BN66 - Time to fight back (Chapter 3)

[Toocan]

I got up this morning to find a nice surprise. A letter from our HMRC friends (dated 16/3) advising me that if I don't pay in full by Monday week (30/3), they will be taking legal action against me to seize and auction my assets. That's nice. Even better than that the 30/3 isn't even outside of my 30 day appeal period. This started on 4/3. At least the letter dated 4/3 which arrived on 12/3 told me this. They're in a bit of a rush. Not nice. MP have sent in my appeal, but I have a bad feeling its going to get 'lost'. Bully boy tactics of the worst kind. I've written back to them, telling them I am not going to get pushed around and have forwarded the letter to my MP. Even funnier, they sent me a letter for someone else, nothing to do with the scheme. It included their name, address and National Insurance number in their original closure notice. Hmmm, lots of identity fraud lessons learnt there then. Still, at lest it wasn't a CD. I also realise that I have no doubt completely blown my 'cover' by detailing all this, but you know what? The way I feel this morning, I couldn't care less.

Sorry to hear that HMRC have screwed up your returns too. They made a right mess of mine. Eventually the tax inspector said that his computer couldn't cope and that I shouldn't worry about it because they'll do all the calculation again when the matter is decided.

Give Montpelier a call on Monday and stay calm. I even received legal threats - what a waste of money.

[Toocan]

Lord or the Realm, Minister of the Crown

Don’t do as I do…

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle5950498.ece

[poppy01]

Don’t do as I do…

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle5950498.ece

If they weren't in power it would be funny

[OnYourBikeGB]

Don’t do as I do…

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle5950498.ece

I don't know. That gave me the best laugh I've had in a couple of days. Not a fun laugh though, just one of those ones when you see something so absurd it can't be real. Thanks for that Toocan . Anyone who said that we were on the road to tyranny, clearly didn't realise we had arrived and booked in.

[poppy01]

I don't know. That gave me the best laugh I've had in a couple of days. Not a fun laugh though, just one of those ones when you see something so absurd it can't be real. Thanks for that Toocan . Anyone who said that we were on the road to tyranny, clearly didn't realise we had arrived and booked in.

If this government introduced emergency powers to postpone any election indefinitely, it wouldn't surprise me at all.

[seadog]

Don’t do as I do…

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle5950498.ece

If that wasn't enough how about MP's scam on second homes.

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/a...curtailed.html

The Mail on Sunday report shows numerous MP’s ( they claim 134) who have found a way of claiming second home living allowances when in reality they live close to London.

Surely this indicates they are clearly abusing the intent of Parliament by claiming the allowance.

I wonder how they would respond to retrospective rule changes and then be faced with up to 7 years of back payments plus interest.

[Toocan]

Press oppertunity

Everyone,

We have an opportunity to bring attention to the governments duplicity – have a look at these articles:

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/a...curtailed.html


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5954926.ece


I have left a comment comparing the governments behaviour to our situation – ie it’s okay for them, but we get retrospective legislation.

I suggest you do the same.
(If you do, mention "Section 58, Finance Act 2008" so that any reporters can get right to the details)

[PlaneSailing]

American Problems

An interesting sideline from the USA. Employees from the
banks that have received state bailouts are having their bonuses
taxed at 90% retrospectively. It only covers last years payouts,
but even the left leaning New York Times is uncomfortable about
what they refer to as 'retroactive taxation'.

Interesting to see if Obama bows down to the extensive lobbying.

For the interested, here is a selection of comments on the issue...

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/03...es_people.html

[Emigre]

An interesting sideline from the USA. Employees from the
banks that have received state bailouts are having their bonuses
taxed at 90% retrospectively. It only covers last years payouts,
but even the left leaning New York Times is uncomfortable about
what they refer to as 'retroactive taxation'.

Interesting to see if Obama bows down to the extensive lobbying.

For the interested, here is a selection of comments on the issue...

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/03...es_people.html

Note the last comment: "common law is pretty clear about the impermissibility of ex post facto legislation and bills of attainder. They also happen to be specifically prohibited by the Constitution."

Also by the Human Rights Act. ie effectively the European Constitution.

[OnYourBikeGB]

30 days really isnt 30 days

After getting threatened by the HMRC at the weekend, and because they are refusing to speak to MP (they say they are not my agent, even though they are and they've corresponded previously), I rang my local office to find out why I was being threatened with asset seizure and what was going on. In summary:

1. There is no link between the appeal and asset seizure. They could do it today if they felt like it. I need a postponement request as well. They have no need to respect the 30 days for the appeal.

2. They would possibly not be in such a rush if I had purchased a CTD. I have offset against my mortgage, but I am lucky enough to be in a position to pay a good chunk of the money if I need to. The view of the tax collector I spoke too (in fairness, a polite if not exactly best mates conversation), was that because of the the amount, a little over six figures, it would increase the onus on them to collect quickly. I am now considering a CTD, though with deep reservations.

3. They will not speak to MP (who are plugging away on my behalf, big wave and thanks )

Although I am now out of the scheme, and my accountant has never been given authority to act as my agent, the fact that MP are my agents and always have been seems to have 'disappeared'. I dont disblieve that it doesnt appear on their system, I just cannot believe that it never did. They obviously need some help with their systems. Any volunteers?

Quick edit, in case I've panicked anyone. MP apply for postponement as well as appeal. Just in case anyone is reaching for the phone.