a traditional ice cream parlour.

Alongside refreshments, visitors will be able to purchase tickets for local events, browse Pure West Radio merchandise, learn about upcoming projects and speak directly with members of the station’s team.

An official launch party will take place from 10am on Monday, August 3, with members of the public invited to meet the team and celebrate the new venture.

To mark the occasion, every visitor arriving during the first hour, between 10am and 11am, will receive a free scoop of Mario’s Ice Cream.

The opening ceremony was led by the Mayor of Haverfordwest, Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner.

He was joined by Sheriff Cllr Dani Thomas-Turner, Deputy Mayor Cllr Adam Benson-Davies and Deputy Mayoress Alex Dare.

The civic party wished the Pure West team every success and welcomed the parlour as another positive investment in Haverfordwest town centre.

Also attending was Pat Swales, proprietor of the former Swales Music Centre, which occupied the building for many years.

Her presence provided a nostalgic link to the property’s past, as one well-known local business effectively passed the baton to another.

Pure West Parlour will serve Mario’s Ice Cream alongside freshly prepared barista coffee, iced coffee, smoothies, milkshakes, frappés and a range of cold drinks.

Bubble tea and sundaes are expected to be added to the menu shortly.

The venue will also feature vending machines, exclusive Pure West merchandise and a selection of unusual and trending products.

It will serve as an official box office for many events promoted or delivered by Pure West Radio and its partners, giving customers a central location to purchase tickets and find out what is happening across Pembrokeshire.

Pure West Radio said the parlour represented another significant investment in Haverfordwest and reflected its commitment to supporting local businesses, organisations and community events.

The station hopes the venue will become a welcoming space where residents and visitors can enjoy refreshments, discover local events and learn more about the work of Pembrokeshire’s hyper-local radio service.

Pure West Parlour is open from Monday to Saturday, between 10am and 4pm, at 2 High Street, Haverfordwest, SA61 2DJ.

The official launch party begins at 10am on Monday, August 3.

A CALL to let a small rural Pembrokeshire caravan site keep a glamping pod sited without planning permission has been lodged with county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Janice Palin seeks retrospective permission for the retention of a glamping pod and change of use of land for short-term visitor accommodation at Woodstock, Cold Inn, near Kilgetty.

A supporting statement accompanying the application says the application for the 2023 retrospective scheme follows a conversation with one of the authority’s enforcement officers.

It adds: “The property comprises of the main dwelling and associated garden as well as a caravan site which is a Caravan and Motorhome Club Certificated Location (CL) with a capacity of five caravans or motorhomes. The glamping pod is contained within the garden of the main dwelling.

“The CL is located just south of the glamping pod, separated by a hedgerow. A single car parking space is located just off the main access to the caravan site and a pathway allows access to the pod adjacent to the hedgerow. The glamping pod utilises the existing access for the caravan site from the main road.”

It goes on to say: “The glamping pod has been used for short-term holiday accommodation since June 2023. The structure is capable of removal and does not represent permanent built development. The operation of the glamping pod since 2023, provides valuable evidence regarding its actual impacts.

“During this period there have been no known complaints relating to noise, disturbance, privacy, highway safety, drainage or landscape impact. The operational history demonstrates that the use functions successfully within its setting without giving rise to unacceptable effects on neighbouring occupiers or the wider area.”

It finished: “This development only comprises of one additional glamping pod, a modest diversification and enhancement of an existing tourism enterprise rather than the creation of a brand-new tourism site.

“The glamping pod has already been operating for a number of years and it has contributed to the provision of visitor accommodation within this area of Pembrokeshire. It helps to support the objectives of maintaining a diverse and high-quality tourism offer, whilst still being low-impact and well contained in an enclosed area of a private garden. The proposal provides a different style of accommodation to the existing touring pitches, broadening the range of accommodation available to visitors.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.