Will your Accountant get a letter?

[Robot]

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/employment-status/current.htm

Current issues

Last updated 29 August 2007.

"As part of HMRC’s monitoring the effects of Chapter 9 ITEPA, letters will be issued shortly to those known Service Providers whom HMRC believes to be MSC Providers. The letters will asks Service Providers for limited information on the business models provided to clients and the numbers of clients within each business model.

Provision of the information is purely voluntary but as many Service Providers advertise their business models, HMRC anticipates a good response".

[Bluebird]

more to the point will any of them tell you that they have had a letter - should they disclose that information as it may be relevat to their clients ?

SJD & NW ?

[Darren@UptonAccountants]

Hmrc

Judging by the wording, sounds like only suspected MSC providers will receive a letter from the IR.

Should one be received, would then be up to the accountant to prove otherwise but if found to be an MSC would be obliged to inform all clients. IF they didn't could be wide open to be sued by their clients.

[Bluebird]

Judging by the wording, sounds like only suspected MSC providers will receive a letter from the IR.

Should one be received, would then be up to the accountant to prove otherwise but if found to be an MSC would be obliged to inform all clients. IF they didn't could be wide open to be sued by their clients.

But should the accountants not make their clients aware of the investigation anyway ?

[Billy Pilgrim]

Judging by the wording, sounds like only suspected MSC providers will receive a letter from the IR.

Should one be received, would then be up to the accountant to prove otherwise but if found to be an MSC would be obliged to inform all clients. IF they didn't could be wide open to be sued by their clients.

Well if they do send one to your lot you better bloody fight them off with a big stick

[Darren@UptonAccountants]

Accountants

Well if they do send one to your lot you better bloody fight them off with a big stick

Will do Billy, stick with a pointy end!

Given the lively discussions on previous threads don't want to get into the legalities, etc but IMPO the likelihood of a traditional firm of accountants falling into this category would be low.

[ContractIn]

more to the point will any of them tell you that they have had a letter - should they disclose that information as it may be relevat to their clients ?

SJD & NW ?

That was going to be my questions, is there a way to find out who HMRC consider to be MSC's?

[exbrm]

No - they duck the question. It helps them if it's all cloudy. The big boys used to boast "compliance", but...

"It's all gone quiet over there....."

Lets here it from them I say.......

Will these companies tell their clients:

a) They have received such letter?
b) Whether they reply or ignore?
c) What they will say in a reply?