By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. This Money Matters column appears in the Pembrokeshire Herald, Carmarthenshire Herald and Llanelli Herald.

The taxman at HMRC is working with more than 150 software suppliers who have said they will provide software for Making Tax Digital for VAT (MTDfV) in time for April 2019.

From April 1, 2019, businesses will be mandated to use the MTDfB system to meet their VAT obligations under MTDfV.

Only businesses with a taxable turnover above the VAT threshold (currently £85,000) will be required to use MTDfV.

However, HMRC is piloting the new system, on a small scale, from April 2018.

HMRC has advised that more than 40 suppliers have said they will have software ready during the first phase of the pilot and other software suppliers are expected to follow.

HMRC will open up the pilot to allow more businesses and agents to join later in 2018.

HMRC has advised that the list will be updated as more software meets the criteria.

HMRC are advising businesses to check with their existing software supplier to find out if they will be supplying suitable software.

You can contact the team at Claw Shaw Butler chartered accountants in Carmarthen for help with Making Tax Digital for VAT.

Meanwhile, HMRC is warning that taxpayers could face penalties if they fail to declare their income on foreign assets before new ‘Requirement to Correct’ legislation comes into force.

HMRC is urging UK taxpayers to come forward and declare any foreign income or profits on offshore assets before September 30 to avoid higher tax penalties.

New legislation called ‘Requirement to Correct’ requires UK taxpayers to notify HMRC about any offshore tax liabilities relating to UK income tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax.

The most common reasons for declaring offshore tax are in relation to foreign property, investment income and moving money into the UK from abroad.

HMRC has stated that over 17,000 people have already been in contact to notify they have tax due from sources of foreign income, such as their holiday homes and overseas properties.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mel Stride MP, said:

“Since 2010 we have secured over £2.8bn for our vital public services by tackling offshore tax evaders, and we will continue to relentlessly crack down on those not playing by the rules.

“This new measure will place higher penalties on those who do not contact HMRC and ensure their offshore tax liabilities are correct. I urge anyone affected to get in touch with HMRC now.”

From October 1, more than 100 countries, including the UK, will be able to exchange data on financial accounts under Common Reporting Standard (CRS).

It is expected that the CRS data will significantly enhance HMRC’s ability to detect offshore non-compliance and it is in taxpayers’ interests to correct any non-compliance before that data is received.

Taxpayers can correct their tax liabilities by:

• Using HMRC’s digital disclosure service as part of the Worldwide Disclosure Facility or any other service provided by HMRC as a means of correcting tax non-compliance.
• Telling an officer of HMRC in the course of an enquiry into your affairs.
• Or any other method agreed with HMRC.

Once a taxpayer has notified HMRC of their intention to make a declaration, by the deadline of September 30, they will then have 90 days to make the full disclosure and pay any tax owed.

To ensure there is an incentive for taxpayers to correct any offshore tax non-compliance on or before September 30, there are increased penalties for any failures to correct by that date.

If taxpayers are confident that their tax affairs are in order, then they do not need to worry. However, if you are unsure, please contact the team at Claw Shaw Butler on 01267 228500.

Internet link to the Government website –

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hmrc-warns-its-time-to-declare-offshore-assets

You can find out more about money matters on the Clay Shaw Butler website (under our news for business section) –

http://www.clayshawbutler.com/news/latest-news-for-business

We have a strong and experienced team with great local knowledge all geared-up to helping you get the very best from your finances – whether that is as an individual or as a business.

We stay ahead of the game by putting great store by continual professional development for our staff.

With Investors In People status at Clay Shaw Butler, we care passionately about making sure our staff have all the tools they need to serve you, our customers.

Weblink – http://www.clayshawbutler.com

The team at Clay Shaw Butler can be contacted on 01267 228500.

The team at Clay Shaw Butler are on Twitter. Look for @clayshawbutler.

Aberystwyth University statement on Pantycelyn delay:

The ambitious refurbishment of Pantycelyn hall of residence is one of the University’s priority capital projects and we have been working hard to deliver it within the intended timetable.

However, it has become clear following further surveys and detailed discussions with architects and contractors that the challenges of redeveloping this Grade 2 listed building mean the original aim of reopening the building in September 2019 is not achievable.

To allow the work to be carried out sympathetically, to a high standard and on budget, the first students will now move into their rooms in September 2020.

