• Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
  • Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!

No To Retro Tax – Campaign Against Section 58 Finance Act 2008

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
Collapse
  •  
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Originally posted by GBHuhd View Post
    Hi Guys,

    Quick question - i received a closure notice last month, giving me 30 days to appeal/pay up etc etc, Montpelier appealed it on the 14th i think was the date. Anyway, just received a threatening letter from the taxman saying i missed the payment deadline etc etc and if i don't pay up it will be passed to the deb collection office etc etc.

    Just wondering if this is a case of one dept not talking to another one ? Any idea what to do about this, should i just leave it to Montpelier, bit concerned the appeal got lost in the post or something...

    Cheers
    Don't panic. This exact same thing has happened before and MontP were told about it. The systems that operate for DMO, collections and those who deal with appeals are not connected - HMRC actually told me this. The mob's system does not know about your CN being appealed and don't wate time calling the DMO if it is they who's automated ZX81 sent you the "we're coming" letter. As DR said, pass it to MontP.

    Comment


      Originally posted by the great escape View Post
      Well at least he's addressing it to someone other than Gauke. I think that's quite positive. And he's Lib Dem.

      Got cobblered with 07/08 the other week. Shares in TGE Plc down another 25%. Damage level now well into the red - frightening. Got to be a solution to this mess.

      I'm interested to know the specific challenges HMRC were making prior to the Padmore-out-of-a-Hat slight of hand. No useful response to the mail so will ph direct and ask handset-to-handset "why you changed your mind".
      In early 2006 they finally gave their reasons - Archer Shee & s.739 ICTA 1988. One was case law and the other an anti avoidance measure. MontP challenged the claim with a letter that took their arguments apart and that was the last anyone ever heard of the matter. But they already had TN63 that told them the same from 2002.

      But give them credit, in 2005 the latest tax act was passed (ITTOIA 2005) and it actually referred to clarifying Padmore. It made sure to clear up any issue of a charge to tax for the Padmore case. Funny that it made no reference to our situation in that clarification. It took s.58 wizardry to make the second clarification. I can think of another more legal word or phrase to explain "wizardry" but let's no go there for now. The fact that s.58 clarifies ITTOIA 2005 for the second time on this matter would be hilarious if it wasn't for the fact that it will wreck so many lives. Just add this to the ever growing pile of s.58 juxtapositions and you'll end up with more than a time machine needed to make it stick.

      But they can always depend on the very strong case that they:

      Always maintained the scheme didn't work
      Never accepted any claims
      No senior HMRC official ever accepted the scheme worked
      Clarified the 1987 legislation because Parliament had always intended that s.58 applied
      Everyone likes Marmite
      The opening ceremony at 2012 will be the best one ever and nobody in the UK will cringe
      It will stay dry in the UK until October
      The hose pipe bans were a good forward thinking long term view strategic idea
      The BBC coverage of the Jubilee flotilla pageant was incredible (well I didn't say incredulous).

      But it's reassuring to know that HMRC sat on their elbows for 7 years leaning on their ars*s.

      Comment


        Originally posted by Tax_shouldnt_be_taxing View Post
        ...
        But give them credit, in 2005 the latest tax act was passed (ITTOIA 2005) and it actually referred to clarifying Padmore. It made sure to clear up any issue of a charge to tax for the Padmore case. Funny that it made no reference to our situation in that clarification. It took s.58 wizardry to make the second clarification. I can think of another more legal word or phrase to explain "wizardry" but let's no go there for now. The fact that s.58 clarifies ITTOIA 2005 for the second time on this matter would be hilarious if it wasn't for the fact that it will wreck so many lives. Just add this to the ever growing pile of s.58 juxtapositions and you'll end up with more than a time machine needed to make it stick.
        ...
        It sounds as if Tax Law is like one of those ill-thought-out software projects. The ones that take a couple of months to write, and an eternity to debug.

        Comment


          Radio 5 live - very interesting debate on EBTs.

          Comment


            Originally posted by OnYourBikeGB View Post
            Radio 5 live - very interesting debate on EBTs.
            anyone able to call in and discuss S58?

            Comment


              Key words: Legal, aggressive and disclosed

              How Jimmy Carr avoids tax : News 2012 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide

              1% tax...

              Comment


                Originally posted by Tax_shouldnt_be_taxing View Post
                In early 2006 they finally gave their reasons - Archer Shee & s.739 ICTA 1988. One was case law and the other an anti avoidance measure. MontP challenged the claim with a letter that took their arguments apart and that was the last anyone ever heard of the matter. But they already had TN63 that told them the same from 2002.
                So HMRC 'consistently maintained the scheme didn't work' until 2006 using this argument. However it was never tested in Court because, as you've implied, HMRC would have lost it. And so therefore only remains an opinion, not the law. Innocent until proven otherwise, I would have said. Why waste 4 years arguing the toss anyway (02-06) when TN63 'clarifies' (with retrospective effect?) that this argument would fail.

                So some enquiries were opened using this argument whilst others using Padmore Revisited. Is that correct?

                Comment


                  Key Words..........

                  Other key words:

                  'Perfectly Legal'

                  Comment


                    Originally posted by the great escape View Post
                    So some enquiries were opened using this argument whilst others using Padmore Revisited. Is that correct?
                    Padmore was never mentioned before 2008.

                    Enquiries 2003 to 2006 were just fishing.

                    In 2006 they came up with Archer Shee/s.739, which they knew would never fly.

                    Comment


                      Urgent Call to Action


                      Please can everyone email this to their MP now. The amendment will hopefully be tabled next Tuesday 26th June, hence the urgency.

                      Dear [insert MP’s name],

                      I have previously written to you about Section 58(4) of the Finance Act 2008 and how the retrospective application of this law is threatening to force thousands of people, including myself, into bankruptcy, simply for arranging my affairs in a manner that was entirely transparent and legal the time.

                      As you may know, there are serious concerns about the way in which this legislation was presented to Parliament. When deciding to implement these tax changes retrospectively, HMRC ignored the Rees rules, which state that clear warning of the Government’s intentions must be given. HMRC failed to carry out an impact assessment, which would have alerted MPs to the fact that thousands of people were likely to be affected by the changes. MPs were also not informed that HMRC had recognised in an internal technical exchange document that the tax schemes in question were entirely legal, that the schemes had been included in the HMRC tax manual since 1993, and that HMRC had previously investigated scheme users and issued closure notices with nothing further to pay, thus accepting that their tax affairs were legitimate.

                      Indeed, because of these omissions, there are real reasons to believe that Parliament may have been misled by HMRC into passing Section 58(4) retrospectively when there was no need to do so.

                      While I do not dispute that the Government has a right to make changes to tax legislation and close down loopholes where they do exist, it is draconian and iniquitous to change legislation retrospectively and then pursue people for backdated liabilities which may arise, particularly when those involved have followed the law as it stood and such retrospective demands are likely to have a crippling financial effect on them.

                      I understand that an amendment is due to be tabled imminently to this year’s Finance Bill which would remove the retrospective application of Section 58(4) and mean that the tax changes it introduced would only come into effect from the date they were first announced. This would not only bring the legislation in line with Parliamentary protocol and natural justice, but prevent myself and thousands of others from being unfairly forced into bankruptcy.

                      I would be most grateful if you could contact the Exchequer Secretary David Gauke MP as a matter of urgency on my behalf and urge him to support this amendment. I would also appreciate it if you could send me a copy of any reply you may receive.

                      Yours sincerely,
                      Thanks!
                      DR

                      Comment

                      Working...
                      X