Tax Take
The long arm of HMRC
Adam Craggs and Alice Kemp outline the powers HMRC has at its disposal when conducting a criminal rather than civil investigation.
Read moreQuentin Skinner – shares sold by trusts not eligible for entrepreneurs' relief
In HMRC v The Quentin Skinner 2005 Settlement L and others [2021] UKUT 29 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) has held that, for the purposes of entrepreneurs' relief (ER) (now business asset disposal relief), section 169J(4), Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (TCGA) requires a beneficiary to have been a qualifying beneficiary throughout a period of one year ending no earlier than three years before the date of disposal of settlement business assets by the trustees.
Read moreThe future of judicial reviews… and what it means for your business
Described by a previous guest on Taxing Matters as “the last bastion of the citizen against the Government", the importance of judicial reviews cannot be overstated.
Read moreAtholl House Productions: BBC Presenter wins IR35 case
In HMRC v Atholl House Productions Ltd [2021] UKUT 0037 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) held that IR35 did not apply to a presenter who provided services to the BBC through a personal service company.
Read moreDitton – HMRC cannot issue daily late filing penalties retrospectively
In Ditton v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 489 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (the FTT) held that daily late filing penalties, where notice was given by HMRC to the taxpayer after the period in respect of which the penalties were issued, were void; confirming that late filing penalties cannot be issued to taxpayers retrospectively.
Read moreTaxing Matters: International Women's Day Special
March 8th is International Women's Day, and to mark the occasion this special episode of the Taxing Matters podcast features five empowering women who have all strived to encourage diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Read moreHMRC Crackdown on Covid-19 Fraud
In the March 2021 Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the creation of a new major fraud taskforce, the Taxpayer Protection Taskforce, established as part of a wide-reaching crackdown on criminals exploiting UK government support schemes. The new taskforce represents one of the all-time largest responses to a fraud risk by HMRC.
Read moreHelpful guidance on the role of statements of case and Lists of Issues for Disclosure in applications to vary an order for Extended Disclosure under the Disclosure Pilot Scheme
The High Court in HMRC v IGE USA Investments Ltd and Ors [2020] EWHC 1716 (Ch) confirms jurisdiction to order specific disclosure under the Disclosure Pilot Scheme is not confined to issues identifiable from statements of case and where there is no agreed or approved List of Issues for Disclosure.
Read moreTax Bites - March 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of RPC's Tax Bites - providing monthly bite-sized updates from the tax world.
Read moreSSE Generation – Taxpayer's capital allowances victory marred by procedural issue
In HMRC v SSE Generation Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 105, the Court of Appeal (CA) upheld the Upper Tribunal's (UT) decision that expenditure on parts of a hydroelectric power scheme was eligible for capital allowances, save for one element in respect of which the taxpayer had failed to seek permission to appeal part of the First-tier Tribunal's (FTT) decision.
Read moreV@ update - February 2021
Welcome to the February 2021 edition of RPC's V@, an update which provides analysis and news from the VAT world relevant to your business.
Read moreBradford – Tribunal refuses HMRC's application for further and better particulars
In Darren Bradford v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 2 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) refused HMRC's application for the Appellant to provide further and better particulars of his grounds of appeal and directed HMRC to provide its Statement of Case.
Read moreCustoms and excise quarterly - February 2021
In this update we report on (1) HMRC's proposed new powers to combat illicit tobacco trading; (2) a policy paper setting out how the temporary and pre-lodgement models will operate to control goods coming from the EU to Great Britain; and (3) HMRC Guidance that can be used to check whether a business holds Authorised Economic Operator status.
Read moreTaxing Matters: Private prosecutions: an essential part of your business' toolkit
We are experiencing a surge in economic crime – the National Crime Agency estimates fraud alone costs UK businesses around £140 billion a year. With the CPS and SFO barely able to scrape the tip of the iceberg, many businesses have turned to private prosecutions to recoup losses and protect their reputation.
Read moreEmbiricos: HMRC cannot issue a partial closure notice without specifying the amount of tax due
In HMRC v Embiricos [2020] UKUT 370 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT),in allowing HMRC's appeal, has held that HMRC cannot issue a partial closure notice without specifying how much tax is due.
Read moreWarshaw – Cumulative preference shares constituted ordinary share capital and qualified for entrepreneurs' relief
In HMRC v Stephen Warshaw [2020] UKUT 366 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) has upheld the First-tier Tribunal's (FTT) decision that cumulative preference shares with rights to compound accrued but unpaid dividends constituted "ordinary share capital" for the purposes of section 989, Income Tax Act 2007 (ITA) and therefore qualified for entrepreneurs' relief (ER).
