Mark Dearnley Lives In The Past

Mark Dearnley, CIO of HMRC, recently gave an interview to CIO which was rather revealing.

He joined from Vodafone (there's irony for you) in 2013, and described his role as "nothing short of transforming a centuries-old organisation into a digital, modern, real time business".

Errmmm, HMRC is not centuries old; it was formed by Broon in 2005!

Anyhoo, that little snafu aside, Dearnley acknowledges the challenge presented by legacy systems, a long-standing issue for HMRC IT chiefs. He says he would like to consolidate tax systems from over 100 to "one or two".

Yet he regards the platforms used by HMRC as being fine, and rejects the idea they are somehow "bad platforms".

"This nation has survived and brought in trillions of pounds worth of tax on these platforms."

Yes, but just because something once worked it may no longer be fit for purpose now; given that people's working patterns have changed (eg multiple sources of income).

In fact he appears to be enamoured with batch processing:

"Is real-time brilliant and batch terrible? 

That's the wrong question. 

There are things for which batch is fine. 

There are other things where you need real-time updates."

He intends to cobble together old and new:

"Some of that will use things that are new. Some of that will take advantage of some of the great things that have been developed over the years.

There's no 'oh it's not new so it must be bad' - there's actually 'if it's ideal for the role let's build on it'.

He is also of the view that he has more than other Whitehall departments:

"Most people underestimate how much talent we have within HMRC.

It would appear we actually have more than some other parts of government. 

I have thousands of civil servants. We already run all of the platforms that collect 40% of the UK's tax. And I've managed to create what I think is quite a fantastic leadership team."

He waxed lyrical about the new team in Newcastle, which has moved tax credits renewals online in just eight weeks in start to finish Dearnley claims.

"We set up a Scrum team and said: 'Go and see what you can do, you've got eight weeks'. They built a complete tax credits renewals service in eight weeks from start to finish, and we integrated it in real time to all the back-end systems.

That went live in eight weeks. We thought if it went really well, maybe 80,000 people would use it during renewals – 410,000 people used it. I think we had about a 94% customer satisfaction rate, which is absolutely phenomenal."

Hmm, what say you loyal readers?

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"

In Like Flint - PAC's Chat With HSBC and HMRC

PAC had a busy day yesterday, having a wee chat with the "great and the good" of both HSBC and HMRC.

HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver apologised to MPs for "unacceptable" practices at HSBC's Swiss subsidiary. Alongside Gulliver was HSBC chairman Douglas Flint.

Gulliver also defended his personal decision to be paid by the bank via a Panamanian company with an account in the Swiss private bank, insisting that the arrangement was not designed to avoid tax, but to protect his privacy against other members of staff who were able to view employees' accounts via the company computer system.

Gulliver is quoted by the Telegraph:

"There was no tax advantage or purpose whatsoever.

I would like to put on the record an apology from both myself and Douglas for the unacceptable events that took place at our private bank in Switzerland in the mid-2000s. It is an apology we would like to make to you, our customers, our shareholders and the public at large. 

It clearly was unacceptable. We very much regret this, and it has damaged HSBC's reputation."

Asked precisely what he was apologising for, Gulliver said:

"The lack of controls and practices which now - judged with the benefit of hindsight - we would not be at all comfortable with if they were happening today, and which have clearly resulted in damage to trust and confidence in HSBC and created further reputational damage to our firm and have therefore hurt clients, customers, shareholders, our staff and people at large." 

Flint told the Treasury select committee that he blamed the failings at the Swiss unit on its management, and said secrecy surrounding banking in the country made it difficult for him to have a direct line of sight of what has happening at the bank (funny way to run a bank!). Chairman of the bank since the end of 2010, Flint was finance director at the time the Swiss subsidiary was purchased by HSBC.

Homer, for her part, admitted that she is concerned by the perception that HMRC is soft on the rich and tough on the poor. The fact is that low hanging fruit, unprotected by lawyers and tax professionals, are an easy target for HMRC.

John Mann asked her:

"What would you do if you discovered any parliamentarians were dodging tax?"

Lin Homer replied that she’d have to check “whether I had an obligation, or an ability, to refer” them to the parliamentary authorities.

She went on to assure PAC that where there are people in positions of responsibility, HMRC does act.

