9 April 2020The 2020 edition of Governance and Accountability for Smaller Authorities in England (the ‘Practitioners’ Guide’) has been published. The only substantive change to proper practices is to the definition of ‘staff costs’ (Line 4 of Section 2 of the AGAR) in paragraph 2.16. Note that neither the 2019 version of paragraph 2.16 nor the 2020 version accords with what HMRC considers to be staff costs and that neither version of paragraph 2.16 gives any guidance as to tax treatment.
In preparing the 2019/20 accounts RFOs can use either the 2019 or the 2020 edition of the PG. Whichever edition is used last year’s figures in the AGAR must be stated (headed ‘restated’ if necessary) on the same basis as this year’s figures. No explanation of any difference with the figures in last year’s AGAR is required.
We understand that the 2020 PG may be amended to reflect the extended audit and publication deadlines for 2020. RFOs should in any case be aware of the extended deadlines.
The 2019 edition of the Practitioners’ Guide can be viewed here.
The new 2020 edition of the Practitioners’ Guide can be viewed here.
