The BN66 thread has broken a record!

[BrilloPad]

could someone give us a potted history/running commentary ?

Contractors get their kicked. Mal has a go at them. And becomes poster of the year via loads of sockpuppets.

Its a strange place cuk. As a loon I feel right at home here.

[sweetandsour]

am perfectly happy to argue my position over IR35

So am I but what if the government decide that what we have been doing is not in the spirit of what was intended, passes some IR35 clarification legislation and then tells us that what we have been doing has been illegal for ten years so we have to pay up the extra tax with fines and interest?

Would you not be outraged?

[MPwannadecentincome]

Contractors get their kicked. Mal has a go at them. And becomes poster of the year via loads of sockpuppets.

Its a strange place cuk. As a loon I feel right at home here.

And you aren't bitter are you...

[TykeMerc]

So am I but what if the government decide that what we have been doing is not in the spirit of what was intended, passes some IR35 clarification legislation and then tells us that what we have been doing has been illegal for ten years so we have to pay up the extra tax with fines and interest?

Would you not be outraged?

That's part of the reason I have tried to help out Donkey Rhubarb and the others in his BN66 campaign. If retrospective legislation sticks on this there's nothing to stop similar measures being used to attack other issues.

As a tax payer I'm entitled to have a reasonable amount of certainty that I can arrange my tax affairs according to current law, anything else is unjust, outrageous and downright immoral.

How would it be if they retrospectively introduced a 5 year jail term for people travelling more than 30k miles a year because of their "carbon footprint damaging the environment"?

[SantaClaus]

I recommend Minestrone/Malvio sock-puppet has a good read of the BN66 thread.

Whether or not you like what we have done, the point at issue is whether HMRC have been fair and proportionate in changing the law and applying it retrospectively for 7 years.

If they win the case, there is nothing to stop them applying any tax rule retrospectively. It will change the basis of our taxation system from certain to uncertain and drive business out of the UK.

oh hang on... isn't Gordon Brown already doing that with his bonus, non-domicile and 50% taxes?

[Emigre]

I don't support the tax planning regime that the folks affected by BN66 used.

However I do very strongly support their case as the concept of retrospective legislation is deeply offensive to me and completely at variance with any kind of natural justice.

I've tried to help their cause with MP's letters and FOI requests as it's one thing for a tax law to be changed and applied from that date and quite another to change the rules and try to hammer people that were operating under the old regime when it was "legal" or not adequately covered so that a loophole could be exploited.
It's up to government to make clear laws without loopholes and inconsistencies.

Gets my vote too

[MPwannadecentincome]

could someone give us a potted history/running commentary ?

'BN66 contractors' get their day in court

[minestrone]

I recommend Minestrone/Malvio sock-puppet has a good read of the BN66 thread.

Whether or not you like what we have done, the point at issue is whether HMRC have been fair and proportionate in changing the law and applying it retrospectively for 7 years.

I will side with the goverment that the rule was implied and that is why they can go after it retrosectively.

People should have been wise enough to see that not paying tax on their earnings for nearly 10 years was going to end badly. How the feck you all thought you would get away with this is beyond me.

[Platypus]

People should have been wise enough to see that not paying tax on their earnings for nearly 10 years was going to end badly. How the flip you all thought you would get away with this is beyond me.

So, you don't pay divis then?

[minestrone]

So, you don't pay divis then?

I do take dividends out of my Ltd Company on the earnings I have made from the multiple clients I work for through the year and I also have paid tax on all my divs to the treasury.