"Fears raised over expansion of powers for the taxman"

[ChimpMaster]

Just for interest:

https://www.ft.com/content/376cde2c-...f-de1c2175f5ce

Sweeping new powers introduced by HM Revenue & Customs to crack down on avoidance threaten to deny taxpayers access to justice, according to a think-tank.There has been “a dramatic change in the tone and content of HMRC’s powers” in the past two years, including a proliferation of naming-and-shaming powers, according to a report published by the tax law review committee of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.The tax experts called for a review of the new powers, which include measures to force taxpayers to pay disputed tax up front, impose penalties under a general anti-abuse rule, deal with “serial avoiders” and recover debts from taxpayers’ bank accounts.

<more in link above>

[BrilloPad]

IFT miss the point entirely: -

The report said it did not challenge HMRC’s aim of tackling those “seen to play the system”.

The issue is defining exactly who is playing the system. And mostly it seems the richer you are, the less you are playing the system.

CUK contractors believe that everyone else is playing the system - though they themselves are not.

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Also : -
It urged the government to introduce some form of independent control over HMRC’s powers “if only to provide confidence in the system and the position of HMRC as administrator rather than lawmaker”.

They might start by getting HMRC to respect the courts. NTRT have proof of malfeasance in office. However they have been advised that no court will find against HMRC where they have the right intentions.
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HMRC are now unfit for purpose.

[washed up contractor]

When they came for the sole traders, I did not speak out because I was not a sole trader.

When they came for the self employed, I did not speak out because I was not self employed.

When they came for the tax planners, I did not speak out because I was not a tax planner.

Then when they came for me, there's no feckers left to speak up.

(OK, you should get the point.)

[DotasScandal]

When they came for the sole traders, I did not speak out because I was not a sole trader.

When they came for the self employed, I did not speak out because I was not self employed.

When they came for the tax planners, I did not speak out because I was not a tax planner.

Then when they came for me, there's no feckers left to speak up.

(OK, you should get the point.)

This is exactly true, and precisely how HMRC screwed contractors: by playing on their "I'm all right Jack" attitude.
I remember well how the non-DOTAS contractors mocked the DOTAS contractors when APNs came about.
How the guys with "closed years" breathed a sign of relief and abandoned those left to battle HMRC for imagined debts. Etc.
Look where that got you, guys.