HMRC Top Ten?

[wattaj]

As was announced in the budget, HMRC may now make unannounced calls on business premises in order to inspect "records, assets and premises".

What was missed out from this announcement was that they have no automatic right of entry without a warrant...
One would be perfectly within ones rights to tell them to go away and make an appointment.

My feeling is that not many people realise this and that this is in fact what HMRC are banking on...

So...

What are your top ten "popular" misconceptions regarding the powers available to HMRC in conducting their business?

No funnies please...
This is an honest and sincere request for your opinions.

[BrilloPad]

What was missed out from this announcement was that they have no automatic right of entry without a warrant...

I dont think that is true. Do you have evidence (a link) to justify that?

[ratewhore]

Bearing in mind that I'm out all day, and bearing in mind the hours civil servants work, do you think they will leave a card like the royal mail?

[Jubber]

I have a very reliable source who tells me just what HMRC inspectors are like. In fact I know one quite well. In late, little as possible, home early. In fact, he hardly ever goes to work, he's at home nearly all the time. I know he earns very little (in comparison to most on this board) but he really just does the bare minimum he has to.

I don't think he'll be out kicking down doors to ask to look at books.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

I know a guy in the Revenue. He's been to my office for status reviews and such-like and we spend about an hour talking about the football, he looks at the books for a wee while, makes a couple of suggestions and then goes on his way. I often ask people when they are leaving my office waht their plans are for the rest of the day and he invariably says something along the lines of "this review was scheduled for a 2 day visit so I'll be spending the rest of the day with Fifa2008 and tomorrow I'll pad out a report".

My office is about 5 mins drive or a half hour's walk to the train station and I once offered a VAT inspector a lift and he declined on the basis that if he took the lift, he'd be in time for an earlier train and therefore he'd need to go back to the office.

Still for the washers they get paid, who can blame them?

[wattaj]

I don't think that is true. Do you have evidence (a link) to justify that?

My understanding comes from the draft legislation:
A New Approach to Compliance Checks: Responses to Consultation and Proposals

And the partial impact assessment.

Of course, my interpretation may be different from yours...
It's pretty dry stuff