HMRC "The Most Corrupt Business In Britain"

Here are Sam Allardyce's views on HMRC, as per the Telegraph:

“The most corrupt business in our country would be what?

You’ll be shocked when I tell you this – HMRC.

They fly out tax demands without any real knowledge whether they should or shouldn’t.

They just put ‘em out willy-nilly and if you pay them, people s--- themselves and pay them.

Then they go to their accountant and say, and if you’ve got a s--- accountant, the account s---- himself and says, well you must owe them, you had better pay it.

Most of the punters don’t owe it. In fact most of the punters, actually the taxman owes them money. 

But because the country’s so skint, they come to government and say we’re skint, government says we’re skint how we gonna get the money. Let’s change the laws and let’s just fly out these demands.

If you invested in this tax scheme, where they pay the tax back, for investing in new businesses, or in regeneration zones, do you know what I mean, in current poverty areas.

But HMRC, you have to pay it back even if you don’t owe it.

The most corrupt, it’s the most corrupt business in the country at the minute, HMRC”.

Well I suspect the the most corrupt business in Britain is in fact football, but hey ho feel free to disabuse me of that.

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.

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

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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's Jolly Junket To Pakistan II - The Wrath of Ken

On Tuesday I wrote that HMRC are sending some of its experts to Pakistan to offer advice on how to increase its tax take.

I made a couple of "radical" suggestions:

1 Why don't we simply stop paying aid to Pakistan?

2 Why don't the HMRC experts stay at home, and help advise HMRC resolve its own issues wrt tax collection?

I am gemused to see that the UK media and our "respected" political "elite" have suddenly woken up and have realised that sending money to this corrupt country is idiotic. My thanks to a loyal reader, who noted that the Express Tribune reported on the level of corruption in Pakistan in December 2012.

The BBC reports that the International Development Committee said British taxpayers should not be paying for health and education in Pakistan, while rich Pakistanis were paying little tax. The UK government should withhold extra aid to Pakistan unless the country does more to gather taxes from its wealthier citizens.

Quite!

Now, the question is will sending HMRC to Pakistan help end the corruption and help it improve its tax take?

The answer?

No, it will not!

The IDC called on the Department for International Development (DfID) to work with other donor countries and the International Monetary Fund to push for reform of Pakistan's tax system and back a national campaign to build domestic political momentum for change.

No recommendation (or even mention) of sending HMRC to Pakistan.

Funny that!

I wonder if they know that HMRC are about to fly out there?

As I noted, HMRC has its work cut out for it in the UK as it struggles to restore credibility to the UK tax system.

It is absurd to waste the scare time and resources of HMRC (ie the funds of UK taxpayers) on a fruitless trip to a corrupt failing country.

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



Tax Investigation for Dummies, by Nick Morgan, provides a good and easy to read guide for anyone caught up in an HMRC tax investigation. A must read for any Self Assessment taxpayer.

Click the link to read about: Tax Investigation for Dummies

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"

Power Corrupts - More Powers On The Way

The formation of a coalition government, one party of which is wedded to the idea of a moral crusade against tax avoidance, coupled with the fact that Britain is broke indicates that instead of cutting back on the powers granted by the last administration to HMRC there is a certainty that more powers will in fact be granted.

Accountancy Age quote Anne Redston, visiting professor at Kings College London:

"There are more powers on the way.

But we should really be putting a cap on powers for the next five years."

You have been warned.

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

What is TAXWISE?

TAXWISE 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 Taxwise

Tax Investigation for Dummies, by Nick Morgan, provides a good and easy to read guide for anyone caught up in an HMRC tax investigation. A must read for any Self Assessment taxpayer.

Click the link to read about: Tax Investigation for Dummies

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"

Power Corrupts

As part of the government's ongoing politicisation of HMRC, and desire to use HMRC as a tool of social control, the recent Budget will give HMRC the power to intercept any suspicious mail anywhere in the country and open it before it is delivered.

The new powers (to be implemented via an amendment to the Postal Services Act) are coming in on the auspices of cracking down on tobacco smuggling. However, HMRC are already drooling and slavering over the prospects of being able to snoop and spy on people.

The Telegraph reports that an HMRC spokesman said that the powers would be applied much more widely.

HMRC inspectors currently must notify the addressee and agree a mutually acceptable time to open the letter or parcel, before deciding whether to take any enforcement action.

However, the new powers will allow HMRC to open "suspicious" post without asking permission first.

So who determines what is "suspicious" or not?

Ah, that would be HMRC.

Judge, jury and executioner rolled into one.

No dangers there then of corruption occurring, and the powers being misused!

Not!

This is one step further down the road towards dictatorship.

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

What is TAXWISE?

TAXWISE 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 Taxwise

Tax Investigation for Dummies, by Nick Morgan, provides a good and easy to read guide for anyone caught up in an HMRC tax investigation. A must read for any Self Assessment taxpayer.

Click the link to read about: Tax Investigation for Dummies

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"