expenses

[Bagpuss]

Where potential tax fraud (especially VAT) is suspected they can legally look up your arsehole if they want to.

That's Ok then, nothing to see up there!

[boredsenseless]

Yeah but its the big stick that they do the looking with that you should be worried by

[IR35 Avoider]

Where potential tax fraud (especially VAT) is suspected they can legally look up your arsehole if they want to.

On the subject of VAT, am I right in recalling that Customs and Excise (unlike IR and even the police) can walk into your home whenever they want to? (I mean they don't need a warrant or permission from anyone.) Even if I'm wrong, I believe the powers of C&E are frightening which is why many people were concerned about the merger with IR, lest they get the same powers.

An equally dodgy distant memory tells me that the French border police (Customs equivalent?) used to be able to simply "disappear" you and hold you for up six months. (i.e Arrest you without telling anyone, including your family or a judge, and without allowing you access to a lawyer.)

[PerlOfWisdom]

Customs and Excise (unlike IR and even the police) can walk into your home whenever they want to?

Haven't the IR and C&E merged now?

[Lucifer Box]

Haven't the IR and C&E merged now?

Yes, but they retain their separate investigatory powers (for the moment). IR35 Avoider is correct, customs inspectors involved in excise investigations do not require a search warrant in advance and there was (and is) concern that these powers should not de facto be applied to non-excise matters.