The University realises this news will be disappointing to those who want to experience life in Pantycelyn at the earliest opportunity and apologises for the delay. There have been unforeseen pressures on the timetable, including the need to include a comprehensive sprinkler system in the plans.

When it does reopen in 2020 after refurbishment, this iconic building will offer quality contemporary, en-suite rooms for 200 students in a Welsh-medium environment, along with offices for Aberystwyth’s Welsh students’ union UMCA, a refectory and attractive social spaces for use by students, staff and the local community.

The University is pleased to report that the project has already reached a series of significant milestones. Internal and external planning permissions have been approved, and there is ongoing liaison with CADW and Ceredigion County Council planning officers. A £12m funding package is in place, with a generous £5m grant from Welsh Government. A full and thorough procurement process has been carried out in order to appoint external contractors, and a University Project Manager is in post who has expertise in managing quality student accommodation. A series of enabling works are also underway.

For the 2019-2020 academic year, students can choose to join our vibrant community of Welsh-speakers and learners in designated accommodation in Pantycelyn-Penbryn or Fferm Penglais, with the opportunity of moving to Pantycelyn in September 2020.

The University will keep all those who are interested in the transformation of Pantycelyn informed of progress. We look forward to seeing this exciting project develop fully and for Pantycelyn to become a focal point once more for Welsh speaking life in Aberystwyth and beyond.

Pantycelyn Project Board

Gwerfyl Pierce Jones, Chair of the Pantycelyn Project Board which has strategic oversight of the project said: “The Board was extremely disappointed to hear about the delay. The Board, however, accepts that the University is fully committed to reopening Pantycelyn and the funding package is in place. The Board has also received the personal assurance of the Vice Chancellor that the refurbishment will be fully completed by September 2020, and to the highest standard”.

UMCA

Anna Wyn Jones, President of Aberystwyth’s Welsh Students’ Union UMCA, said: “This news is a big disappointment for UMCA as everyone had expected to return to the hall in September 2019. However, we want to emphasise that Pantycelyn will re-open, and that the vibrant community of Welsh speaking students in Aber continues. It is essential now that students are able to move in September 2020 and as a union, we will be working with the Project Board and the University to ensure this happens.”

It’s recruitment time for The Phil Harmonics, the Llanelli-based rock and pop choir.

There’s a general invitation for enthusiastic singers to attend taster sessions to experience life as a ‘Phillie’.

A choir spokesman said: “It’s hard work and requires a lot of commitment. But it’s fantastic fun – and you will be part of a wonderful ‘family’ who raise money for good causes.

The Phil Harmonics have made their entrance onto the West Wales music scene gradually over the last few years.

The group was set up by Sarah Mair Richards, Phil Thomas and Pauline Yudowitz.

Their achievements include holding a charity evening which helped raise more than £1,600 for Prince Philip Hospital Breast Care Unit in Llanelli and a maternity hospital in Uganda.

Choir rehearsals are at The Stradey Park Hotel and the choir members are grateful for the hotel’s continuing support.

The Choir is for 18–80-year-olds who want to be part of a very exciting group which is very different from traditional choirs. The music repertoire is very up-beat and fun.

The Phil Harmonics sing some of the classics and modern pop/rock songs. They have their own instrumental band who accompany them at concerts.

Anyone interested in attending the choir’s rehearsals or joining can contact Pauline Yudowitz on 07706796677; email philharmonics01@gmail.com

As mentioned in last week’s column, the popular Voskresenije (Resurrection) Choir of St Petersburg are on their way to West Wales.

This is the choir’s second visit to the area.

They will be performing at St Mary’s Church in Kidwelly on Wednesday, October 10 (7pm).

The choir is a Russian ‘a cappella’ ensemble of eight singers (two sopranos, two altos, countertenor, tenor, bass and basso profondo). The conductor is Jurij Maruk.

Resurrection was founded by Jurij Maruk in 1993.

The repertoire of the ensemble includes Russian Sacred Music as well as folk music.

Guest performances in Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Austria, the UK, France and Italy have met with great success, and the choir has recorded several CDs of their repertoire, which includes some specially composed arrangements of Burns songs by John McIntosh.

Conductor Jurij Maruk was born in 1961 in Barnaul, West Siberia.

In 1976, he began to study music and conducting at the local music facility in Barnaul.

