As loyal readers know, HMRC is keen to promote its "customer friendly" credentials and is often at pains to point out that taxpayers (sorry "customers") can get in touch with HMRC to discuss their tax queries etc.
Well it seems that HMRC are not kidding, that is at least the case for ex Prime Ministers anyway.
It appears according to reports in the Times that Tony Blair, when he left office, was granted (or at least his advisers were granted) an audience with Dave Hartnett.
For why?
Blair wanted to arrange the most tax efficient structure for some form of offshore trust that would handle his "consultancy" income from various foreign organisations/governments. Reporters were told that Blair uses an interest-in-possession (IIP) trust to receive payments from his consultancy work
Economia reports that MPs are expected to write to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to call for an investigation into “special treatment of high-profile individuals by HMRC”.
The question is, if you or I had asked for an audience with Hartnett would we have received the same treatment that Blair got?
Oh and by the way, re yesterday's article about HMRC's consultation on a new offence aimed at businesses which fail to prevent tax evasion.
Will that apply to HMRC as well?
Tax does have to be taxing.
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I've always wondered about the Blair's tax affairs. Hopefully this will kick start some wider spread media interest, but I doubt it somehow.
ReplyDeleteOld news, what are HMRC doing TODAY to improve performance TOMORROW?
ReplyDeleteTODAY they can't get rid of experienced staff fast enough-simply by making them feel that they are not needed, so they are going now and taking their pensions.
DeleteFor TOMORROW they have recruited 100's of young graduates with no experience of life, let alone tax knowledge, and letting THEM look after your tax affairs. It will cost HMRC less so will be good for the "customer". FFS I want my tax affairs handled by someone that knows about tax, not about 17th Century Politics or French Impressionists.
Both these men should be in jail
ReplyDeleteAffluent? This is where you go:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/issue-briefing-dealing-with-the-tax-affairs-of-wealthy-individuals/how-we-deal-with-wealthy-individuals