Read moreTaxing Matters: Sanctions in a post-Brexit landscape
From the 1st January 2021 the new UK sanctions framework officially came into force under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (SAMLA).
Read moreTax Bites - February 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of RPC's Tax Bites - providing monthly bite-sized updates from the tax world.
Read moreRialas: UT dismisses HMRC's appeal in transfer of assets abroad case
Taxpayer succeeds in defending HMRC appeal against transfer of assets abroad / TOAA regime application; anti-avoidance measures did not apply, held the Upper Tribunal.
Read moreV@ update - January 2021
Welcome to the January 2021 edition of RPC's V@, an update on developments in the VAT world that may impact your business.
Read moreDevelopment Securities – Court of Appeal considers company tax residence
In HMRC v Development Securities PLC and Others [2020] EWCA Civ 1705, the Court of Appeal (CoA) has allowed HMRC's appeal against a decision of the Upper Tribunal (UT) and confirmed that certain Jersey based companies were resident in the UK, rather than in Jersey.
Read moreWhat "winning on a technicality" really means in disputes with HMRC and why technical points are very important
In the latest episode of the Taxing Matters podcast, Harry Smith gives a crash course in procedural arguments in the context of a dispute with HMRC.
Read moreProject Blue (No 2): HMRC must refund overpaid SDLT
In Project Blue Ltd v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 475 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) held that the taxpayer was entitled to repayment of SDLT, as part of the consideration for the property in question was contingent, within the meaning of section 51, Finance Act 2003 (FA 2003) and was never paid.
Read moreCorporate Tax Update - January 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 December 2020. Included in this update are summaries of an unexpected twist in the DAC6 saga, a call for evidence on VAT and the ‘sharing economy’, and the Court of Appeal decision in the Development Securities case. As ever we hope you, your family and friends are all staying safe.
Read moreThe new corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent tax evasion
In this episode, we are joined by Sam Dean, who spearheads HMRC's campaign to raise awareness of the corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent tax evasion.
Read moreLondon Clubs Management - non-negotiable chips and promotional vouchers not part of casino's "banker's profits" for the purpose of calculating gaming duty
In HMRC v London Clubs Management Ltd [2020] UKSC 49, the Supreme Court held that where casinos provide gamblers with non-negotiable chips and/or promotional vouchers (Non-negs) which could be used for gaming but not encashed or exchanged for goods or services, they do not form part of the casino's "banker's profits" for the purpose of calculating its liability to gaming duty.
Read moreEurochoice: Company and its director held jointly and severally liable for HMRC's costs
In Eurochoice Ltd v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 449 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has held that a company and its director are jointly and severally liable for HMRC's costs in circumstances where only the company was party to the appeal proceedings.
Read moreTotal – Court of Appeal considers meaning of "just and reasonable" apportionment of profits
In Total E&P North Sea UK Ltd and Another v HMRC [2020] EWCA Civ 1419, the Court of Appeal (CoA) allowed the appellant companies' appeal and decided that the basis of the companies' apportionment of adjusted ring-fence profits was just and reasonable, for the purposes of an election under section 7(5), Finance Act 2011 (FA 2011).
Read moreCumEx - probably the biggest tax scandal you've never heard of
In this episode, we are joined by Bloomberg finance reporter Donal Griffin. For the past 18 months Donal has been following the development of the multi-billion tax trading scandal known as CumEx.
Read moreMcCabe: HMRC not required to disclose documents relating to discussions with the Belgian tax authority
In Kevin McCabe v HMRC [2020] UKUT 266 (TC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) has held that the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) had been correct not to order HMRC to disclose documents relating to discussions it had with the Belgian tax authority, as the documents had no probative value and the tax authorities had raised confidentiality issues.
Read moreContentious tax: quarterly review
HMRC is increasingly targeting multinationals, in particular by questioning their transfer pricing arrangements and ensuring that they are not artificially diverting profits away from the UK. Additionally, HMRC has made a number of arrests and begun criminal investigations in relation to suspected fraud concerning the coronavirus job retention scheme.
Read moreRT Rate: Legitimate expectation rights not engaged
In RT Rate Ltd and Others v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 392 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has held that it does not have jurisdiction to consider claims for repayment of VAT based on the EU law principle of legitimate expectation.
