Tax Take
Two loans better than one – FTT allows taxpayer's appeal in 'benefit in kind' case
In the recent decision of the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) (FTT) in Elizabeth Amri v HMRC, the FTT rejected HMRC’s interpretation of the employment-related loan legislation contained in Chapter 7, Part 3, ITEPA 2003 and allowed the taxpayer’s appeal.
Read moreTribunal's decision not to follow its previous decision highlights the difficulties with the government's 'follower notice' proposals
In the recent case of Ardmore Construction Limited v HMRC, the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') dismissed the taxpayer's appeal and chose not to follow its recent decision in Perrin v HMRC.
Read moreAdministrative Court quashes HMRC's refusal to disclose information
In R (on the application of Privacy International) v The Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs,[1] the Administrative Court has quashed a decision by HMRC that it did not have a duty to disclose information concerning its export control functions.
Read moreTribunal criticises HMRC for producing 'untruthful' records
In Kestrel Guards Limited v Revenue & Customs [2014] UKFTT 184 (TC) the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ("FTT") allowed the taxpayer's appeal and discharged a penalty which had been imposed by HMRC for the late filing of PAYE cheques.
Read moreAre you a leader or a follower? - Tribunal gives guidance on the Rule 18 Lead Case procedure
In the recent case of General Healthcare Group Limited v HMRC,[1] the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT'), considered the application of Rule 18 of the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Tax Chamber) Rules (2009/273) ('the Rules') to follower cases where the lead case has chosen not to appeal the decision of the FTT.
Read moreFirst-tier Tribunal Strips Club of VAT Relief
More exotic facts than are typical for a VAT case reached the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) (the FTT) last month.
Read moreDeutsche Bank and UBS tax avoidance schemes succeed
The cases of DB Group Services (UK) Limited v HMRC and HMRC v UBS AG[1] were heard together by the Court of Appeal in November 2013 and the decision was published last month.
Read moreTribunal sets aside HMRC information notice for lack of clarity
R D Utilities Ltd v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 303 (TC)
Read moreHMRC’s computer says no!
In Varma v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 006 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') quashed a penalty that had been issued to a taxpayer for late filing of a self-assessment tax return.
Read moreA lack of goodwill for Medical Professionals
Over recent years increasing numbers of medical professionals have sought to incorporate their private practices for perceived tax advantages.
Read morePainting by numbers – Court of Appeal dismisses HMRC's appeal
The Court of Appeal has dismissed HMRC's appeal in Lord Howard of Henderskelfe's Executors v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2014] EWCA Civ 278 and confirmed that, as the Portrait of Omai by Sir Joshua Reynolds ('the Portrait') was a wasting asset within the meaning of section 44 Taxation of Capital Gains Tax Act 1992 ('TCGA'), no capital gains tax ('CGT') charge arose on its disposal for £9.4m.
Read moreHigh Court holds that HMRC's winding up petition should be dismissed as an abuse of process.
The High Court (David Donaldson QC) has held in Enta Technologies Limited v HMRC [2014] EWHC 548 (Ch), that where a winding-up petition was brought by HMRC ...
Read moreTribunal decides that taxpayers must attempt to obtain information held by trustee!
In the recent case of H A Patel & K Patel (a partnership) v HMRC [1], the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) (‘FTT’) dismissed an appeal by the taxpayers that information and documents held by a trustee were not ‘in their possession or power’ for the purpose of paragraph 18, Schedule 36, Finance Act 2008.
Read moreHMRC lose FURBS appeal
In HMRC v Forde and McHugh Limited [2014] UKSC 14, the Supreme Court has dismissed HMRC's appeal and reinstated the decision of the Upper Tribunal.
Read moreCompany succeeds in overturning section 419 ICTA assessment
The First-tier (Tax Chamber) Tribunal ('FTT') has decided in RKW Limited v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 151 (TC) that consideration payable by an individual in future instalments for subscribing for shares in an unconnected close company, as defined in section 414 Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 ('ICTA'), is not a loan or debt within the meaning of section 419 ICTA ('section 419').
Read moreHMRC blunder prevents it from collecting tax
The Upper Tribunal ('UT') has recently held in Bristol & West plc v HMRC [2014] UKUT 73 (TCC) that closure notices that HMRC had mistakenly sent to a taxpayer were valid and could not therefore be amended.
