header-logo header-logo

13 February 2019 / Peter Vaines
Issue: 7828 / Categories: Features , Commercial , Tax
printer mail-detail

Taxing matters

One size fits none. In the pursuit of compliance, HMRC has chosen to treat everyone like a tax cheat, says Peter Vaines
  • Through its attempts to encourage compliance and penalise wrongdoers, HMRC has created a bullying culture of trying to catch people out, collecting tax which is not due, and forcing people into submission without regard to the rights and wrongs of their case.
  • A culture of trust and compliance should be the goal—and that is achieved by respect, not by fear.

‘I have a dream,’ somebody rather important once said.

I too have a dream—rather less important—but if it could turn into reality, it would make a lot of difference to a lot of people. It is all to do with tax and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Liars, cheats & law-abiding citizens

There is increasing disquiet about the deteriorating relationship between HMRC and taxpayers, and this obviously is a matter of real importance to taxpayers— and a matter of deep regret to professionals in the field. It

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

Nikki Bowker, head of dispute resolution at Devonshires, on career resilience, diversity in law and channelling Elle Woods when the pressure is on

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Leasehold enfranchisement specialist joins residential property team

DWF—Chris Air

DWF—Chris Air

Firm strengthens commercial team in Manchester with partner appointment

NEWS
The government will aim to pass legislation banning leasehold for new flats and capping ground rent, introducing non-compulsory digital ID and creating a ‘duty of candour’ for public servants (also known as the Hillsborough law) in the next Parliament

An Italian financier has lost his bid to block his Australian wife from filing divorce papers in England on the basis it was no longer her domicile of choice

Reforms to the disclosure regime in the business and property courts have not achieved their objectives, lawyers have warned
The Law Society has urged ministers to hold a public consultation on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the justice system as a whole
Ministers have proposed bringing inquest work under a single fee scheme for legal help and advocacy legal aid work
back-to-top-scroll