Government crack down on tax evasion

[centurian]

Wondered how long it would be. This was one of the LibDems manifesto promises. Seems like they have talked Osbourne round now.

BBC News - Alexander launches 'ruthless' tax evasion clampdown

BBC News - Government crack down on tax evasion

I would not hold out too much hope with the IR35 review...

Unveiling plans agreed with the Chancellor George Osborne, Mr Alexander said the authorities would get £900m extra in financial support for the "ruthless" pursuit of tax evaders and those who use legal loopholes to minimise their tax bills.

Being ruthless against those who comply the the law...

[SueEllen]

It was on the Politics Show earlier.

The Lib Dems are having their conference and Clegg stated that they were going to crack down on tax evasion AND tax avoidance.

He also stated that anyone who is a tax payer in this country won't be able to use trusts to avoid meeting their tax obligations.

[centurian]

The Lib Dems are having their conference and Clegg stated that they were going to crack down on tax evasion AND tax avoidance.

Yep, Danny Alexander compared tax avoidance to benefit cheats.

Also, maybe just semantics, but he referred to it as "avoidance and evasion" several times, with the word avoidance coming first - as if avoidance had the primary precedence.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Thar be but one thing to be saying 'bout that .......

Hoist the colours!

[scooterscot]

But if it's legal there is no contest.

Tax collection is bound by the law. There shall always be someone I can pay to make sure I stay within it's boundaries while being efficient.

[centurian]

But if it's legal there is no contest.

Tax collection is bound by the law. There shall always be someone I can pay to make sure I stay within it's boundaries while being efficient.

Yeah, but the problem is that to be 100% sure you are legal, you have to have a contest (and win).

The rhetroric seems to indicate that they are going to put extra resources into "tackling" avoidance, rather than just simply closing the loopholes in the first place.

[Fred Bloggs]

With the IR35 review ongoing, I find the rhetoric quite disturbing. Headlines along the lines of "Filthy rich tax dodging contractors to pay a lot more tax" would play very well at the moment in the gutter press.

[OnYourBikeGB]

But if it's legal there is no contest.

Tax collection is bound by the law. There shall always be someone I can pay to make sure I stay within it's boundaries while being efficient.

I'd have a look at the BN66 thread. That scheme was entirely legal and HMRC were aware of it for many years and chose to do nothing about it. Retrospection is a way around this, doesn't matter if you pay someone or not. If they change the law retrospectively, the current legal status doesn't matter.

As it stands, if you have used any tax mitigation scheme, HMRC can simply make it illegal and backdate your taxes, interest and possibly penalties for many years. The 'road to tyranny', as it was described by the select committee. Unfortunately those that are opposed it are now in power, and don't seem too moved to do anything about it.

[escapeUK]

Im not going to worry about it, we all know that you cant believe a word politicians say.

Tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime = more crime, more form filling for police.

Education, Education, Education = dumbing down of exams till they are worthless, kids leaving school who cant read or write effectively.

This new one is just another statement to make the sheeple feel happy without actually doing anything of substance.

[Wanderer]

Yep, Danny Alexander compared tax avoidance to benefit cheats.

So Danny Alexander thinks that if I go on holiday and buy booze and at the Duty Free to avoid tax then I'm as bad as a benefit cheat? Next time I go on holiday I might as well sign on the bloody dole as well then.

What on earth is a "fair" amount of tax anyway. We pay PAYE, NI (twice), Corporation tax, and then VAT to top it all off. My favourite one is when you fill your car with fuel, you pay VAT on the fuel tax. A tax on a tax! How cool is that?

If they really want to fix the tax system then they need to radically simplify it - these so called "loopholes" exist because of the idiotic complexity of the whole creaking system.