HM Revenue & Customs recovers from 2014/2015 customer service ‘collapse’???
The National Audit Office has published a report criticising HM Revenue & Customs for not providing adequate customer services between 2012/2013 and 2015/2016 during which waiting times significantly increased. Self-assessment callers during the crucial deadline week to 31st October for…
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Digital Delays
The proposal to render tax digital presents a fundamental and seismic change to the UK’s tax system. It’s ramifications should be worthy of the full attention of individual and business taxpayers when the consultation documents finally become available. The latest…
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Non- Dividend Shares Qualify for Entrepreneurs’ Relief
The First-tier Tax Tribunal has overruled a decision by HM Revenue & Customs that shares which have no right to a dividend are not entitled to entrepreneurs’ relief from capital gains tax. The shares in question were created when a…
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Law Society expresses concern over accountants’ legal services plan
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) revealed in February this year that it wanted to apply to regulate providers of all reserved legal actives following what it said was the success of its move into probate…
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£200,000 Capital Gain Sidestepped by Farmers Through Rescission
The High Court has found that transfers into trust which had triggered disastrous and apparently unexpected tax consequences could be rescinded for mistake using equitable tracing. A father and son who farmed in partnership had transferred several pieces of land…
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Disinherited daughter must pay costs for legal challenge
In a very interesting case the High Court has made an adverse cost order against the daughter of a multi-millionaire who insisted that her father’s will be proved in solemn form despite not raising a positive case in challenging the…
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Electronic Inheritance Tax filing now requires a mobile phone
As from today,9th May, HM Revenue & Customs will verify the identity of people filing an online inheritance tax return by sending an access code to their mobile phone, as well as by requiring them to log onto the Government…
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Significant Changes to Termination Payments
Consultations published at last Summer’s budget has suggested removing the distinction between contractual and non-contractual termination payments for tax purposes. If these had been implemented , the proposals would have required fundamental changes to the existing rules. Instead, legislation will be…
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Statistics confirm stamp duty surcharge triggered a buy-to-let surge
Recent banking industry statistics have confirmed predictions of a significant surge in buy-to-let and second-home buying just before the new stamp duty land tax surcharge was introduced in April this year. The 3% additional charge was announced in last December’s…
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