Robin Williamson MBE, CTA (Fellow), MA (Oxon), solicitor was a very experienced tax author, well known to tax practitioners. He was a senior technical editor with CCH, technical director of the CIOT’s Low Incomes Tax Reform Group, and senior policy adviser to the Office of Tax Simplification. Later, Robin became an independent author and commentator in the fields of tax, welfare and public policy.
When trouble arises with HMRC, it is essential to know what rights clients have in standing up to any real or perceived unfairness.
This book addresses in a practical manner the question of the safeguards that are available in particular circumstances. The book covers the whole spectrum of protections – statutory, judicial, administrative, and so on – setting these against the background of the rule of law.
The impressive scope of this book ranges across HMRC powers generally, enquiries, reasonable excuse, appeals, human rights, double jeopardy, offshore matters, criminal offences, internal review, mediation, judicial review, the HMRC charter, vulnerable taxpayers, and much more.
“Very timely in setting out the whole position in a clear and structured way.” – from the Foreword to the first edition by John Cullinane, CIOT public policy director.
“A really good book!” – TAXline, October 2020.
Contents (in brief)
Introduction
Information and inspection powers
Assessments and self-assessment
Main penalty regimes
Post-2012 powers
Appeals, settlements and reviews
Administrative remedies
Tax and the rule of law
Appendix 1 – Overseas categories
Appendix 2 – HMRC powers and appropriate safeguards