No To Retro Tax – Campaign Against Section 58 Finance Act 2008

[SantaClaus]

This EU 1.7 bn bill has stirred @BeenGauked out of hibernation.

Don't forget to retweet and favourite him!

https://twitter.com/BeenGauked/with_replies

[lucozade]

Should we be starting another letter writing campaign / round of meetings with MPs to remind them of that precise fact? I would say this would be a very embarrassing time for the Government to have their hypocrisy pointed out to anyone who will listen. I wonder how many Tories who were quick to wash their hands of us would like to have us highlight that they are actually all for retrospective taxes, but only when they get to apply it to their own citizens.

I personally feel that MPs are totally useless and have no appetite for this stuff. We've done the letter writing to death and I'm not sure it got us very far.

Best campaign was the social media one when MPs were receiving tweets during the finance bill debate.

Social media is so direct and in their faces.

Would love to know if we have any more ammo to fire at Jane Kennedy for her disgusting involvement.

[Ninja]

What ye reap...ye will sow

“My Lords, does my noble friend accept that it is quite acceptable for the EU to want to recalculate the basis for calculating gross national income? However, why does this tax have to become retrospective? Can she explain to us why this has to be a retrospective exercise? Why is it not just being taken forward from here, if we get the agreement of Ministers, with the tax applying in the future, not the past?”
Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Conservative) – Hansard 27 October 2014

[Slobbo]

Is anything happening to further our fight?

Not heard anything for a while. Their were several options being considered to further the fight. I've not heard anything for a while. Is the war over and we lost or are things still bubbling away in the background?

[Henrik]

Anyone spoken to HMRC re when APNs will be sent?

I'm in the go bankrupt/zero assets category, I've closed down my company (paid my taxes) and I've left IT for semi-retirement.

I believe that it's only a matter of time before the law is changed (again) so that HMRC can raid our pension pots to take any amounts that we can draw down following recent changes to pension legislation. It's the obvious next step for them. Therefore for me it's a just a question of when I press the self-destruct button.

If I get an APN, then I'll just withdraw my appeals and go for it. Alternatively if it drags out, I don't want my pension exposed so I'm going to have to take the decision to trigger it - I'm thinking end of January 2015 at the latest.

Anyone got any thoughts on this or had any conversations with HMRC about their timeline?

[Henrik]

Branigan is retired

Don't know if its' been mentioned here before, maybe I missed it on the forum, but I called him and got his cheery little voice saying that that he's retired and we should call David Lamb on 03000 534 645 instead.

Something very odd about retiring and still having an extension and a voicemail message....

[Rob79]

I'm in the go bankrupt/zero assets category, I've closed down my company (paid my taxes) and I've left IT for semi-retirement.

I believe that it's only a matter of time before the law is changed (again) so that HMRC can raid our pension pots to take any amounts that we can draw down following recent changes to pension legislation. It's the obvious next step for them. Therefore for me it's a just a question of when I press the self-destruct button.

If I get an APN, then I'll just withdraw my appeals and go for it. Alternatively if it drags out, I don't want my pension exposed so I'm going to have to take the decision to trigger it - I'm thinking end of January 2015 at the latest.

Anyone got any thoughts on this or had any conversations with HMRC about their timeline?

An APN is NOT - repeat NOT - an end to the position. The best way to think about an APN is a payment on account pending final resolution which might be days/months/years away.

The only ways to end the process are:

1. Withdraw any appeal against assessments issued, pay the tax (and interest) and hope that they go out of time before any final adjustment is agreed
2. Reach a contract settlement with HMRC
3. Fight and win

Everything else is just an step in the process.

[BrilloPad]

I believe one person has or is going for voluntary bankruptcy. That is anyone way out. I am thinking of it - but while I have a job no point. Soon as I lose my job I intend to do it.

Its going to take years for this to finish. I believe we will lose FTTT, and subsequent tribunals, and will have to pay up - and one day will be cleared. I then intend to sue HMRC. I am nearing retirement now - it will give me a retirement project.

Whatever happens - got to go down fighting.

[BeenGauked]

An APN is NOT - repeat NOT - an end to the position. The best way to think about an APN is a payment on account pending final resolution which might be days/months/years away.

The only ways to end the process are:

1. Withdraw any appeal against assessments issued, pay the tax (and interest) and hope that they go out of time before any final adjustment is agreed
2. Reach a contract settlement with HMRC
3. Fight and win

Everything else is just an step in the process.

No brainer for me... No. 3

[SantaClaus]

Not heard anything for a while. Their were several options being considered to further the fight. I've not heard anything for a while. Is the war over and we lost or are things still bubbling away in the background?

Hi Slobbo

The war is definitely not over!

It's hard to keep our strategy private from HMRC and still show our members that we are busy working on their behalf.

What I can say is the political campaign has been toned down in favour of pursuing legal angles. There are a number of legal avenues we are currently pursuing, and the steering group have been in face to face meetings and telephone/email discussions regarding this.

A newsletter will be out in early November where I hope more can be revealed.