BN66 - Time to fight back!!!

[ASB]

Your timelines are a little bit out.

The Montpelier (treaty) scheme started in April 2001. First SA returns (2001/2) were filed in January 2003. The scheme has been under formal enquiry by HMRC since June 2003 (5 years!).

Ok, not being a user of any of these I could only guess based on what legislation was being passed.

FWIW I do have a great deal of sympathy for treaty scheme users (though I do think the scheme is "wrong in principle" that is solely the fault of the ligslature). It does seem to me that having been dragging heels for so long HMRC were obviously very worried (maybe even certain) that they would lose a case under the previous wording.

[DonkeyRhubarb]

I think DonkeyRhubarb that while the govt. are under attack on other taxes such as the 10p tax and the "retrospective car tax", the media and Conservative party would be very interested in our case.

I agree but they would NOT want to be seen siding with a bunch of highly paid contractors and property developers.

If you read the Hansard debates, the Conservatives and Libdems were highly critical of the principle of the retrospective element of the legislation. However, they know there is no mileage in being seen to condone tax avoidance, which is why they've let the matter drop since.

In order to raise their interest again you need to give them some ammunition. Once it gets into court then they can use the case to expose government incompetence and dishonesty, without appearing to defend wealthy indviduals trying to avoid tax.

[SantaClaus]

I agree but they would NOT want to be seen siding with a bunch of highly paid contractors and property developers.

If you read the Hansard debates, the Conservatives and Libdems were highly critical of the principle of the retrospective element of the legislation. However, they know there is no mileage in being seen to condone tax avoidance, which is why they've let the matter drop since.

In order to raise their interest again you need to give them some ammunition. Once it gets into court then they can use the case to expose government incompetence and dishonesty, without appearing to defend wealthy indviduals trying to avoid tax.

I guess you are right DonkeyRhubarb.

[DonkeyRhubarb]

I guess you are right DonkeyRhubarb.

Not right just cynical. Politicians are only interested in grabbing votes or taking a swipe at the opposition; journos are only interest in stories which sell papers.

The 10p tax and car tax affects lots of ordinary folks.

Our plight will have zero public support but the case could be highly embarrassing for government/HMRC when it gets into court.

[Ratican]

Meeting

How about arranging a meeting for those affected and interested in doing something?

[TAF4]

doubt whether anyone but MP and HMRC have that. but if all 2000 chipped in, I dont think thousands of pounds for an advert would be much of an obstacle

I'm in. Sounds like an investment to me.

[poppy01]

How about arranging a meeting for those affected and interested in doing something?

thats the question, how to get to everyone affected, note this thread has had 103,761 views, and over 1300 posts.

[Ratican]

Montpelier

Well, maybe now would be a good time for somebody to speak to Montpelier and ask them for their advice on action we could take. It may be wise to keep them informed and obtain their guidance based on their current plans for JR, etc.

They are probably in contact with other affected scheme providers as well. Has anybody spoken to Mr O'Kelly? Maybe he could come to our little meeting? Maybe he has ideas. Maybe he knows a good PR company we could speak to.

Regarding setting up a meeting - maybe we could run a series of polls to gauge how many people we could get together and where.

[smalldog]

unsurpirisngly Im in

[poppy01]

Well, maybe now would be a good time for somebody to speak to Montpelier and ask them for their advice on action we could take. It may be wise to keep them informed and obtain their guidance based on their current plans for JR, etc.

They are probably in contact with other affected scheme providers as well. Has anybody spoken to Mr O'Kelly? Maybe he could come to our little meeting? Maybe he has ideas. Maybe he knows a good PR company we could speak to.

Regarding setting up a meeting - maybe we could run a series of polls to gauge how many people we could get together and where.

OK, I'm going to email Bernard and ask him what he thinks of the idea.also he could probably help with the wording of the advert to maximise its impact and steer it away from being just us moaning...he may be prepared to contact scheme members for us..

Does someone know how to set up a poll,
i.e 'do you advocate the creation of a group with a view to taking more direct action re BN66 in the form of Newspaper advertisements or Protests'
yes/no
'would you contribute financially'
yes/no

but.. reality check... will this do us any good?