Homer repeated that HMRC doesn’t expect a ‘waterfall’ of new prosecutions, even though it can now share the Swiss data with other agencies.

Homer denied that Hartnett has any inside information on HSBC’s Swiss bank, or HMRC’s systems etc etc.

Here is the transcript.

So everything is basically fine, nothing to see here move along please!

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"

Tax Evasion The Luvvie Way!

Emma Thompson 'won't pay a penny of tax' says her husband http://t.co/Xcn1KPZIcp via @mcdonnellandco // the moral hazard created by #HSBC

— Rita de la Feria (@delaFeriaR) February 25, 2015

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"

Beaker's Tax Matters

A loyal reader opined the following yesterday, about Beaker:

"wonder if our mate Danny will be caught preaching one thing and doing another like his Two friends today reported to be selling their time!

Hundreds of old has beens, fiddling bastards, and corrupt liars and we're paying their wages..... sorry 'part' of their wages, oh, and only the bit they have to declare.

HMRC Don't ever chase me for my tax, not until you get off your arses, put your own house in order and are seen to be treating everyone consistently and fairly."

Ironically I came across this article in the Telegraph from 2010, which noted:

"Mr Alexander, who was appointed on Saturday after the resignation of fellow Liberal Democrat David Laws, designated the property as his second home for the purpose of claiming parliamentary expenses but described it to HM Revenue and Customs as his main home."

All perfectly legal, as indeed was the fact he took advice from a tax professional to avoid CGT on the sale of the taxpayer funded house at the time.

However, I find it "tedious" that the very same people who use tax professionals to minimise their tax bill, then lecture everyone else about the "morality" of paying their "fair share" of tax (whatever that really means?) and the "immorality" of tax avoidance.

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"

Advice To Beaker

Danny Alexander calls for corporate tax evasion crackdown http://t.co/yHuwV5ewsl /5 years at Treasury, never heard of Money Laundering Regs?
— Jon Stow (@JonStow) February 22, 2015

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 Shortlisted For Awards

Congratulations to HMRC for being shortlisted for two awards at the 2015 Opportunity Now Excellence in Practice Awards:

- for advancing women, and
- for directing diverse talent

Hoozah!

The Advancing Women Award
This award is for a particular initiative/intervention which aids the recruitment, retention, development and/or progression of women and can encompass women at all levels – from non-managerial to the board room. For example: a training initiative or career development/leadership programme or a recruitment/progression strategy or initiative.

The Directing Diverse Talent Award
This award is a collaboration between Opportunity Now and the CIPD to acknowledge the significant role that HR has to play in progressing the gender/diversity agenda. It recognises an exceptional HR director, manager or practitioner who has demonstrated a real commitment to inclusive management of talent. It acknowledges a game-changer who has shown a passion and dedication to developing women/diverse talent.

The ceremony will be held at the Park Lane Hilton on the evening of 21 April.

Tables for ten people are a mere £3K plus VAT.

By happenstance two other organisations that HMRC will be rubbing shoulders with on that evening are:

-HSBC (in the news recently)
-PwC (advisors on tax avoidance schemes and donors to the Labour party)

Plenty to talk about there then!

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 Loyal Reader Asks

A loyal reader has asked me to post the following open question about HMRC's helpfulness:

"Can you ask the open question as to why HMRC -even their agent helpline - are so unhelpful.

We ring them for information because we have not been able to get it from the client, but their attitude is that you have to know the answer before they will send anything out to you.

I wanted my client's PAYE earnings for 2013-2014 sent to me - their accountant authorised with a 64-8 and cleared through security - and because I did not know the employer names and references they refused to send it.

As my client has been mentally fragile and has lost the P60's this was somewhat difficult.

I take it the working together initiative is dead and buried. I never saw much evidence of it from HMRC anyway." 

Feel free to comment.

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"

Swiss Police Raid HSBC Geneva Office

URGENT: Swiss police raid #HSBC Geneva office in money laundering probe http://t.co/wO2gXuf9pZ pic.twitter.com/0S8pnrHrYA
— RT (@RT_com) February 18, 2015

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 Right Balls Up - Ed Caught Lying

As per the Telegraph:

"Ed Balls and 11 other members of the shadow cabinet claimed expenses for cleaning, gardening or odd jobs without submitting receipts, seriously undermining the shadow chancellor’s advice that we should all insist on invoices for cash-in-hand jobs.

