Tax Take
Haworth - Supreme Court upholds decision to quash follower notice
Follower Notice judicial review upheld by Supreme Court even in tax avoidance context; restrictive requirements imposed for issue of follower notices.
Read moreThe tax tribunals: the next 10 years
Twelve years on from the seismic changes to the UK tax appeals system that introduced the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal, the Tax Law Review Committee (TLRC) has published its Report "The tax tribunals: the next 10 years".
Read moreV@ Update – August 2021
Welcome to the August 2021 edition of RPC's V@, an update which provides analysis and news from the VAT world relevant to your business.
Read moreContentious tax quarterly review
We consider the Supreme Court's decision in Tooth, concerning discovery assessments; and examine the contentious issue of when a taxpayer can rely upon a PAYE credit. We also review the increased focus by HMRC on cryptoassets and the challenges that might create for taxpayers.
Read moreCustoms and excise quarterly - August 2021
In this update we report on (1) European Commission Guidance on UK import formalities; (2) HMRC's new and updated guidance for imports and exports following the end of the Brexit transition period; and (3) HMRC's updated guidance on returned goods relief on items exported from Northern Ireland. We also comment on three recent cases relating to (1) the illegal import of cigarettes; (2) customs valuation; and (3) the application of the dishonesty test when determining penalties.
Read moreWilkes – HMRC's discovery assessments were invalidly issued
In HMRC v Jason Wilkes [2021] UKUT 150 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) dismissed HMRC's appeal against a decision of the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) which held that discovery assessments issued by HMRC to assess the high income child benefit charge (HICBC), were invalid.
Read moreThe complicated question of corporate criminal liability
Many commentators have questioned whether the law relating to corporate criminal liability is still fit for purpose or whether it is due a significant overhaul.
Read moreKelly – Tax tribunal confirms re-discovery not permissible for the purposes of section 29 TMA
In Sean Kelly v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 162, the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) confirmed the principle that a discovery can only be made once and HMRC cannot raise a new discovery assessment under section 29,Taxes Management Act 1970 (TMA), in respect of the same discovery.
Read moreTax Bites - August 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of RPC's Tax Bites - providing monthly bite-sized updates from the tax world.
Read moreWalewski - Mixed partnership rules mean profit can be reallocated for whole period of account
Corporate member tax planning ineffective as profits allocated to partner in partnership for period during which it was a partner under mixed partnership rules.
Read moreLockdown, tax residency and the law of unintended consequences
In the latest episode of Taxing Matters, Nikita Cooper, a partner at Price Bailey discusses the effect COVID lockdowns have had on tax residency – and what the unintended consequences could be for you, your business and your employees.
Read moreCorporate Tax Update - July 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of our Corporate Tax Update, written by members of RPC’s tax team. This month’s update reports on some of the key developments from May and June 2021. Included in this update are news of the historic G7 agreement as to plans for global tax reform, summaries of two cases on the required formalities for bringing contractual claims for breach of warranty and pursuant to a tax covenant, and news of another win for HMRC in an ‘IR35’ case. As ever we hope you, your family and friends are all staying safe and are enjoying the summer.
Read moreV@ update - July 2021
Welcome to the July 2021 edition of RPC's V@, an update which provides analysis and news from the VAT world relevant to your business.
Read moreAvonside Roofing – Tax Tribunal sets aside Schedule 36 information notice
In Avonside Roofing Ltd v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 158 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) set aside an information notice issued under paragraph 1, Schedule 36, Finance Act 2008 (the Notice), on the basis that the information and documents requested by HMRC were not reasonably required for the purpose of checking the recipient's tax position.
Read moreSiddiqui - No proper ground for setting aside summons in private prosecution
Private prosecution not to be quashed due to failure to disclose settlement agreement.
Read moreDawn of a new era: predicted increase in dawn raids
With financial pressure mounting on the Government, and with an additional 1000 new fraud investigators announced in the last budget, many expect the frequency of HMRC dawn raids to increase considerably.
Read moreGolamreza – HMRC assessments and the burden of proof
In Golamreza Qolaminejite (aka A Cooper) v HMRC [2021] UKUT 118 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) allowed the taxpayer's appeal in part on the basis that the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) had erred in law in failing to take all of the taxpayer's case into account in arriving at its decision.
