HMRC Published Confidential Details On Web Without Permission

Oh dear it seems that private details of a number of childminders, including home addresses, have been published in error on HMRC’s Childcare Service website.

The details, which have since been removed from the website (which providers and parents must access for Tax-Free Childcare and the 30 hours) appeared on its 'Search for a Childcare Provider' page, despite the fact childminders had not given their permission for the data to be published.

HMRC removed the facility from their website to correct the error, following complaints from affected childminders.

A spokesperson for HMRC is quoted by NurseryWorld:

"We have temporarily closed the childcare provider checker, as there was an issue with the system. Our suppliers – NS&I and Atos – are working to rectify this and will re-open the childcare provider checker once it is working as it should. Parents and providers can continue to apply through the service."

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, was unimpressed:

"It is completely unacceptable that confidential childminder data, including details of home addresses, was published on the Childcare Service website, and those affected are absolutely right to be angry at this breach of privacy.

While we recognise that HMRC is now working to resolve this issue, it never should have happened in the first place, and it certainly shouldn’t have taken so long for HMRC to finally acknowledge that something had gone seriously wrong.

With Tax-Free Childcare already in effect, and just two months until the roll-out of the 30-hour offer, we are still receiving regular reports of problems with the Childcare Service website from both parents and providers. This simply isn’t good enough. Government needs to get a grip on this policy and fast, and so we hope HMRC will be looking to review and address these ongoing issues as a matter of priority."

I thought HMRC always claimed that it zealously protected taxpayers' privacy??

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.

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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



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HMRC To Trial AI

Apparently HMRC is looking at using AI (artificial intelligence) to handle "mundane" processes and shift human resources into ‘higher value work’, with an emphasis on customer contact and casework.

UKAuthority reports that Interim chief digital and transformation officer Mike Potter referred to the plans in a presentation to the Public Sector Show in London yesterday.

He said that HMRC plans to launch the trials in the near future as part of a move towards robotic automation and “taking the graft out of people’s jobs to focus on higher value work”.

Potter declined to provide details of the trials, saying there is a need to talk with staff before making more information public.

The theory being that AI will be used to augment decision-making; and helping taxpayers through effective self-service.


Well then, let's see how that goes!

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"

Record Number of HMRC Judicial Reviews

The number of taxpayers seeking to challenge HMRC through judicial review jumped by nearly one-fifth last year.

The FT reports that HMRC faced a record 90 applications for judicial review as aggrieved individuals and businesses tried to overturn what they claimed were illegal or unreasonable decisions.

Adam Craggs, head of tax disputes at RPC, a City law firm, said the upturn was a sign of the growing pressure on HMRC to increase the tax yield:

“Until two or three years ago I could count on one hand the number of judicial reviews against the Revenue. In the past couple of years it has gone through the roof.

HMRC has a duty to act fairly and lawfully, but more and more taxpayers are finding that it is falling short of the mark.”

Mr Craggs said a number of cases were being brought by taxpayers who faced bankruptcy:

“A lot of the arrangements and transactions go back 10 years. The notices arrive on the doormat out of the blue and they don’t have the cash to pay it.”

He said the increase in applications from 42 in 2014 underlined concerns raised in the tax profession about the controversial powers HMRC has gained in recent years. Some of the applications represented claims by several thousand individuals.

Some of the cases involve HMRC’s ability to issue accelerated payment notices (APNs), which allow it to demand upfront payment of disputed tax from people who took part in avoidance schemes. The taxpayer is required to pay the bill within 90 days, without any right of appeal.

HMRC said:

“Accelerated payments have changed the economics of tax avoidance by requiring those under investigation for tax avoidance to pay the disputed tax upfront, putting them in the same position as the majority of taxpayers who pay first and dispute later. HMRC has won all five judicial reviews decided by the courts on the accelerated payments regime.”

The increased powers given to HMRC coupled with the increased pressure on it to bring in more money is a toxic combination.

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



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HMRC's Unusual Combination of Income Types

Taxpayers who have certain income sources and amounts are finding that HMRC’s servers are unable to calculate the correct amount of tax due. Due to discrepancies in the calculations the servers reject any self assessments submitted with the correct tax calculation generated by third party software.

As such, taxpayers who encounter this issue will have to submit a paper tax return.

These circumstances are identified by HMRC as ‘exclusions’ each year. HMRC has added 16 exclusions for 2016/17 identified in collaboration with software developers.

A HMRC spokesperson told CCH Daily:

‘HMRC is working hard to ensure that no tax is incorrectly assessed. A very small number of self assessment taxpayers who have a very unusual combination of income types will have to use paper tax returns.’ 

Hey-ho, good luck with that 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"

HMRC Takes Up Farming

My thanks to a loyal reader who posted about a visit to Hull yesterday by Gerry Dorby (Assistant Director of Risk and Intelligence at HMRC).

"Just been told that Gerry Dorby was asked, at a SLT meeting today in Hull, a series of questions from staff (AOs and Band Os). 

One was, with the digitalisation of data gathering coming into effect soon, where will this leave AOs? 

His answer: they'll be farmed out to other departments. 

Another question: how does he see morale and well being going in Hull as it gets closer to closing? 

Answer: well, he apparently answered another question entirely, completely side stepping it, before adding "why would anyone complain, there's loads of work to do". 