Read moreFirst-tier Tribunal confirms compromise agreement is binding on HMRC
The recent case of Southern Cross Employment Agency Ltd v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 088 (TC) considers HMRC's ability (or, in certain cases, their inability) to revoke a decision after a claim has been finalised and paid.
Read moreTaxpayer establishes clean break and wins residence case before Tax Tribunal
The First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') have decided in James Glyn v HMRC [2013] UKFTT 645 (TC) that, although Mr Glyn had retained his London house and returned to it several times during the year under appeal, he had nevertheless ceased to be UK resident for tax purposes as he had sufficiently loosened his ties with the UK to show there had been a distinct break with the UK.
Read moreFTT listens to used car salesman and allows his claim for entrepreneur's relief
In a recent decision of the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') it was held that a significant change in business constituted a cessation of one business and the commencement of a second business, (Jeremy Rice v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 0133 (TC)).
Read moreTour Operators – Can you benefit from adapting your TOMS calculations?
After lengthy deliberation, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced it is not going to change the way the Tour Operators Margin Scheme [TOMS] is operated in the UK.
Read moreFurther guidance from the Tribunal on closure notices: long stop dates
We recently blogged about the timing of closure notices: "Tribunal directs HMRC to issue Closure Notice".
Read moreUpper Tribunal decides application for extension of time under Civil Procedural Rules
In the recent case of The Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs v McCarthy & Stone (Developments) Ltd and another[1] the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber) ('UT') was asked to consider whether it should grant HMRC an extension of time to serve its notice of appeal.
Read moreTribunal directs HMRC to issue Closure Notice
Mr Kenneth William Bloomfield v The Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs [2013] UKFTT 593 (TC)
Read moreCourt finds HMRC's entry and search unlawful
In the recent judicial review case of R (on the application of Lees & Ors)[1], the High Court held that the execution of search and seizure warrants obtained by HMRC was unlawful.
Read moreFranked Investment Income ('FII') Group Litigation: ECJ strikes down UK's retroactive curtailment of limitation period for making mistake-based tax restitution claims
On 12 December 2013 the Court of Justice of the European ('ECJ') ruled, in line with the Advocate-General's opinion dated 5 September 2013, that section 320 Finance Act 2004 ('section 320') breached EU law.
Read more2013 – A review of the year, and Seasonal Greetings!
2013 has been a busy year for the RPC Tax Take team. To round the year off we have highlighted below a small sample of some of our top blog posts from the past 12 months.
Read moreAutumn Statement 2013 – George's Marvellous Medicine?
In the midst of the political point-scoring, last week's Autumn Statement was light on significant new tax announcements.
Read moreA Notice of Requirement and VAT Security
A former TV chef was recently fined £10,000 for his failure to comply with a Notice of Requirement (NOR) to give a VAT security (http://abytx.co/1bDo2U0).
Read moreQuality of occupation is paramount when deciding whether a property is a taxpayer's 'only or main residence' for the purposes of capital gains tax
A recent decision of the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') provides helpful insight into the way in which the FTT will apply the Capital Gains Tax Private Residence relief provisions contained in sections 222 and 223 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 ('TCGA').
Read moreThe Tribunal considers its public law jurisdiction in VAT online filing human rights case
The First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') has recently considered various difficult questions in relation to its public law jurisdiction and the relevance of human rights issues to taxation disputes in LH Bishop & Others v HMRC[1].
Read moreTribunal sets aside HMRC's Schedule 36 information notice
The First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') has allowed a taxpayer's appeal against an information notice issued by HMRC pursuant to paragraph 1, Schedule 36, Finance Act 2008.
Read moreTribunal prevents HMRC from 'relitigating' the case in Rosenbaum v HMRC
In Rosenbaum v HMRC[1] the First-tier Tribunal ('FTT') recently considered the circumstances in which it can set aside a decision under Rule 38 of The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Tax Chamber) Rules 2009 ('the Tribunal Rules').
Read moreHMRC’s Digital and Tax Agent Strategy
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is developing a new platform of digital services, which will ultimately enable tax agents to ‘self-serve’ and allow individual taxpayers and businesses to conduct all of their transactions online.
