Smith & Williamson announced the appointment of Laurence Bard, formerly a tax partner with a Big Four firm, as a Partner in its corporate tax team.
‘George Osborne’s Treasury is grappling with an exodus of personnel as officials fume at low pay levels and high staff turnover, creating real operational difficulties with the Budget just seven weeks away.
From the Daily Telegraph:
The tax avoidance question is ‘critical’, particularly in the current economic situation, but the subject should be kept in perspective, a Treasury minister said yesterday after a Labour peer warned that a ‘socially useless tax avoidance industry’ could harm the performance of the economy.
HMRC has confirmed that it will not impose late filing penalties for taxpayers who file their self-assessment tax return on 1 or 2 February. A statement posted on the HMRC website last night reads:
HMRC has extended the self assessment filing deadline to 2 February to allow more time for taxpayers who seek help on 31 January but are unable to get through because of strike action by HMRC staff.
HMRC’s Dave Hartnett responds to criticisms voiced by CIOT President Anthony Thomas.
Val Hennelly, Jonathan Levy, Geoff Lloyd and Graham Massie consider mediation and look at the benefits for HMRC and taxpayers alike, ADR pilots, working collaboratively and the next steps.