He then said he had "no idea" where the regional office in Leeds will be, either exact location or time wise. "I promise, as soon as I know, you will"., he said. 

This is as rumours fly that Wellington Place will house the Leeds staff (and what's left of Hull's) from 2019."

Therefore it seems that HMRC has taken up "farming".

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 Staff Honoured

CCH reports that five members of HMRC have been awarded honours in the Queen's birthday hours:

"Five HMRC staff have picked up honours including Janet Mary Aiston, director in the wealthy and mid-sized business compliance unit at HMRC, who has been named a Companion of the Order of the Bath for services to taxpayers and tax collection.

Also at HMRC, Euan Stewart is made a CBE, for services to protecting tax revenue as head of intelligence at HMRC. John Archbold, programme manager in Liverpool, is made OBE for services to digital innovation and the community in Merseyside and David Stewart, a business unit head, has been awarded an OBE for services to the promotion of investment in Northern Ireland. Sean Connolly, an HMRC intelligence analyst, has been made MBE for services to innovation and tackling organised crime." 

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"

Smug and Arrogant HMRC - Elaine Clark Nails It

Kudos to my chum Elaine Clark who wrote about the "smug arrogance of HMRC" as she says:

"They do get it wrong. Quite a lot in fact."

Here is an extract of her article which can be read in full on CheapAccounting.co.uk:

"For many a year I have argued the point that a Director is not obligated by law to file a self assessment tax return.

I’ve argued this point with accountants, on forums, in blogs and with HMRC.

Why? 

Well that’s simple …  because that is the law.

You only have to complete a tax return if you meet certain conditions.

Being a Director is not one of those conditions.

First Tier Tax Tribunal

And it seems that the “big guns” at the First Tier Tax Tribunal agree.

The case of Mohammed Salem Kadhem and The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs examined the case of Mr Kadhem being fined for not filing a self assessment.

Mr Kadhem successfully argued that the fines were not valid as he didn’t need to file a self assessment for the year in question.

The Tribunal agreed with him.

HMRC got it wrong......

The best advice that I can give to anyone is not to assume that HMRC are right when the brown envelope falls on the doormat. They do get it wrong. Quite a lot in fact.

Always check their calculation, fines and penalties. Check that they have applied to law correctly."

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 Question of Morality - Discuss and Opine

Is it moral to break the law?
Is it immoral to obey the law?
Can gov punish you if you obey all laws but do something they label "immoral"?

— HMRC Victim (@HMRCVictim) June 16, 2017

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"

Mel Stride Appointed Financial Secretary To The Treasury

Mel Stride has been appointed financial secretary to the Treasury.

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"

Aggressive HMRC Scam

HMRC TAX SCAM by phone demanding HUGE sums of money with aggression! Please share - prevent vulnerable being targeted#womenshour pic.twitter.com/is0Ygkm3Em

— Elaine Clark (@cheapaccounting) June 13, 2017

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"

Austerity Over - Pressure on HMRC Increases

It appears that austerity is now over.

That being the case, the pressure on HMRC to increase its tax take and swiftly implement an efficient and revenue raising MTD system will increase.

Let's see how that goes 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"

Whither Tax, HMRC and MTD Now?

Given that we are now being "governed" by a very precarious hung parliament, and that Jane Ellison is no longer Financial Secretary (as she lost her seat), it is fair to say that matters pertaining to tax, HMRC and MTD are now very uncertain and subject to change.

It's going to be a very bumpy ride.

Good luck everyone!

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"

Fraud Alert

Action Fraud warns of HMRC scam https://t.co/f5phlp2Mun

— FTAdviser (@FTAdviser) June 7, 2017

The fraudsters are taking payments in the form of iTunes gift card voucher codes.

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"

"They Completely Fucked Up.."

David Gower, who was advised to go into The Ingenious Film Partners 2 LLP scheme (on which the Upper Tribunal confirmed that HMRC was right to deny investors a tax break) by a financial adviser, told the Daily Mail.

"People were accusing the innocent investors of trying to evade responsibilities. That is completely untrue.

Innocent investors went in on advice and if anyone has been immoral and unfair it’s HMRC. They completely fucked up the way they did it."

Ingenious will appeal the ruling.

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"

Corporation Taxpayers Need To Login Twice

 

CCH Daily reports that taxpayers who submit returns using the HMRC free corporation tax service will receive an on-screen acknowledgement (‘Submission successful’ or ‘Submitted’) during online filing, but this does not confirm the final status.

This means that taxpayers need to doublecheck their entries, as it is not clear at this stage whether the return has actually been processed.

Those companies using the free service will have to login twice to check the dashboard to confirm whether the submission has been accepted. The dashboard is the only place to see the final outcome, which will be either ’Submission error’ or ‘Submission complete’, which means the filing was accepted.

Until the problem is resolved, HMRC is telling taxpayers to:

‘log back into the service following online submission and view the dashboard. You can track your submissions here to determine the final submission status anytime within 30 days of filing’.

It is not clear as to when HMRC will fix this problem, as they won't say!


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"

VAT Waived On Manchester Benefit Gig

Treasury is going to waive the VAT on this weekend's Manchester benefit gig, I'm told

— Jennifer Williams (@JenWilliamsMEN) June 2, 2017

Let us trust that HMRC have been informed of this!

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"