The CIOT, ATT and LITRG have all welcomed a comprehensive HMRC review on tax penalties. They have each submitted responses to HMRC penalties: a discussion document published on 2 February 2015, which called for comments by 11 May.
Twelve people were arrested in the latest clampdown on tax fraud launched this week by HMRC. The new tax fraud taskforce targets individuals and organised criminal gangs across the UK believed to have fraudulently claimed repayments to which they were not entitled.
According to Baker Tilly, more than 6,000 tax defaulters were referred to a special HMRC monitoring unit in 2014/15 – a 30% increase on the year before – in a sign that HMRC is getting much tougher on those who deliberately seek to default on their tax liabilities.
HMRC has been quick to publicise its success in a tax case involving Next Brand Ltd, which is part of the Next group, over its use of a tax avoidance structure known as a rate-booster.
FTT’s jurisdiction on legitimate expectation
HMRC is increasingly charging penalties to companies and senior accounting officers in respect of failures under SAO legislation. Lucy Sauvage and Ed Dwan (BDO) urge businesses to consider the impact on their reputation and their relationship with HMRC
75 in-house tax directors and heads of tax from large companies share their views on the coalition government's tax policies and priorities for a new government.
The Coalition Agreement promised that the coalition government ‘will make every effort to tackle tax avoidance’. Graham Aaronson and Steve Bousher (Joseph Hage Aaronson) give an end of term report on the coalition’s record in dealing with tax avoidance
HMRC figures show that it is getting tougher on those filing incorrect tax returns, putting greater numbers of people at risk of being named and shamed, says Baker Tilly.
Gideon Sanitt (Macfarlanes) considers the decision in Ingenious Media and when HMRC may be excused from its duty of confidentiality.