Mr Balls claimed £1,610 for cleaners and his wife Yvette Cooper claimed £2,640 for cleaning and gardening, out of a total of £37,881 claimed by the 12 Labour MPs.

^{Ed Balls claims expenses for cleaners in 2006}

Mr Balls, in common with his 11 colleagues, did not submit a single receipt for the work done, despite his insistence on Monday that he had obtained receipts for every single cash payment since he entered politics 21 years ago."

Not only is he a pillock, he's a lying pillock!

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 Right Balls Up!

As per the Independent:

"People should always ask for receipts when they hand over money for the smallest job in the house or garden, the shadow Chancellor has insisted.

Ed Balls said he always requested proof of payment from tradesmen, even if it was only for £10 for trimming a hedge, because it was the “right thing to do”."

Hands up all the tradesmen, waiters, taxi drivers, bush trimmers, beggars etc etc that have received money/tips from Balls without handing over a receipt?

The man is a complete pillock!

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"

HSBC Taxgate Email Unearthed

Le Monde have a copy of the email which Herve Falciani, the whistleblower at the centre of the HSBC taxgate scandal, sent to HMRC in 2008.

This is very fortunate because, by happenstance, Homer and HMRC say they have no record of any such email being sent at the time.

Vive La France!

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 To Bring In SFO and Police

Either as a result of yesterday's PAC hearing, or by happenstance, HMRC (according to the BBC) will be bringing in the police and SFO wrt the HSBC tax evasion scandal.

We shall see!

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"

Edward Troup Pulled From HSBC PAC Hearing

Edward Troup, HMRC’s second permanent secretary, was to have appeared at today's PAC hearing into HSBC.

However, HMRC have pulled him at the last minute.

Anyone know why?

HMRC are denying he was due to appear.

.@JolyonMaugham That's right. Edward Troup was never due to appear. It was always to be Lin, Jim and Jennie.
— HMRC Press Office (@HMRCpressoffice) February 11, 2015

Homer also issued a denial:

.@JolyonMaugham Hi Jolyon, that is not correct. Here’s our statement: pic.twitter.com/31A6y2vv9U
— HMRC Press Office (@HMRCpressoffice) February 11, 2015

Yet he is mentioned on Parliamentary Business.

Could it be HMRC is "confused"?

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"

Homer, HSBC and PAC

Lin Homer has a busy day today, she will be up before PAC later today to discuss HSBC.


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 To Nix Automatic £100 Fines

It seems that HMRC's £100 automatic fines for late submission of tax returns is a tad too rigid.

No surprises there for those on the receiving end of such fines.

However, the real surprise is that HMRC is of the same view. As such, HMRC is drawing up proposals to end fines for taxpayers who miss the deadline “by a day or two”.

The proposals, currently open for consultation, offer higher interest rates on late payments in exchange for nixing automatic fines. This would be coupled with a penalty point system (akin to motoring offences).

HMRC concede that the existing penalty rules mean “honest” taxpayers who make “the occasional error” are treated the same as “the dishonest minority who try to cheat the system”.

The HMRC proposal is quoted by the Telegraph:

“We know that the vast majority of customers meet their obligations in full and on time, and that penalties are only applied to a small minority of people and businesses.

We want to make sure our approach works as well as possible.

This is why we want to consider whether we could better differentiate between deliberate and persistent non-compliers and those who might make an occasional error for whom alternative interventions are more appropriate.

The current system makes no distinction between a customer who misses a deadline by a day or two and someone who has made no attempt to comply at all.

There are 'reasonable excuse’ provisions that can remove penalties, but the rules may need updating to better support those genuinely wanting to comply.”

Methinks too many automatic penalties were being overturned, thus making the system look inept and dysfunctional.

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"

The Revolving Door Revolves In HSBC's Favour

Lucky for HSBC, the go to bank for tax advice, that it has Dave Hartnett onboard as honesty advisor.

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"

Gauke Shoots Down HMRC Proposal

HMRC, taking a cue from its political masters, really has a bee in its bonnet over tax avoidance. As such it is champing at the bit to "name and shame" people who persistently avoid paying their ‘fair share’ (whatever "fair share" actually means in reality).

In fact HMRC is so keen to name and shame people that it has issued a consultation paper, Strengthening Sanctions for Tax Avoidance, where it asks whether publicly naming “serial avoiders” would be effective and proportionate.

