With limited resources, how should the UK prioritise different types and targets of tax enforcement?| TaxWatch
The “Offshore Advisory Group” publishes political commentary including conspiracy theories originating in Russian propaganda outlets. It uses the attention this attracts to sell a tax avoidance scheme that supposedly lets UK businesses escape UK tax by incorporating in Gibraltar. The scheme is hopeless and will trigger large taxes and penalties – and if not disclosed […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
It’s sometimes said that we should go back to the tax system of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, with very high rates of tax on the highest earners. We’ve spoken to people who were around at the time – both tax avoiders and HMRC officials – and looked at the data. Our conclusion: the apparently […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
It wasn’t mentioned in the Chancellor’s speech, but the Spring Statement papers contain a major suite of anti-tax avoidance proposals, probably the toughest ever introduced. If enacted this will, in effect, criminalise the tax avoidance industry. We welcome it. There is a mini-industry of creating tax avoidance schemes which have no prospect of success. We […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
OneE made £10 million selling doomed R&D tax schemes – leaving investors with nothing and taxpayers footing the bill. Here’s how they did it, and here’s how we would change the law to end the tax avoidance industry for good. The scheme involved an attempt to use research and development tax relief to generate tax […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
A firm called Arka Wealth have widely promoted a tax scheme which they claim avoids all corporate tax, income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax – not just in the UK but across Europe. They work with a barrister called Setu Kamal, who they say is “one of Europe’s leading tax barristers”. Arka Wealth’s […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
This is an updated version of an article first published in 2023. What’s the very short answer? It’s this: (click to make bigger) But what is the legal definition of “tax avoidance”? There isn’t one. More precisely, there isn’t a single legal definition of “tax avoidance”. If there was, life would be easy: we’d pass […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
Companies associated with the struck-off solicitor, convicted fraudster, bankrupt, pornographer, and negligent tax avoidance scheme promoter Paul Baxendale-Walker continue to sell elaborate tax avoidance schemes. The details of the schemes, and their purported technical justifications, are kept a closely guarded secret. Today we are publishing them, and explaining why they fail. We frequently receive tip-offs […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
The UK loses £1bn each year to fraudulent claims for research and development (R&D) tax relief. We revealed last week that one of the largest firms in the market, Green Jellyfish (and its associated firm Kirby & Haslam), made fraudulent claims. We can now reveal in detail how the fraud worked. We believe they’re responsible […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
BBC Merseyside is reporting on a ludicrous attempt to avoid business rates using snails. It is so stupid that I cannot do justice to it – please read the story (radio version here). This is, however, just one of many stupid schemes to avoid business rates. And the bizarre thing is that historically they have […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
We’ve been investigating a Belize company called GCWealth. It says its offshore trusts can eliminate tax on your assets, and prevent your spouse or creditors ever accessing the assets. And GCWealth claims that billions of pounds have been put into their schemes in the last fifteen years. Our experts believe GCWealth’s claimed tax, divorce and […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
Tens of thousands of people (including me!) just received this email from Property118, attaching a rather scary HMRC “stop notice” (PDF version here, or click on thumbnails below): We all received the email because we once downloaded an ebook from the Property118 website. What should you do if you’re in this position? Nothing. If all […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
We have previously reported on a high profile unregulated firm called “Property118”, which promoted a series of landlord tax avoidance schemes. HMRC took action, and Property118 has resorted to asking their clients to make donations to fund their appeals. Despite this, Property118 continues to promote tax avoidance that doesn’t work and will land its clients […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
We wrote last month about Paul Baxendale-Walker, the former barrister and solicitor who helped create the “loan schemes” that cost the country £billions and caused misery for tens of thousands of people. HMRC say his schemes avoided £1bn in tax. His advice was negligent, and he eventually ended up struck off, bankrupt, and convicted of […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
Paul Baxendale-Walker is probably the UK’s most notorious tax avoidance scheme promoter. He’s the former barrister and solicitor who helped create the “loan schemes” that cost the country £billions and have caused misery for tens of thousands of people. HMRC say his schemes avoided £1bn in tax. His advice was negligent, and he eventually ended […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
Some people on social media are convinced that Jeremy Hunt avoided tax when he bought seven flats through a company in 2018. We’ve analysed the transaction and believe it’s clear that he didn’t. Here are the claims (click to expand): Probably originating from this piece in the Mirror in 2018, itself based on this Telegraph […]| Tax Policy Associates Ltd
All three political parties say they can raise £5bn or more from cracking down on tax avoidance and evasion. How plausible is this? UPDATED with the June 2024 tax gap figures James Cleverly said on 26…| Tax Policy Associates
Stronger powers against ‘enablers’ - those who design and enable aggressive tax avoidance and evasion – are back on the table once again. But new figures show that existing powers are still not being used.| TaxWatch
Even after years of attempts at reform, offshore havens still offer secrecy for those determined to hide money and evade tax. In a week when Britain's Overseas Territories have ignored yet another deadline for functioning 'beneficial ownership' registers, new figures on UK tax enforcement...| TaxWatch
Report outlines CRA communication failures that resulted in wasted time, effort, from taxpayers| Investment Executive
Shrinking the £40 billion tax gap and £38 billion of outstanding tax debts is going to be critical for making today’s Spending Review numbers add up. Can HMRC deliver this with a real-term budget cut?| TaxWatch – TaxWatch
Military servicemembers have access to incredible tax, investing, and travel benefits that can accelerate the journey to FI!| Mad Fientist
A Mad Fientist reader shares how he utilizes tax-advantaged accounts to unlock even more cost-saving benefits!| Mad Fientist