Read moreTaxing Matters: The impact of the loan charge with Keith Gordon
Welcome to the Taxing Matters podcast. In this episode, Keith Gordon joins Alice Kemp to discuss the Loan Charge; a topic very dear to his heart and one that has had a devastating impact on many who have been victims of schemes.
Read moreTax Bites - December 2020
Welcome to the latest edition of RPC's Tax Bites - providing monthly bite-sized updates from the tax world.
Read moreAMW Estates – Part of HMRC's pleaded case struck out as it had no realistic prospect of success
In AMW Estates Ltd v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 410 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) struck out part of HMRC's amended Statement of Case (SoC) alleging that a taxpayer had actual or constructive knowledge of its supplier's fraud as it had no realistic prospect of success.
Read moreV@ update - November 2020
Welcome to the November 2020 edition of RPC's V@, an update on developments in the VAT world that may impact your business.
Read moreOsborne: Tribunal takes a dive into allowable expenditure
In Robert John Osborne v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 373 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) held that expenditure on fitness training was allowed because it was wholly and exclusively incurred for the purpose of the taxpayer's occupation as a saturation diver.
Read moreCustoms and excise quarterly - November 2020
In this update we report on (1) import duty and VAT when importing decorations and awards; (2) the moving of excise goods under the Northern Ireland Protocol; and (3) an HMRC Tax Importation and Impact Note in relation to the new Customs (Bulk Customs Declaration and Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
Read moreTaxing Matters: An interview with the President of the First-tier Tribunal
Welcome to the Taxing Matters podcast - in this episode, we are joined by a very special guest; Judge Sinfield, President of the First Tier Tribunal Tax Chamber (FTT). Judge Sinfield shares his impressive knowledge of the inner workings and intricacies of the tax tribunals, including little known facts like the FTT deals with appeals concerning MPs' expenses!
Read moreCheshire Centre – HMRC ordered to pay taxpayer's costs due to its unreasonable behaviour
In HMRC v Cheshire Centre for Independent Living [2020] UKUT 275 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) ordered HMRC to pay the taxpayer's costs even though HMRC had been successful as it had acted unreasonably in introducing a new ground of appeal.
Read moreHMRC issues nudge letters targeting residence and domicile
In an extension of its 'nudge' letters campaign, HMRC is writing to wealthy taxpayers encouraging them to bring their tax affairs into line.
Read moreBelloul – Ignorance of the law was a 'reasonable excuse'
In Bachir Mohamed Belloul v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 312, the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) held that a taxpayer's ignorance of the law was a 'reasonable excuse' for failing to notify HMRC of his liability to pay High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).
Read moreTop COP9 tips in the era of furlough fraud
Welcome to the ninth episode of our Taxing Matters podcast. In this series we review land-mark cases and key tax developments and discuss the commercial impact they could have on your business.
Read moreTax Bites - November 2020
Welcome to the latest edition of RPC's Tax Bites - providing monthly bite-sized updates from the tax world.
Read moreJurisdiction and the Rule of Law
In R (oao Boulting & Anor) v HMRC [2020] EWHC 2207 (Admin), the High Court refused permission to bring a judicial review claim against HMRC, on the basis that the taxpayer had an 'alternative remedy'.
Read moreV@ update - October 2020
Welcome to the October 2020 edition of RPC's V@, an update on developments in the VAT world that may impact your business.
Read moreTaxing Matters: A handy guide to appeals
Welcome to the eighth episode of our Taxing Matters podcast. In this series we review land-mark cases and key tax developments and discuss the commercial impact they could have on your business.
Read moreWired Orthodontics – Tribunal expresses concern about potential inappropriate interference by HMRC's solicitor with the evidence of an independent expert witness
In Wired Orthodontics Ltd and others v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 290 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) refused an application for disclosure of documents and information passing between the solicitors for HMRC and their appointed expert witness.
Read moreCorporate Tax Update - October 2020
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 September 2020. Included in this update are summaries of the Chancellor’s tax announcements as part of the Winter Economy Plan and the EC’s decision to appeal the decision of the European General Court in the Apple state aid case. There are also updates on new HMRC guidance on off-payroll working for private businesses and the VAT treatment of payments for early termination of contracts. As ever we hope you, your family and friends are all staying safe.
Read moreBox – child benefit charge interpreted as 'income' for the purpose of discovery assessments
In Martin Richard Box v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 353 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) dismissed a taxpayer's appeal concerning liability to pay the high-income child benefit (HICB) charge, on the basis that the charge constituted income for the purpose of discovery assessments.
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