After finishing musical school, he was admitted to the Novosibirsk State Conservatory (1980-1985) in Professor Boris Pevsner’s class.

At this time, he worked with the Chamber Choir (Novosibirsk) directed by Pervsner, who was working in close cooperation with the Wladimir Minin Choir in Moscow.

Between 1987 and 1989, Jurij Maruk worked at the Mariinsky Theatre (opera and ballet) in St Petersburg as a choir singer.

Here, he had his initial experience as a conductor and artistic leader of the Mariinsky Theatre (sacred music).

Between 1990 and 1992, Maruk worked as the choirmaster of the St Petersburg Radio and Television Choir.

Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi Male Voice choir members are looking forward to events in September and October.

On Sunday, September 30 (7pm), Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi will be staging a special concert at St Maelog’s Church in Llandyfaelog.

The choir will perform alongside a guest choir from Cornwall, the Tamar Valley Male Choir.

Other guest artists include soprano Llio Evans, with guest accompanist Kim Lloyd Jones.

Guest singer Llio Evans hails from the famous village on the island of Anglesey,

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

With her sparkling vocal tone and charming stage presence, Llio particularly revels in coquettish and comic roles.

Recent highlights include Iris (Semele) for Garsington Opera, The Little One in the revival of Music Theatre Wales’ critically-acclaimed production of The Golden Dragon (Eötvös) and her English National Opera debut as Celia in Iolanthe.

The President for the Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi evening will be Tinopolis TV company boss and founder Ron Jones.

Tickets are £7 and are available from telephone number 01269860996.

Proceeds from the evening will go towards St Maelog Church and the chemotherapy unit at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen.

On Saturday, October 13, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi will join Carmarthen Male Voice Choir for their 60th anniversary celebration concert at the Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen.

Crwbin Silver Band will be performing at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Llanarthne as part of the “Big Bands, Brass Bands and Concert Band Bonanza” on Sunday, September 30 from 11am to 1pm.

On Saturday, September 29, Crwbin Silver Band will be performing at a Gala Concert at Salem Chapel, Llangennech with BBC Radio Cymru’s Beti George, Lleisiau’r Llan Ladies Choir, Côr Ysgol y Strade and soloist Ffion Haf Jones

On Saturday, October 20, at 3pm, Crwbin Silver Band will be taking part in a Parade and Service in Llanarthne for the statue unveiling of World War Two hero DT Davies.

In other news, Côr Meibion Dinefwr Male Voice Choir will be holding their annual concert at Capel Newydd, Llandeilo, on Saturday, October 27 (7.30pm).

The special guests will be Côr Meibion Llandybie Male Voice Choir.

The conductor will be John Williams, the accompanist will be Sara Morgan and the chairman for the evening will be Eifion Davies.

Other special guests include tenor Osian Wyn Bowen, soloist Martha Harries and accompanist Gareth Wyn Thomas.

Admission is £8 and £3 for children and students.

Proceeds will go towards the choir’s funds.

On Saturday, October 13, there’s a special concert at Pontyberem Memorial Hall (7.30pm).

Sinfonia Cymru and and soloist Caroline Pether will breathe new life into well-known classics.

The concert will feature Eric Whitacre’s October Suite, Grieg’s Holberg Suite, Op. 40, Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.

Sinfonia Cymru will be back in Pontyberem on Friday, March 8 (7.30pm) with a concert featuring cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason.

The concert programme includes – CPE Bach Symphony 1 in D major H663; Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major; Ives Unanswered Question; Beethoven Symphony No. 1, Op. 21.

The conductor for Sinfonia Cymru will be Jonathan Bloxham.

He is the Assistant Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Artistic Director of Northern Chords Festival.

Sinfonia Cymru is made up of musicians in the early stages of their careers and is the first and only orchestra of its kind to be revenue-funded by the Arts Council of Wales.

Sinfonia Cymru works in partnership with The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) through the Professional Pathway Bursary scheme and regular performances at The Dora Stoutzker Hall. Sinfonia Cymru is also resident orchestra at The Riverfront, Newport and performs in venues across Wales.

The orchestra works with Young Classical Artists Trust to create opportunities for the next generation of solo artists including the orchestra’s current Leader/Director Bartosz Woroch. Sinfonia Cymru has worked with a number of celebrated guest artists including Bryn Terfel, Llŷr Williams, Paul Watkins, Carlo Rizzi, and Alina Ibragimova.

