Ray McCann
@Ray_McCann55
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Past President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. Scottish, former HM Inspector of Taxes. Views my own unless stated. The good looking guy is not me!
London
Joined May 2009
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The real issue is not whether you can cook cook a meal for 30p or even a £1. The issue is whether you can do that day after day after day, week after week after week. To those who say you can eat cheaply, try that and see how long it is before you are damaged.
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I was determined not to add to the comments on the Duchess of Sussex. But
@JeremyClarkson
has gone too far, he has shamed himself, shamed every man in the UK over 50 and shamed the UK itself. I would have included the Sun but it could sink no lower.
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After developments in the High Court, every single one of us should say a prayer tonight that the day never comes when you have to seek refuge in a foreign land. And if you don’t think that is possible, read more British history.
@pritipatel
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Someone explain to me the difference between a Ukrainian fleeing Russian terror and a Syrian fleeing Russian backed terror *and* Russian terror?
@BorisJohnson
@pritipatel
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@PippaCrerar
And no innocent person has been released after being executed, the man is a disgrace.
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@DanNeidle
I once apologised to a widow for a wayward Inland Revenue communication sent to her dead husband and “our grave error”. I was only a kid!
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@JolyonMaugham
“Medical facilities in Rwanda are limited and some medicines are often unavailable…For any major medical problems, including dental it is advisable to obtain medical treatment in Nairobi or South Africa where more advanced medical care is available.” Source the Foreign Office!
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@EconCharlesRead
@DavidHenigUK
@Telegraph
Sacking Tom Scholar can, with hindsight, now be seen as taking the batteries out of the fire alarm!
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It is rare for me to stray from tax subjects but I expect I am not the only person who finds this letter infuriating.
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My thoughts on HMRC’s recent penalty disaster. No point in Government giving HMRC far reaching powers if HMRC is unable to invest in high quality training and legal support, litigators are not a substitute for knowledgable high quality Revenue tax lawyers
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@PeterMatza
@lionelbarber
@piersmorgan
@FT
For no good or sensible reason but to appease a bunch of arrogant self serving people who live in a delusional bubble of fantasy England
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@Aiannucci
This is an important exchange, Nazis are never satisfied, if they have driven out the brown and black people it will then be anyone who does not sound English. Then it will be the Irish, the Scots. Confected grievance gives them purpose egged on by the grifters.
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And it is absolutely unacceptable that HMRC simply ignores its own culpability in relation to how these schemes were able to spread over the past two decades and continues to push the idea that it won case after case. It’s time to put an end to this.
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If, as is being suggested, a ninth person has died due to the stress of the loan charge both
@hmtreasury
and
@HMRCgovuk
should be ashamed. Since 2016 numerous tax experts have questioned the way in which this provision has been implemented and six years on the misery continues.
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It is not acceptable that when tax expert after tax expert has highlighted where HMRC is going wrong with the loan charge that they are simply ignored. And it is not acceptable that proposal after proposal from those experts are simply rejected.
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@HuddlestonNigel
It is almost 7 years since I first highlighted the coming catastrophe that would be the loan charge.
@HMRCgovuk
has largely alienated many who supported the policy of closing these schemes. The lack of consistent, fair, humane settlement terms has been shameful.
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Could someone give me an example of a private sector project delivered to the public sector that was on time, on budget, and worked as planned?
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The change to pension rules is just another example of the tax system being used to avoid the need to address the real structural issues affecting doctors and some others pensions.
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The error HMRC made with loan charge was in grossly underestimating how difficult it would be to resolve 50,000+ cases. How much this has cost HMRC since 2016 is anyone’s guess?
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It is not acceptable that deep pocket large businesses were allowed to settle the same schemes for a fraction of what was due, or that banks were offered a 50% deal, when thousands of individuals who could not pay at all have been hammered.
