HMRC’s taskforce activity is again proving to be controversial, with the increasing use of unannounced visits for routine cross tax enquiries. Accountants are finding themselves marginalised and clients exposed to questionable tactics.

Simple Assessment has arrived. We take a look at those individuals affected and the new process. Capital allowances remain a topical subject with our tax helpline advisers, especially surrounding property conversions.

IR35 is not going away and in an environment where HMRC place such emphasis on taxpayer behaviour and due diligence, it is time for clients to act. To help them do so, Abbey Tax is offering a contract review promotion.

Employment status – the ultimate grey area and incredibly damaging if you get it wrong. Accountax has a solution which combines compliance and protection in the form of best practice and insurance to provide the ultimate status safeguard.

Many grant writing agencies take a ‘paint by numbers’ approach to producing mediocre applications, leaving applicants to fend for themselves when the writing is complete. We are different. We guide our customers through the often complex negotiations that follow a grant award.

The latest annual figures published by HMRC reflect the enduring and growing popularity of Research and Development (R&D) tax credits, with increases across the board in both the number and value of claims made.

According to figures recently obtained by Abbey Tax from HMRC via a Freedom of Information request, over 16,500 individuals and businesses have been entered into the Managing Serious Defaulters programme since 2011. The average monitoring period currently stands at three years.

Let Property Campaign disclosures open the door to this month’s hot topics, followed by the news that referrals to HMRC via the Mortgage Verification Scheme have breached the 10,000 mark. A detailed look at changes to corporation tax losses concludes the round up.

Onshore intermediaries legislation was introduced in 2015 to very little fanfare but lack of awareness of this legislation could have serious impacts and consequences on businesses, especially since penalties for non-compliance are now eligible. A further impact of the legislation is that it once again requires businesses to provide HMRC with ‘real-time’ information concerning off-payroll workers.

Taskforces have been an integral part of HMRC’s compliance strategy since they were first launched in the spring of 2011. Initially HMRC was keen to promote the targeted sectors and geographical locations, but has been more reticent of late.