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TaxationWeb asks if the Redknapp tax evasion case has really gone as badly for HMRC as first thought. It's not a good day at TW Towers II, as I sit here nursing what I think is my second Lemsip and, er, water chaser - hey, it's a weekend. This is my third week of what is possibly the worst case of Man-'flu in the western hemisphere. (Thanks, Dad). To cheer myself up, I am looking at the events of the past few days. We started off the week by giving HMRC a great big slap on the ... Continue Reading

Peter Arrowsmith FCA with an update on NIC matters and a timely reminder about calculating Directors' NICs properly. Reality Sets in for NIC Holiday Scheme David Cameron has admitted that the NIC Holiday Scheme has not been as successful as had been planned. However, he seems to take solace that it hasn't therefore cost the Government very much. Take up was still 'around' 12,000 employers (i.e., could be 11,001) as at 19 January - against a planned 400,000 over the scheme's three-year ... Continue Reading

The cases of Messrs. Redknapp & Mandaric have been headline news in the public press for several days now. They have each been found "not guilty" and some of the press relating to the cases has focused on the cost of the case, which John Kelsey-Fry QC, barrister for Mr. Redknapp, has reportedly claimed could be up to £10 million - although others have suggested a mere £8 million. There will be further public sympathy for Mr. Redknapp, who said that the case had dragged on ... Continue Reading

If you missed the Self Assessment tax return deadline and can show that you should not have been in the SA regime, you may be able to avoid any penalties. Introduction LITRG look at HMRC’s guidance as to their policy on Self Assessment (SA) penalties. HMRC’s approach The first point they make is that they want to treat people fairly. On that basis, now the 31 January deadline has passed and penalties have begun to apply, HMRC indicate they will use their utmost ... Continue Reading

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) announced last Friday that there would be "a fresh approach to Business Records Checks in 2012".  Whilst continuing to affirm the perceived benefit of Business Records Checks (BRCs) to HMRC and to businesses, HMRC said that the BRC "should be amended to be a more tightly targeted compliance intervention, but set within a framework of additional education and leverage activity." This will include a suspension of BRC activity whilst HMRC improves the ... Continue Reading

Guest editorial contribution by Mark Serwotka, head of the Public and Commercial Services Union Why We Are Taking Industrial Action on 31 January As many taxpayers already know, 31 January is an important date in the tax calendar. Filing your online return can be stressful. But please spare a thought for the advisers who staff HM Revenue and Customs' telephone lines and enquiry centres. They want to do a good job to help you. But as there are fewer of them working in fewer offices ... Continue Reading

Credit where Credit's Due! Mark McLaughlin applauds recent moves by HM Revenue & Customs to help taxpayers. As reported on TaxationWeb at the end of January, ( No Penalties for Filing Tax Returns or Paying Late up to 2nd February ) HMRC agreed to treat all self-assessment tax returns submitted by midnight on 2 February 2012 as though they had been submitted by the normal 31 January deadline, due to threatened industrial action by HMRC staff. In addition, taxpayers will not have to pay ... Continue Reading

Between mid-January and early March 2012, HMRC are issuing PAYE Coding Notices for the 2012/13 tax year. LITRG explains that you should check yours, particularly regarding ‘underpayment restrictions’. Background HMRC anticipate that for the coming tax year, 2012/13, they will issue around 17 to 18 million PAYE codes to employees and pensioners. These began to be issued in mid-January and will continue to be sent out until March 2012.    This article is broken ... Continue Reading

  revenuebenefits have completed a project to provide a full set of up-to-date (consolidated) tax credits legislation. LITRG outlines the background. Introduction Since 2002, there have been a large number of amendments to the tax credits legislation. For advisers needing to understand the law as it applies today, applying numerous pieces of amending legislation to the original versions is time consuming and makes reliable interpretations difficult.   An ongoing ... Continue Reading

HM Revenue & Customs has confirmed that it will waive penalties for any tax returns filed after 31 January provided they are submitted by midnight of 2 February. There is a similar grace period for paying any tax which would also fall due on 31 January. When the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) confirmed that the proposed strike action in HMRC call centres was definitely going ahead on 31 January, TaxationWeb contacted HMRC to ask them to publicise how they were ... Continue Reading