The orchestra enjoys a long-standing relationship with Deutsche-Gramophon harpist Catrin Finch.

Past projects with Catrin include Classic BRIT nominated album ‘Blessing’ with John Rutter, which reached number one in BBC Radio 3’s classical chart, and a performance at Universal Live ‘Yellow Lounge’.

In 2013 Sinfonia Cymru embarked on a major project to develop and launch a new way of working for chamber orchestras. With funding from Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the orchestra established Curate; a collective of orchestral musicians, administrators and other young creatives who come together to express their artistic ideas
and develop their own projects.

Over the last three years, Curate has developed the flagship UnButtoned and Unease events in collaboration with BAFTA-Cymru winning musician Tom Raybould, the orchestra’s classical pub gig ‘Quartet’ with Fizzi Events, and a live Silent Film event at Chapter Arts Centre.

2014 was Sinfonia Cymru’s busiest year, performing 44 concerts to over 13,000 people and working with actor Richard Harrington (star of S4C Y Gwyll / Hinterland), harpist Catrin Finch alongside young conductor Ben Gernon, world-renowned baritone Bryn Terfel, and on an experimental collaboration with theatre director Tom Morris at The Bristol Proms.

The orchestra also played a major role in the ‘Emerging Classical Talent in the EU’ project; an International collaboration that brought together a number of European partners and culminated in Sinfonia Cymru’s Small Nations Big Sounds Festival, which it delivered in partnership with RWCMD.

In 2015, Sinfonia Cymru performed with BBC Young Musician winner Laura Van der Heijden and with period violinist Rachel Podger on the orchestra’s first all-baroque concert.

Robert Lloyd works as a media consultant – www.rlloydpr.co.uk

If you have any news about the choral scene in Llanelli, the please contact him on 07777 683637 or email rlloydpr@btinternet.com

Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. This column appears in the South Wales Evening Post, Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli Star. Website – www.philevans.co.uk

………………………….

If you visit Lower Cwmtwrch today, you’d never know that flesh-hungry aliens once walked the streets, terrorised the residents and called into the pub for a couple of pints and a game of darts.

The aliens sneakily landed on New Year’s Eve, knowing their presence would hardly be noticed among the cacophony of fireworks, renditions of “Agadoo” and the general revelry for which Lower Cwmtwrch is renowned, not just at the turn of the year but most Saturday nights.

As I reported back in July 2017, the aliens were characters in the new science-fiction comedy film “Canaries” and were accompanied by a film crew under the supervision of Swansea-born director and writer Peter Stray.

One year on, “Canaries” can be seen in selected cinemas around Wales and on Sky Cinema.  (Some of you clever folk may even have downloaded it and viewed it already!)

There will also be a gala screening in Ystradgynlais on October 21^st, at the Brecon Road Cinema, followed bya cast and crew Question and Answer Q and A session.

“Canaries” stars Kai Owen, Robert Pugh, Hannah Daniel and Cwmtwrch-born Craig Russell, who is also the producer.

Apart from Craig’s home town, locations included Washington DC, Vietnam and Martha’s Vineyard – on a budget of less than £30,000!

Because the cast and crew believed in the script, they were willing to defer salaries. Craig explained that the film also had enormous help from the local community

“My mother, who owned the post office, together with Ruth Levy, did all the catering, and housed the cast, crew . . . and the aliens!

“We filmed next to my mother’s shop in a converted chapel, knocked on doors asking if we could plug things in and filmed late into the night, but no-one complained.

“They even closed The Castle pub just to let us film.”

An eerie alien invasion movie with a dash of Welsh humour sounds like a winning formula that’ll appeal to science fiction fans around the world . . . and, possibly, other worlds, too!

——————

Too often, I find myself witnessing unhygienic actions in public toilets.

Not that I make a habit of hanging around in such places, but when nature calls, needs must.

It’s now very common to witness men leaving the toilets in pubs, cafes and restaurants without washing their hands.

I can’t speak for the ladies, as the issue of me observing such activities in ladies toilets brings with it consequences . . . and a warning that I took onboard immediately.

Moving on . . .

Recently, I saw a man leaving a pub toilet without washing his hands. He then went on to share a bowl of crisps with his partner.

It would be so funny if he was reading this . . . hang on…. was it you?

