Seven months after apologising to MPs, HMRC is now boasting of a “significant recovery” in its call-handling services June 13, 2016 HMRC has stressed a dramatic improvement in its call handling processes, with 90 per cent of calls answered, and the average call answered inside of six minutes. Speaking to MPs at the Public Accounts Committee earlier today, HMRC chief executive Jon Thompson, said that the performance represented “a significant recovery”. Last year, HMRC was slammed by a [...]
Seven months after being blasted by MPs, HMRC is now boasting of a “significant recovery” in its call handling services June 13, 2016 NULL
HMRC tells accountants it’s business as usual for routine tax planning June 8, 2016 The taxman has written to a leading accountancy firm to reassure it that it's business as usual for routine tax planning. Accountancy firm RSM, which has offices in the City, previously wrote in its weekly tax bulletin that it was concerned about a report that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) had published in May. The report [...]
Sports Direct debacle: “I’m not Father Christmas,” says Mike Ashley June 8, 2016 Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley admitted to MPs yesterday that some of the working conditions at the firm were “unacceptable”, arguing that he could not control every aspect of his company. Addressing the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, which is investigating the retailer for poor working practices, Ashley said: “I can’t be responsible for [...]
Mike Ashley admits he can’t control Sports Direct June 7, 2016 Mike Ashley has spoken candidly about the working conditions at Sports Direct, saying he cannot know everything occurring in his company and that some practices were unacceptable. Ashley said: "I can't be responsible for everything that goes on at Sports Direct." "This is a process of growth, and the growth has been too big." Ashley said the success of [...]
Referendum campaigners must do more to explain the implications for tax June 6, 2016 Both sides of the EU referendum campaign have failed to explain how the vote will affect individual and corporate taxes, according to accountancy experts. While Remain campaigners have been hitting out at their Brexit peers for failing to articulate a vision for the future, accountancy software expert TaxCalc had said neither side has presented a compelling answer [...]
HMRC claim it is winning the battle to crackdown on corporation tax June 6, 2016 HMRC believe that that they have turned a corner in catching companies trying to avoid paying corporation tax after subjecting large businesses “to an exceptional level of scrutiny”. Data released following a Freedom of Information Act request by UHY Hacker Young showed 15 per cent decrease in the number of high value cross border investigations [...]
It’s Tax Freedom Day: It may be the latest it’s been since 2001 but you’re finally earning for yourself June 3, 2016 Ask a random person on the street how much tax they pay and they’ll usually guess around 20 per cent of their income. That’s the basic rate of income tax, and it’s easy to forget taxes like VAT, council tax, beer and wine duties, air passenger duty, motoring taxes and stamp duty. Even if you remind [...]
Privatising the Land Registry sounds like a great idea – but this is why it’s not May 27, 2016 It not uncommon to read about government policy decisions and count yourself lucky that you’re not the one making them. But when it comes to the current debate over whether to privatise the Land Registry, while a good idea on the surface, rejecting this proposal should be a no-brainer. It may not be a conundrum on [...]
The initiative that’s earned HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) more than half a billion in five years May 26, 2016 The taxman revealed today that its 140 targeted taskforces have helped it to track down more than £500m in five years. Since 2011, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has used taskforces to carry out focused bursts of enforcement activity, including crackdowns on the retail sector, the tobacco industry and the adult entertainment industry. The taskforces have gone from strength [...]