Sympathy for the Devil

[phil@pmtc]

I think the posts from the OP, so far, are a breath of fresh air, even if they are merely confirming what we already knew.

I have some questions however and a suggestion.

1. We know HMRC is these days a process driven organisation with little tax knowledge except at the top of the tree. How do we beg an audience with those who have influence over Treasury policy? (We have tried the top down approach via the MPs and they are all looking to their own careers and are useless. We remain hopeful of having a Parliamentary committee onside to review HMRC conduct here, pitched as a chance for a headline hungry MP to stand on a soap box, but hope and reality ...?).

2. We meet with senior CA officers regularly and they take back the "message" but are soon told to toe the line. Why is this and what is the process there?

3. We encounter many instances that in some eyes are seen as conspiracy by HMRC using underhand tactics but which others see as more cock up and incompetence. What is your view?

Suggestion.

I and my firm are well known here and not vain enough to think we have the only answers. I'd be happy to meet and put some background time in so that you can become familiar with the whole issue more quickly.

Webberg - I know we are chatting later anyway but ill reply on here also for others benefit.

1/ I wish I had an answer to this! Ive tried everything myself. I think the headline hungry MP idea could be worth pursuing. Personally I find that I have to contact old colleagues who I know to be capable and try to use those personal contacts to get things done.


2/I suppose this links back to (1) above. Its easy for the decision makers to say 'no' if they aren't the ones in the actual meetings. That being said, I'd be wary about how strongly the CA Officers push your messages when they take them back. What somebody says in a meeting and what they actually do may not be exactly the same. There is no set process for them to follow that I'm aware off. They would literally just go back and say "Webberg says this..."

3/I can't say that I saw underhand tactics in my time there but that's not to say doesn't occur. I would suggest that if such things were to go on then by definition of what it is they would keep it v close to their chests so it makes sense that I wouldn't have known about it.
As for any incompetence....I don't think me offering my opinion on it would really add much....you can prob all guess my thoughts which may well be aligned with others.

[APNMISERY21]

Please allow me to introduce myself....as an ex HMRC Tax Inspector. Not only that but a senior inspector on the first APN team back in Dec 14. So...any questions fire away.
A bit of background...I left HMRC a couple of years back to join a big 4 firm. Now set up my own firm offering advice/assistance to anyone in need of it regarding all HMRC issues/enquiries. . Willing to answer any general queries on here. I don't really have time to go into great detail into anybody's specific cases but will spend an hour or so in evenings responding to any questions best I can.

Phil,

I'm new to the forum and would like to contact you about my situation - how can I do that?

I can't see a PM function.

Thanks

[NotAllThere]

So I can be as nasty as I like by PM then.

Er... no. Nor by rep.

Phil,

I'm new to the forum and would like to contact you about my situation - how can I do that?

I can't see a PM function.

Thanks

APNMISERY21 - heed BP's warning. You have no way of knowing that PhilM is who he says he is.

Seriously, I am very wary of people offering "solutions" to those caught by HMRC. Has any due diligence been done on PhilM? Please tell me you have proved he is not Alan Jones.

PhilM is being watched closely.

[APNMISERY21]

Er... no. Nor by rep.



APNMISERY21 - heed BP's warning. You have no way of knowing that PhilM is who he says he is.

PhilM is being watched closely.

Thanks NotAllThere - appreciate the warning.

I'm only looking for an informal chat at this stage.

[cojak]

We have stopped PhilM from posting until he tells us his company name.

We will let him back in once he informs Admin. Admin will then amend his user ID to reflect this.

[contact1000]

We have stopped PhilM from posting until he tells us his company name.

We will let him back in once he informs Admin. Admin will then amend his user ID to reflect this.

Hi, I've had to register a second account which can now be deleted after you read this please. I am PhilM but I cant reply via that account as you banned me for not stating my company name. Nor will it let me message admin from that account. I find that a little surprising as I was specifically told by a mod not to plug the business yesterday! Nevertheless, if I am now allowed to then please look at https://www.dswcapital.com/ and scroll to the bottom. hope this helps reinstate the philm account. As further evidence that it really is me I am contactable on <mod snip>
Kind Regards,

[cojak]

Please read the T&C's of this forum, as they do not allow blatant advertising. You can ask Admin to rename your login myname@myco, and then you can promote your company by helping posters, as the other specialists do.

[NotAllThere]

I find that a little surprising as I was specifically told by a mod not to plug the business yesterday!

When people start sending PMs to you for advice and a chat, then it crossed the line. No blame is imputed.

Click here to contact admin. https://forums.contractoruk.com/sendmessage.php, Ask him to change your logon name. Probably something like <removed> (assuming Phil is your real name).

[contact1000]

When people start sending PMs to you for advice and a chat, then it crossed the line. No blame is imputed.

Click here to contact admin. https://forums.contractoruk.com/sendmessage.php, Ask him to change your logon name. Probably something like <removed> (assuming Phil is your real name).

ah ok, fair enough. anyway, admin now emailed. ill not post via this name again but rather will revert to philm account once up and running. new name will hopefully be [email protected]

[Cityampm]

Good old Webberg

Please read the T&C's of this forum, as they do not allow blatant advertising. You can ask Admin to rename your login myname@myco, and then you can promote your company by helping posters, as the other specialists do.

And yet Webberg not only gets a sticky encouraging his business but gets to keep his username as well. Not to mention the fact that he has his own forum which has quite clearly taken traffic from here. Sounds like one rule for some and one rule for the rest. It's Webberg's forum now and we must give him a monopoly on advice / fees.