INVESTIGATIONS

The government intends to change the law retrospectively to make it clear that HMRC can use automated processes to issue notices to file returns and to issue penalties, report Catherine Robins and Steven Porter (Pinsent Masons).

Despite the review being an important event, it appears to be very much business as usual at HMRC.

In this quarterly review, Adam Craggs and Michelle Sloane (RPC) consider HMRC’s increasing propensity to seek the production of documents from accountants and other professional advisers, HMRC’s new policy of challenging taxpayers’ loan relationships, and the increase in the number of domicile enquiries launched by HMRC. 

We now have two recent opposing tribunal judgments on how the partial closure notice rules operate, writes Craig Thomson (Grant Thornton).

Hyrax and Curzon Capital Ltd consider for the first time the provisions governing HMRC’s ability to seek an order that a scheme is notifiable under DOTAS. Lee Ellis and Cristiana Bulbuc (Stewarts Law) consider the practical implications.

Investigations are taking longer, but HMRC’s new facility offers multinationals the prospect of quicker resolution for certain disputes.

Adam Craggs and Constantine Christofi (RPC) consider the recent spate of IR35 cases that have been considered by the First-tier Tribunal, HMRC's increasing use of 'jeopardy amendments' and the increasing number of judicial review challenges being brought against HMRC.