Karim Mawji v HMRC

In Karim Mawji v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 899 (16 September 2014) the FTT found that an information notice was reasonably requested.

HMRC had opened an enquiry into the appellant’s self-assessment return and requested UK bank statements. The appellant’s advisers had replied that no case had been made for requiring the bank statements. HMRC then explained that they had information suggesting that the appellant had received interest which had not been declared in his return.

A certificate showing an interest receipt of £19 956 was provided. The appellant apologised for not including the interest in his return explaining that all the documents had been stolen during a robbery of his apartment in Switzerland.

HMRC then requested statements for the account on the basis that the interest suggested a large amount held on deposit. Such statements were not provided and HMRC eventually issued an information notice (FA 2008...