Jon Thompson Number 5 On The Financial Power List 2019

Compiled by the Accountancy Age editorial team, the Financial Power List 2019 ranks the 50 individuals who we believe will make the biggest difference in the accountancy industry over the next 12 months.  Individuals considered for the list span government, practice and business. Their status or role does not guarantee their position in this ranking, but rather we have chosen individuals who we think will have an impact in one way or another based on what changes they are predicted to spearhead, whether that be in government policy, tax changes, regulation, firm growth, or industry diversity.

In at Number 5...

5. Jon Thompson, CEO, HMRC
In April 2016, Jon Thompson was appointed as the CEO of HMRC. For the three years prior to this date, Thompson was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, and thus responsible for the likes of policy, finance, and planning.

Now, he is responsible for a government body with 45 million customers and 58,000 employees.
With Making Tax Digital coming into effect this year, and Brexit on the horizon, Thompson will be expected to ascertain that HMRC is prepared to handle the changes.

Oh, and for your amusement, in 2015 I was ranked number 40:

40 (NE) Ken Frost
In and out of the Power List since his anti-ICAEW/CIPFA merger campaigning in the mid-Noughties, his recent posts on the cheekily named HMRCIsShite blog seem to have invoked illuminating spleen-venting among the taxman’s staff – we expect even more to follow in what will be another tough year for HMRC.

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

A Victim of HMRC Bullying Writes

A loyal reader and HMRC staff member has asked me to publish this account of his treatment by HMRC.

I have redacted the name of the HMRC manager, so as not to prejudice any possible future criminal trial.

"....provide You with an account of the bullying NAME REDACTED was responsible for, the human impact which I have wanted to do for a long time. You could publish this and get the folks on your site to share it a bit. I am one of many.

I suffered at his hands for 4 years. Here is how it went:

Imagine work so bad, being so undermined, so utterly demeaned are You by one person and back by senior colleagues both privately and publicly You can't sleep at the start. You can't talk to Your wife as You are so demeaned you feel she'll think less of You. It has to be me doesn't it?

You hide it. You are alone.

The sleep and the harassment get bad, they are poring over minor things, they are constantly moving the goalposts, they are publicly criticising You in front of Your colleagues. The bad word is put out. 

NAME REDACTED and cronies start to make the visible impacts of their behaviour on You public. His senior and junior management back him and spread the word.

You can't concentrate. You lose what little confidence You have left. Resign? I have a mortgage. Who else would employ me. I am letting My family down. I am failing My wife. I am failing My children. These are My life. I have to hang on.

You hide it. You are alone.

The sleep gets worse. You are shaking all the time. You can't look Yourself in a mirror as You see inadequacy looking back. The harassment gets worse they are questioning your professional integrity to anyone who'll listen. Friends and colleagues are told by NAME REDACTED and his senior manager to dis-associate themselves from You. They do. You walk out of the office for a break, they walk away when they see You.

You hide it. You are alone.

You go home. You cuddle Your son. He asks: 'daddy why are You shaking so bad'. You are afraid to cuddle him after that. You wife things You are on drugs because of the shaking and that sleep and worry has left You with zero concentration. The sleep gets worse. You try to speak to NAME REDACTED to end this. You try his manager. You are told You are failing, You have failed the team, that the 'word out there' they instigated is deserved. There is no where to go in HMRC. They have destroyed You.

You hide it. You are alone.

You travel in on an underground train into work sweating and shaking at the dread of another day with NAME REDACTED and his managers doing this. A kind soul gives You a card on their way off the train for a drug rehabilitation support centre. Heroin withdrawal? Never touched drugs in My life. You are humiliated to Your core. It is now blindingly obvious.

You can't hide it. You are alone.

You take a sick day. Know You'll get panned by NAME REDACTED and his manager. Wife is at work. You line the pills on the counter. Lorazepam (30 should do the job) they gave me them to sleep. You take the first two then bottle it. Not leaving son with the smear of a suicide father. ......Do it day by day. Try to carry on managing Your team, try to escape the bad word. This goes on for 3 years. Every day.

You hide it. You are as alone as anyone can ever be in life.

You put the pills away for good... You move on. Then You pour this out at the enquiry when You are asked like a good boy. HMRC not interested.

You hide it. HMRC make sure You are alone. It was only bullying.

You read the Guardian article with no warning and realise that however bad this is there are sexual assault victims who must feel much worse. You question Yourself even more. They can move on. Why can I not?

Picture this going on forever.

Do with this what You will Mr Frost. There are those worse of than me and I live for My son."

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

HMRC Panicking

Insiders tell me HMRC chiefs in panic after @meadowsonmoney 's latest attack piece: HMRC's dogged pursuit of a homeless man belies its claim to be a tax office that cares https://t.co/DsWH0d0YQH via @Telegraph

— Sam Brodbeck (@sambrodbeck) February 13, 2019

If they are panicking about that, imagine what they will do when the full Nellthorp story comes out!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Happy Valentine's Day

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

An MBE was awarded,

But you did something sordid!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

HMRC Is Ridiculous

 

The Telegraph reports that Judge Nicholas Aleksander has told HMRC its behaviour was "ridiculous" and "a scandal" after HMRC attempted to fine a homeless man £1,600 for filing his tax return late. 

The man, who had been a self-employed electrician, briefly returned to his native Poland in around April 2014 where he said his drink had been spiked with drugs causing him to lose his job and exhaust his savings when he returned to Britain.

He said he was evicted from the house in east London where he had been living and all his belongings were lost or stolen, including important documents.

He said he had been forced to sleep on the streets until moving into a hostel in January 2017, which led to him finding a job and permanent accommodation in April of that year.

HMRC issued penalties of £1,600, saying it had sent reminders to his previous address.

Judge Nicholas Aleksander found against HMRC.

The judgement reads:

“HMRC's decision to pursue this man for penalties in the circumstances of this appeal is a scandal. For HMRC to expect a homeless person to keep HMRC up-to-date with their address is ridiculous – and just needs to be stated to show its absurdity.”

HMRC is ridiculous!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

MPs Waking Up To Loan Charge Scandal

I have written to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury expressing my concerns about the "Loan Charge" pic.twitter.com/nf5ZpeUTYB

— Anneliese Dodds (@AnnelieseDodds) February 11, 2019

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"