Read morePhew! Relief granted notwithstanding non-compliance and delay
In Theverajah v Riordan & Others [2013] the court considered the factors relevant to an application for relief under amended CPR 3.9, which came into force in April 2013.
Read moreBundles of fun!
A decision earlier this year sheds light on the provisions for costs orders which apply in relation to appeals held before the First-Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT').
Read moreTribunal orders HMRC to pay taxpayers’ costs where HMRC ought to have known that their case did not have a reasonable prospect of success
Following hot on the heels of the Simple Solutions decision, the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') (Judge Mosedale) has again ordered HMRC to pay the taxpayer's costs in Roden & Anor v HMRC.[1].
Read moreA discovery too far?
Since the Court of Appeal decision in Langham v Veltema[1] the courts and tribunals have considered several challenges by taxpayers to HMRC's power to make discovery assessments after failing to open in time enquiries into self-assessments.
Read moreTaxpayer's appeal allowed as HMRC had not made a discovery determination in time
The recent First-tier Tribunal ('FTT') case of Nijjar Dairies Ltd v HMRC1 dealt with two matters.
Read moreVAT – Failure to Register in time - penalty on director not upheld as no dishonest conduct
The First-Tier Tribunal ('FTT') has upheld an appeal by the director of a company against the imposition of a penalty under sections 60 and 61 of the Value Added Taxes Act ('VATA 1994')1 in the case of Mrs G. Candy v HMRC [2013] UKFTT 146 (TC) 02544.
Read moreHMRC ordered to pay taxpayer's costs following improper allegation of fraud
In the recent case of Simple Solutions GB Limited v HMRC,1 not only was the taxpayer successful in its appeal, it was also awarded its costs following serious and unsubstantiated allegations of fraud made against it by HMRC.
Read moreFATCA – are we nearly there yet?
The International Tax Compliance (United States of America) Regulations 2013 ('Regulations') came into force on 1 September 2013.
Read moreHMRC's appeal is dismissed in the Lloyds Leasing case
The Upper Tribunal ('UT') (Newey J and Judge Howard Nowlan) has upheld a decision of the First–tier Tribunal ('FTT') that 25% writing-down allowances ('WDA') were available to a UK lessor of ships...
Read moreTaxpayer wins appeal notwithstanding mistimed implementation
The First-tier Tribunal ('FTT') has recently ruled in favour of a taxpayer in relation to a consultancy fee purportedly paid to a company which was not at the time incorporated(Maureen Hepburn v HMRC [2013] UKFTT 445 (TC)).
Read moreThird time lucky for HMRC as they finally secure victory in DV3
Having lost before both the First-tier Tribunal ('FTT') and the Upper Tribunal ('UT'),1 HMRC have finally managed to secure victory before the Court of Appeal in HMRC v DV3 RS Limited Partnership [2013] EWCA Civ 907, a case involving stamp duty land tax ('SDLT') planning.
Read moreTax tribunal considers the application of the SDLT anti-avoidance legislation contained in section 75A Finance Act 2003
HMRC have been successful before the First-tier Tribunal ("FTT") in Project Blue Ltd v HMRC [2013] UKFTT 378 (TC), an SDLT case in which the anti-avoidance provisions contained in sections 75A to 75C, Finance Act 2003 fell to be considered. Unless otherwise stated all statutory references below are to Finance Act 2003.
Read moreHMRC suffer humiliating defeat in overseas pension scheme judicial review
In what can only be described as a humiliating capitulation, HMRC have conceded defeat during the course of a hotly contested judicial review hearing in the High Court.
Read moreCowboys and followers: HMRC's latest consultation on tax avoidance
On 12 August 2013 HMRC launched a new consultation document: Raising the stakes on tax avoidance. The consultation is open for a short period, the closing date for comments being 4 October 2013.
Read moreA new approach to corporation tax?
On 31 July 2013 the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs published its first Report in the 2013-2014 session:
Read moreThe rule of law, tax avoidance and the GAAR
Tax is in the news and making the headlines as seldom before, but the debate is not always as informed as it might be...
Read moreThe new UK GAAR – a journey into the unknown?
The Finance Bill 2013 received Royal Assent on 17 July. We are now in uncharted territory.
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