Read morePerring – Burden of proof for establishing that documents are 'reasonably required' in taxpayer information notice appeal is on HMRC
In Perring v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 110, the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) held that the burden of proof for establishing that documents are "reasonably required" under a taxpayer notice issued under Schedule 36, Finance Act 2008 (FA 2008) lies with HMRC.
Read morePlaying a winning hand: dealing with an HMRC enquiry
In this episode of Taxing Matters we are joined by John Cassidy, a Tax Resolutions Partner at accountancy firm Crowe UK. A tax veteran of over 25 years, when it comes to tax investigations, what John hasn't experienced, written about or lectured on isn't worth knowing!
Read moreTax Bites - July 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of RPC's Tax Bites - providing monthly bite-sized updates from the tax world.
Read moreAozora - Unilateral credit for US withholding tax allowed even where no treaty relief available
US UK double tax treaty and associated UK legislation interpreted to give unilateral credit for withholding tax suffered on interest income.
Read moreV@ update - June 2021
Welcome to the June 2021 edition of RPC's V@, an update which provides analysis and news from the VAT world relevant to your business.
Read moreRediscovering ADR
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), in the form of mediation, remains an important part of the tax dispute resolution process. In light of the backlog of cases caused by Covid-19, and the practice statement issued by the Tribunal last year, we expect that taxpayers and HMRC will begin to re-examine and embrace ADR which can be an effective method of resolving disputes with HMRC.
Read moreAshbolt and Arundell: challenging search warrants
In the latest episode of Taxing Matters, we take a closer look at the recent case of Ashbolt and Arundell v HMRC, which involved a challenge to the lawfulness of search warrants.
Read moreTooth – Supreme Court rejects the concept of 'staleness' and confirms the meaning of 'deliberate'
In HMRC v Tooth [2021] UKSC 17, the Supreme Court, in dismissing HMRC's appeal, confirmed that a discovery assessment issued under section 20, Taxes Management Act 1970 (TMA) will not be invalid because a large period of time had elapsed between the discovery being made and the assessment being issued by HMRC and that for a taxpayer to bring about a loss of tax as a result of a deliberate inaccuracy in a document there must be an intention to mislead HMRC.
Read moreHargreaves - Burden of proof on HMRC in taxpayer information notice appeals
In Hargreaves and others v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 80 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) confirmed that the burden of proof in an appeal against an information notice issued under paragraph 1, Schedule 36, Finance Act 2008 (FA 2008), is on HMRC.
Read moreShifting sands: insuring tax risks
In a special cross-over episode with our sister podcast Insurance Covered, this episode of Taxing Matters looks at the growth in popularity of tax liability insurance.
Read moreTax Bites - June 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of RPC's Tax Bites - providing monthly bite-sized updates from the tax world.
Read moreDaarasp – Loss claims denied as closure notices were valid
In Daarasp LLP & Betex LLP v HMRC [2021] UKUT 0087, the Upper Tribunal (UT) upheld the First-tier Tribunal's (FTT) decision and dismissed the taxpayers' claims for losses as the conclusions in HMRC's closure notices were not inconsistent with the losses being reduced to zero in the taxpayers' returns.
Read moreV@ update - May 2021
Welcome to the May 2021 edition of RPC's V@, an update which provides analysis and news from the VAT world relevant to your business.
Read moreComtek – Counteraction steps taken after Follower Notice deadline can reduce penalty
Follower notice penalty for SDLT scheme follower notice reinstated but reduced by Upper Tribunal, and guidance given as to meaning of 'counteraction' in APN / accelerated payment notice context.
Read moreTax fraud: The rise of the professional enabler
In this episode, we are joined by Simon York, Director of HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service (FIS). Created only five years ago, FIS has already secured 3,700 criminal convictions for serious fraud and protected over £25 billion in assets.
Read moreEuromoney – Tribunal considers 'main purpose' test
In Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 0061 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) upheld the appellant's appeal, finding that the avoidance of liability to tax was a purpose, but not the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of the relevant arrangements, for the purposes of section 137(1), Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (TCGA).
Read moreMehrban – Discovery assessments invalid due to staleness
In Kashif Mehrban v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 53 (TC) the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) held that a three-year delay in issuing a 'discovery' assessment issued pursuant to section 29,Taxes Management Act 1970 (TMA), resulted in the discovery becoming 'stale', even though the delay had not been the result of HMRC inaction.
