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13 February 2019 / Peter Vaines
Issue: 7828 / Categories: Features , Commercial , Tax
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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

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Flint Bishop—Charlotte Harris

Flint Bishop—Charlotte Harris

Sheffield expansion continues with appointment of commercial property partner

Browne Jacobson—Paul Duggan

Browne Jacobson—Paul Duggan

Browne Jacobson strengthens banking and finance practice with latest partner appointment Paul Duggan

Ward Hadaway—Chris Piggott

Ward Hadaway—Chris Piggott

Employment partner joins Ward Hadaway

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Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners
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