HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) won the majority of tax avoidance cases that it was involved in last year that proceeded to litigation, according to the latest figures.
Of the 26 decisions handed down in 2016/17 in cases where HMRC considered that tax avoidance was involved, 22 went in favour of the Revenue. Three of the remaining decisions went in favour of the taxpayer, while one was a mixed decision.
Heather Self, Partner at law firm Pinsent Masons says: “Anyone seeking to implement a complex tax avoidance scheme would have to be a confirmed optimist to assume they would win if the case is ultimately litigated.”
In 2016, HMRC generated a record compliance yield of £28.9 billion as a result of its anti-tax avoidance and evasion campaign.
If you are concerned about a tax enquiry into your affairs, worried that you may have possibly under-declared or, worse still, are you already under enquiry, our tax specialists, some of whom are former HMRC Inspector of Taxes, are well versed in dealing with all types of tax issues. We are also readily available to oversee HMRC disputes on your behalf, as well as to represent clients in appeal proceedings before the Tax Tribunal. In some situations we can also offer professional fee protection insurance, so the costs are covered in whole or in part.
For more information and to discuss your tax affairs in further detail, please contact Alan Ford or your usual Beavis Morgan Partner.