Unsurprisingly, HMRC has realised that such a power would require “especially careful handling”.

Aside from the fact that avoidance is legal and, as such, naming and shaming people for not breaking the law sounds a tad shitty; the question stands, can HMRC be trusted with such a power?

Chas Roy-Chowdhury, head of tax at the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants, is unimpressed. He is quoted by ContractorUK:

“It sets a dangerous precedent to ‘name and shame’ taxpayers who are acting within the law.

Rather than looking at ways to introduce more punitive punishments on to those looking to exploit the myriad complexities of our taxation system, the government would be better served focusing its efforts on bringing greater clarity and simplicity to the system”.

HMRC wants to use the name and shame technique to encourage "behaviour change"; this is part and parcel of the government's "nudge" techniques, crafted by psychologists and designed to manipulate us into behaving in a manner that the state approves of.

Those who wish to comment on this have until 12th March.

Ironically David Gauke shoots down the whole proposal in his foreword:

“There remains a small but hardened core of tax avoiders who…remain indifferent to public outrage at tax avoidance”.

In other words these people won't give a flying fark about being named!

Thus one is left wondering:

- What is the point of this?

- Can HMRC be trusted with such a power?

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"

Unnecessary Filing

The tax filing year end that has just passed was, apparently, the busiest ever with more people filing SA than records began etc etc.

However, it seems that some of those who were so keen to file may have in fact been wasting their time.

The Telegraph reports that those who owed less than £3,000 in tax may be needlessly filling in self-assessment forms.

The reason for the Telegraph's doubt about the necessity of some filling in an SA form?

None other than HMRC itself!

People who owed small amounts of tax from savings income or occasional extra work possibly need not have bothered, HMRC said. Instead of wasting hours compiling statements and invoices and completing forms, the money could have been deducted automatically from their pay packets from April.

Stuart Phillips, director of tax practice at The Private Office, the financial advisers, said:

“It is a great shame that in this country we are incredibly honest when it comes to paying our taxes, but HMRC doesn’t seem to be able to tell people the easiest way to do so.”

HMRC is able to recover up to £3,000 through the coding system.

However, the HMRC spokesman said that people who telephoned its helpline would be advised against filing a self-assessment return only if their untaxed income was less than £2,500.

That being said, as per HMRC:

“We don’t want anyone to fill in a tax return unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

However, taxpayers who owed less than £3,000 had until Dec 30 to request exemption.

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"

The Reality of HMRC's Needs Enhanced Services

My thanks to a loyal reader who posted a brief outline of how HMRC's face to face meetings (aka Needs Enhanced Services) for elderly/infirm taxpayers actually work in reality.

It seems to be a very hit or miss affair, with the hapless taxpayer left standing around until someone spots him/her:

"Needs Enhanced Services. 

It works like this: Tax payer outside in the cold until a member of staff exiting or entering the building spots them, usually it's not too long before a smoker goes in or out. 

Staff member then has to decide if they meet NES ie are elderly or infirm. 

Staff member then has to leave t/p outside and go upstairs to grab one of the staff members seeing NES customers, they then come down and take the t/p into a private room."

This appears to be a very haphazard and amateurish way to treat people, especially given that they are elderly/infirm.

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.

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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"

890,000 Miss Tax Return Deadline

It appears that 890,000 people have missed the online tax return deadline of 31 January. as such they all face a fine of £100 9for starters).

The figure is 180,000 greater than last year.

Ruth Owen (Director General of Personal Tax) is quoted by the BBC:

"This is another record-breaking year for self-assessment, with 210,000 more people filing their returns on time than last year.

If you're one of the minority who missed the deadline, you still need to get your tax return to us as soon as possible, to avoid further penalties and interest mounting up."

The ICAEW, for reasons bet know to itself, has worked out the Jaffa Cake equivalent of the £89M that HMRC hope to collect in fines.

HMRC: 890,000 late returns this year – that’s 180,000 more than last year! @HMRCgovuk pic.twitter.com/o3cj5U3xMp
— ICAEW (@ICAEW) February 3, 2015

Why?

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"

The Chilcot Approach To Tax Filing

Right. I can't put it off any longer, I really should start thinking about my tax return

— Sir John Chilcot (@JohnnyChilcot) February 2, 2015

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"