The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals ……………………………………………………………Policy News Journal
Accountant fined for blocking HMRC investigation 12 October 2016
An obstructive accountant who failed to cooperate with a tax fraud investigation has been fined £25,000 under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.
In an historic first for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), an obstructive accountant who failed to cooperate with a tax fraud investigation has been fined £25,000 under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 for failing to comply with Disclosure Notices. Anil Shah, 66, an accountant from Middlesex, refused to assist HMRC officers who were investigating suspected tax evasion by his clients, despite being served with the legally binding documents. Shah was warned that if he didn’t pay the fine within 28 days he would face 18 months in prison. The Disclosure Notices, which require individuals to share paperwork and information with HMRC when part of a criminal investigation, were ignored by Shah. When challenged by investigators, he made a number of statements that were found to be totally untrue. This included saying that he didn’t act for clients, when he did.
Simon York, Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:
“As a professional accountant Shah's role was to offer sound advice to his clients and comply with HMRC regulations. Instead he abused his privileged position, knowingly broke the law, and failed in his professional duties.
HMRC is determined to clamp down on financial crime. Today’s result sends a clear message to anyone who is considering trying to cover up tax fraud – nobody is beyond our reach.
If you commit or help others to commit a financial crime, HMRC can and will come after you and you too could end up paying the price or finding yourself behind bars.”
Two of Shah’s clients were jailed for seven years in 2015 for a £1.2 million VAT fraud. A further trial of a number of his, now, former clients recently concluded and they are due to be sentenced on 20 October 2016 at Southwark Crown Court.
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Personal Tax Account – have you registered yet? 13 October 2016
It only takes five minutes to register and you can view all of your tax information in one place.
The Personal Tax Account (PTA) was launched in December 2015 and gives customers a one-stop shop for all of their tax information. It gives customers the flexibility to access HMRC’s services at a time that suits them as the service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Over five million people have has signed up to the Personal Tax Account. Services are always being added to the PTA but those already live include:
receiving an estimate on your Income Tax and tax code filing a Self Assessment tax return claiming a tax refund directly into your bank account and receiving it within 3-5 working days – removing the need to wait for a cheque or Payable Order checking and managing your tax credits, including the ability to change your circumstances throughout the year checking your State Pension checking or updating your Marriage Allowance checking or updating benefits you get from work, such as company car details and medical insurance.
The PTA is radically changing the way that customers contact HMRC and the effects of this have already been felt.
Almost 1 million customers renewed their tax credits claim ahead of the 31 July deadline this year, representing a move away from the old paper and telephone methods of renewal. Over 600,000 people have already received their
The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals
Policy News Journal
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