PROVISION OF TAX ADVICE SERVICES– SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY TRANSITION TO NEW QUALIFICATIONS BODY

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PROVISION OF TAX ADVICE SERVICES - HMRC have advised that there are potential tax liabilities, charges or risks that come with transferring assets etc from one public body to another. They have informed us there are available mechanisms that enable these transfers to be treated as “tax neutral”. To identify what these charges and liabilities may be the Scottish Government is seeking specialist tax advisory services that can support us to make transfers from the SQA to the new qualifications body that are tax neutral, and any other connected purposes. Lot 1: An extensive education reform programme is underway in Scotland. As part of this reform, the new qualifications body will replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). This is being taken forward by the Scottish Government’s Directorate for Education Reform. The new qualification body (to be known as Qualifications Scotland) will assume all the responsibilities of the SQA. In order to do this, all staff and assets need to transfer to the new body by its establishment date, currently expected by Autumn 2025, and that the SQA can be dissolved at this point in time or afterwards. HMRC have advised that there are potential tax liabilities, charges or risks that come with transferring assets etc from one public body to another. They have informed us there are available mechanisms that enable these transfers to be treated as “tax neutral”. To identify what these charges and liabilities may be the Scottish Government is seeking specialist tax advisory services that can support us to make transfers from the SQA to the new qualifications body that are tax neutral, and any other connected purposes.