In supermarkets, I’ve witnessed men return to their shopping without washing their hands after visiting the toilet.

What’s the hurry?

It takes less than a minute and would prevent germs from spreading and people becoming ill.

Mark my words, the next step will be hygiene police employed at all public places.

OK, maybe a slight exaggeration – but, possibly, not a bad idea!

You can follow Phil Evans on Twitter @philevanswales and www.philevans.co.uk

Aberystwyth University and the University of Bath have worked in partnership to produce a free online course to help pupils studying the Welsh Baccalaureate.

Launched at Aberystwyth University on Friday 7 September 2018, the Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) will be available in Welsh and English.

How to Succeed in Your Welsh Bacc: The Individual Project Essentials / Sut i Lwyddo yn dy Fagloriaeth: Hanfodion y Prosiect Unigol has been designed to support post-16 students in Wales who are working towards the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

The MOOC will offer practical support to pupils and will take two weeks to complete from the point of enrolment (approximately three hours study per week).

Openly published and free to access, the Welsh Baccalaureate will be the first Welsh-medium MOOC to be offered on FutureLearn, the leading social learning platform owned by The Open University.

Kirsty Williams, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Education, said: “The Welsh Baccalaureate prepares individuals for further education, training and future employment, and I urge everyone working towards achieving the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate to take full advantage of this free and accessible platform. Ensuring students have the support they need to reach their full potential is crucial. It’s a pleasure to see institutions working collaboratively, across the border, to help individuals succeed in gaining this qualification.”

The new online course builds on the work already carried out by Aberystwyth University to support schools offering the Welsh Baccalaureate.

Since 2012, the University has been welcoming learners from across Wales to Aberystwyth to take part in the one-day Welsh Bacc Experience at Aberystwyth – a joint initiative between the University, the National Library of Wales and the Welsh Government.

To date, more than 2,700 sixth-form students have completed the Welsh Bacc Experience with Aberystwyth hosting 73 visits by schools and colleges.

Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, said: “One of the aims of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate is to equip post-16 students with the essential skills they need to go on to their next destination – be that university, further training or employment. As a University, we have worked with schools in Wales on developing some of those key transferrable skills and offering expert guidance on how to research, write and reference the individual project component of the qualification. By launching this bilingual Massive Online Open Course, we aim to give schools and colleges in Wales an additional toolkit which they can use as part of this valuable learning process.”

Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach at the University of Bath, said: “The University of Bath is delighted to have worked in collaboration with Aberystwyth University in the development of the bilingual Welsh Baccalaureate MOOC. We recognise the value that additional breadth of study, particularly the development of project skills, gives to students. We give additional credit to students applying to Bath who achieve a B grade in the Skills Challenge Certificate, and many of our students find that they can use their experience when securing placement or internship opportunities, which we offer in all our degree courses.

Caroline Morgan, Welsh Baccalaureate Framework Manager for the Welsh Joint Education Committee, said: “I am very appreciative of Aberystwyth University and the University of Bath for bringing their expertise and experience to provide an online research course for students in Wales.  Both universities have developed this bilingual online course that will be available free to all Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate students to support them in completing their Individual Project. The WJEC Welsh Bacc team have provided guidance in developing this project, and I am sure the students and their teachers will be extremely grateful.”

Emma Davies, Head of the Welsh Baccalaureate at St John’s the Baptist School in Aberdare, said: “The Individual Project is increasingly becoming part of the university application process and many students include it as part of their personal statements so to have an online resource that can support them at each stage of the process will improve their confidence and attainment not only for the Individual Project but also to prepare students for Higher Education.”

How to Succeed in Your Welsh Bacc: The Individual Project Essentials / Sut i Lwyddo yn dy Fagloriaeth: Hanfodion y Prosiect Unigol will be available on the FutureLearn social learning platformfrom Monday 10 September 2018.

Schools and colleges interested in arranging a Welsh Bacc Experience at Aberystwyth should contact the University’s Schools Liaison Team on 01970 621735.

Photo: Aberystwyth University and the University of Bath have jointly launched a Massive Online Open Course for post-16 students studying the Welsh Baccalaureate.

Links:

AU Schools & Colleges Liaison
www.aber.ac.uk/en/undergrad/schools

University of Bath www.bath.ac.uk

FutureLearn www.futurelearn.com