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Tax fraudsters face stiff, US-style sentences

Departing the UK is often easier than getting out of its tax system

Half a million taxpayers have yet to submit their 2012/13 self assessment tax returns, HMRC have revealed as the department stands to collect thousands of pounds in fines for late filing.

“The figures are broadly the same as earlier years,” said a Revenue spokesperson. “We will enforce collection of every single penalty. There is no single reason why taxpayers have not filed. We urge those who have not filed to do so online now.

Edinburgh took a step closer to operating its own version of HMRC this week, after the Scottish parliament passed the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Bill.

The chair of the Chartered Institute of Taxation’s (CIOT) Scottish technical subcommittee, Moira Kelly, welcomed “positive changes” that give Scotland the legal basis for authority over devolved taxes.

K Rotberg (TC3780)

Admin to bear in mind

Opposition to direct recovery of tax debts continues to grow

By Malcolm Finney; £135; paperback; second edition; Sweet & Maxwell

Issue 43 of Agent Update, HMRC’s bi-monthly roundup of news for tax advisers, is now available.

It includes a list of 16 open issues being pursued by the Working Together team. It also outlines matters that have been closed, some of which are summarised below:

CIOT predicts level playing field for access to alpine tax agreement