Read moreTax Bites - May 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of RPC's Tax Bites - providing monthly bite-sized updates from the tax world.
Read moreDisputes Yearbook 2021: Criminal tax disputes
As part of the acclaimed Disputes Yearbook, Legal Business interviewed members of our disputes team exploring key areas of the market and what RPC brings to the table.
Read moreInmarsat Global – Upper Tribunal confirms successor company not entitled to capital allowances incurred by its predecessor on satellite launch costs
In Inmarsat Global Ltd v HMRC [2021] UKUT 59 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) upheld the First-tier Tribunal's (FTT) decision that a company was not eligible for capital allowances in relation to expenditure incurred by its predecessor on launching satellites into space.
Read moreFurlough, fraud and the FIS
Twenty episodes ago, in early summer last year, our Taxing Matters podcast focused on the newly emerging risk of furlough fraud. Now, nearly a year on (and three iterations of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme later) David Francis, Head of Tax Dispute Resolution at Grant Thornton, joins us to discuss this important and evolving topic.
Read moreCaught in the act
The furlough scheme has become ‘a magnet for fraudsters’. Adam Craggs and Alice Kemp outline the extensive powers HMRC can muster to investigate ‘high risk’ claims and to claw back any undue payments.
Read moreContentious tax quarterly review
Rise in alternative dispute resolution Until relatively recently, HMRC imposed strict conditions on the timing of when an application for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) could be made, refusing to consider any application which was made after it had formally set out its position in its ‘statement of case’.
Read moreV@ update - April 2021
Welcome to the April 2021 edition of RPC's V@, an update which provides analysis and news from the VAT world relevant to your business.
Read moreBalhousie - sale and leaseback does not constitute disposal of 'entire interest' in property
In Balhousie Holdings Ltd v HMRC [2021] UKSC 11, the Supreme Court allowed the taxpayer’s appeal, holding that a sale and leaseback was not a disposal of the taxpayer’s ‘entire interest’ in a care home and accordingly HMRC was not entitled to claw back the benefit of the VAT zero-rating that had applied when the taxpayer acquired the home.
Read moreBennedy's Developments – Tribunal allows taxpayer's appeal against daily penalties for late filing of ATED return
In Bennedy's Developments Ltd v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 21 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has allowed the taxpayer's appeal against daily penalties for late filing of an Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) return, issued under paragraph 4 of Schedule 55 to the Finance Act 2009 (FA 2009), but dismissed its appeal against a late filing penalty in respect of the same return, issued under paragraph 5 of Schedule 55.
Read moreThe Trade-off: Reduced juror numbers in criminal trials
The backlog of criminal cases (especially for those relating to fraud) has increased considerably. It is reaching worrying levels resulting in administrative difficulties and substantial cost, both in financial and emotional terms.
Read moreOutram – Tribunal prevents HMRC from relying on new argument
In Outram and another v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 29 (TC) the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) prevented HMRC from relying on a new argument contained in its skeleton argument which had not been included in its statement of case.
Read moreEastern Power Networks – Court of Appeal confirms that HMRC does not need to close its enquiries
In Eastern Power Networks plc and others v HMRC [2021] EWCA Civ 283, the Court of Appeal (CofA) has upheld the Upper Tribunal's (UT) decision that it was not appropriate to direct HMRC to issue closure notices.
Read moreThe Common Reporting Standard: An HMRC game changer?
With now over 100 countries signed up to the international information exchange known as the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), last year HMRC received 84 million details of bank accounts covering one in 10 UK citizens.
Read moreTax Bites - April 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of RPC's Tax Bites - providing monthly bite-sized updates from the tax world.
Read moreBall Europe - Accounting entry not included in tax return sufficient to preclude discovery assessment
In Ball Europe Ltd v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 23 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has held that the presence of amounts in a taxpayer's accounts but not its tax return was sufficient for a 'hypothetical officer' of HMRC reasonably to be expected to be aware of a tax insufficiency and this prevented HMRC from issuing a valid discovery assessment
Read moreV@ update - March 2021
Welcome to the March 2021 edition of RPC's V@, an update which provides analysis and news from the VAT world relevant to your business.
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