Tax advisers and opposition MPs believe that safeguards for human rights under the finance bill are still inadequate, despite attempts to amend the bill in June. They fear that the sweeping new powers for tax inspectors to inspect business premises and records could be used in a draconian way against businesses.
David Furst, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) president, has warned that individual officers could use the new powers "in a way which is inappropriate and un¬acceptable".
John Whiting of the Chartered Institute of Taxation said the HMRC's powers to gain access to premises could be compared with an old advertising slogan for Martini: "Any time, any place, anywhere".
You have been warned!
Tax does have to be taxing.
The New Statesman, Britain's leading political magazine is delighted to announce that HMRC Is Shite has been nominated for a New Media Award in the category of Campaign For Change. The campaign for change award will go to the individual or organisation that has most effectively influenced opinions and behaviour through the use of new media technology. The winner of this award will champion a cause and provide information and tools to instigate change.
The full press release can be downloaded here.
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"
There is a disturbingly high percentage of over-zealous tax inspectors out there so the threat of these new powers being used "in a way which is inappropriate and unacceptable" is a very real one. Add to that that these public "servants" are generally socially inadequate and dysfunctional as human beings that don't have a clue about the real world, then it's going to be fun and games.
ReplyDeleteTax inspector = failed bus inspector!!!
ReplyDeleteQ What is the similarity between a tax inspector and an extra-thick condom?
ReplyDeleteA Well, both are good for screwing you without any feeling at all!!!
Q What is the difference between a tax inspector and a supermarket trolley?
ReplyDeleteA Well, at least a supermarket trolley has a mind of its own!!!
Instead of moaning about HMR&C's new Martini powers, the President of the ICAEW (together with the heads of the other accountancy institutes/associations) should announce that if this is enacted, he will advise his members to withdraw all cooperation with HMR&C; in other words, provoke a professionals' work to rule. All returns would be filed and all payments to HMR&C should be made on the last day possible. No information (which is not compulsorily disclosable) would be volunteered to HMR&C except under court order. All HMR&C decisions, rulings and computations (including, for instance, issue of PAYE codes) would be appealed, to the commissioners if necessary
ReplyDeleteThis would gum up the works nicely and quite legally. Maybe even HMR&C would get the message.