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

[Samatra]

CLSO

I find it strange they are only offering a settlement opportunity to contractors.
Why aren't all users of tax planning schemes currently under HMRC scope being offered this settlement opportunity.

[DonkeyRhubarb]

I find it strange they are only offering a settlement opportunity to contractors.
Why aren't all users of tax planning schemes currently under HMRC scope being offered this settlement opportunity.

First of all let's dispel the notion that this is a real opportunity. It's nothing of the kind. The settlement is all of the tax and interest owed. There are no concessions, discounts or other incentives. It's bollox basically.

I can think of a couple of reasons why HMRC have done this:

1) Contractors are probably a lot easier to scare into settling than more savvy investors. This is evident if you read the EBT threads where there are a lot of nervous nellies.

2) HMRC can say that they gave people every possible opportunity to come forward voluntarily before issuing APNs. They had written to everyone about the opportunity. They even "generously" extended the deadline, and they only issued APNs as an absolute last resort because people refused to engage. This lets them off the hook to a certain extent if they have to enforce debt collection.

[Henrik]

Perhaps the more immediate question is when will we start receiving APNs? Have HMRC released any information about how many have been sent out? I guess there's no way of telling where we are in the list.

Do we think HMRC are consciously delaying issuing APNs given a) our history of appealing everything, and b) the fact that there are already cases in the FTT process?

I've spoken to HMRC recently (Dec) and tried my utmost to pin them down on when they will issue APNs - no joy whatsoever. They refuse to release their schedule (if indeed it exists) and their only comment is that they must complete it before April 2016.

[smalldog]

First of all let's dispel the notion that this is a real opportunity. It's nothing of the kind. The settlement is all of the tax and interest owed. There are no concessions, discounts or other incentives. It's bollox basically.

I can think of a couple of reasons why HMRC have done this:

1) Contractors are probably a lot easier to scare into settling than more savvy investors. This is evident if you read the EBT threads where there are a lot of nervous nellies.

2) HMRC can say that they gave people every possible opportunity to come forward voluntarily before issuing APNs. They had written to everyone about the opportunity. They even "generously" extended the deadline, and they only issued APNs as an absolute last resort because people refused to engage. This lets them off the hook to a certain extent if they have to enforce debt collection.

DR Im confused, so has all the talk of the survey and settlement potential fallen away now?

[deckster]

DR Im confused, so has all the talk of the survey and settlement potential fallen away now?

I think DR is talking about the 'opportunity' to pay in full that HMRC have given to the loan/EBT folks http://forums.contractoruk.com/hmrc-...portunity.html

Nothing to do with us BN66ers.

[DonkeyRhubarb]

I think DR is talking about the 'opportunity' to pay in full that HMRC have given to the loan/EBT folks http://forums.contractoruk.com/hmrc-...portunity.html

Nothing to do with us BN66ers.

Correct.

[smalldog]

Correct.

phew!

[stonehenge]

Any other George's out there?

[BarneyCool]

Do we have any political preference this year?

Or have we come to the conclusion that they are all a bunch of

[normalbloke]

In it for themselves

Or have we come to the conclusion that they are all a bunch of

Yep. This whole sorry episode has changed my view on the British 'Justice' system and confirmed without doubt that 99% of politicians are in it for themselves. The worst by far is Gauke - a self-serving, lying turncoat. A really nasty piece of work, comparable to the unelected HMRC officials (you know who you are) and lawyers who dreamed up Section 58.