* You are viewing the archive for December, 2007

The lighter side

jon December 31, 2007 customers, Customs, fiscal, HM Revenue, HMRC, tax No Comments

I would not want people to think that I spend the whole time moaning about the government’s fiscal policy. The trouble is that I started this blog at the time when there had been announced a number of ill-considered policies. But, hey, let’s not say it is all doom and gloom.

As a tax practitioner I have to say that HM Revenue & Customs’ online filing system has been working well this year, at least for Self Assessment Tax Returns. I do not use the online filing for other purposes sufficiently to judge. … Continue Reading

Domicile puzzles

jon December 29, 2007 Chancellor, domicile, fiscal, reform, resident, tax No Comments

Then again, what are we to make of the so-called reforms relating to the taxation of non-domiciled residents in the UK? This was one of the policies the Government has pinched from the Tories following the policy announcements at the Conservative Party conference. The Tory proposal proved that the Government does not have the monopoly on misguided (did I hear you say daft?) policies. So why borrow this one except to trump the Opposition?

During its ten years in office the Government has discussed several times changing the rules concerning non-domiciled … Continue Reading

Dickering Darling delays amending capital gains reforms

jon December 15, 2007 capital gains, Darling, fiscal, flat rate, pension, property, reform, small, small business, tax No Comments

What are we to make of Alistair Darling’s delay in the announcement of any amendments to his proposals on capital gains tax “reform”? He told the Commons on Thursday that he was postponing any decision on change until the New Year.

In my view, commentators tend to hang too much on what might be motive. There was, I am sure, genuine concern from the Chancellor and the Government that they had put their foot in it and made a serious misjudgement, and I am sure that that Treasury Civil Servants will … Continue Reading

Income shifting: the Government’s paper published in December 2007.

jon December 09, 2007 Arctic, consultation, draft legislation, Husband and wife, income, shifting, small business, tax No Comments

The document “Income Shifting: a consultation of draft legislation”

is the Government’s response to the defeat of HM Revenue& Customs in the Arctic Systems case, Jones v Garnett, which concerned a “husband and wife” company where the wife received a substantial distribution of profit as dividend by virtue of the share in the company for which she had subscribed. The Revenue had sought to assess the husband on the wife’s share of the income under settlements legislation dating from the 1930s.

Despite the so-called consultation period, this is another example of legislation on … Continue Reading