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@JolyonMaugham
@IcelandFoods
Tommy Robinson can spout whatever odious racist nonsense he likes and is defended in the name if free speech, Iceland speak up about habitat destruction, oh no can’t have that
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Amid all the speculation regarding IHT I shall offer you my best advice drawn from almost fifty years of tax experience. Worry about dying not about IHT, dying is the sad bit, the tax, that’s just money there is still plenty left.
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The hysterics we have seen in recent weeks at the mere prospect of tax increases and the curtailment of generous tax breaks to “non-doms” simply shows the extent to which we have held our tax base hostage to the wealthy. So far those leaving include two Robinson and a Mullins 👋
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To anyone who was unable to file their tax return on time, don’t panic. The important thing is to ensure any tax owing is paid within the next two weeks, if you can, or speak to HMRC to agree time to pay.
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Can anyone ever remember a time when a Leader of the Opposition received so much criticism for the failings of the actual Government?
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@TimesRadio
On £30,000 you have a fraction over £2,000 a month before travel costs/rent/mortgage/food/energy costs. In most of the U.K. you are just getting by, in the south you are not even doing that.
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If
@RishiSunak
is really serious about maths then he should boost financial education to teenage pupils leaving maths education per se to those who are really interested in it. People should not learn about tax in the pub or about pensions from some spiv looking to con them.
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20mph schemes exist for one reason and one reason only, to stop motorists destroying the lives of children and families. The difference in journey times is negligible and utterly irrelevant when compared to the lifetime of pain and grief road accidents can cause.
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Here is a three step plan to resolve the loan charge:
1. Decide it must be resolved
2. Decide you want to get it done
3. Do it
@HuddlestonNigel
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@TorstenBell
Sorry whilst I am sympathetic to the view expressed, we need to keep in mind that most pensioners will have contributed tax and NIC for 40 to 50 years and for many at higher income tax rates than exist today so it’s not right to say they will pay precisely nothing.
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The Minister explained how the wealthy started loan schemes and then they spread. It was disappointing that he did not acknowledge that the loan charge imposes liabilities greater than any wealthy person I know of and I have seen a lot in 25 years
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@andcoat
@MaldenSaboteur
@TheHirstComment
It also misses the somewhat obvious point that on both occasions we were utterly reliant upon allies, lots of allies, oh and their money lots of money
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@JamesCleverly
@trussliz
Be careful James, if you are fact checked you will find that a large number of such buildings are not owned by the Government, having been sold off so the Government pays to occupy them. Even some Whitehall buildings are now privately owned (in some cases by offshore companies)
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@DanNeidle
Actually I have a new one, I once responded to a Dan Neidle question not realising I would be disqualified 😂
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@Phillip639
@DavidOlusoga
Actually if you could drag your racist mind into listening to him and reading a bit more you might find that his work helps to move us forward. He is knowledgable, highly articulate and exudes charm with those he meets. He is a strong role model.
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@SebastianEPayne
@Laura_K_Hughes
@GeorgeWParker
We are moving in a direction where even the most law abiding are going to say enough. An independent judiciary is the most important part of our democracy, without it all is lost.
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@macmillancancer
heard today that my cancer has been successfully treated, no more surgery, no more chemo. Thanks to the amazing NHS. Whether it’s a “poo test”, breast exam or bollocks check, it’s always better than the alternative, do your tests 🤗
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Despite what we say, humans are incredible. Tonight I met my brother (long lost) for the first time in over 60 years. His life story is heartbreaking. And yet, he has Irelands largest collection of classical music. 10,000+ vinyl music. Bach is his favourite.
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Had HMRC agreed with the Government softer settlement terms they would have cleared up the majority of these cases, brought in much more tax revenue and avoided the ongoing saga that we all see. Doing so would also have freed up scarce HMRC resources to be used elsewhere.
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I am certain that very many taxpayers, especially those in the public eye would have given up, and been advised to give in, in the face of HMRC’s determination. The cost (in stress, time, and money) of this has been many times more than the tax at stake, it is time for reform.
“I should be feeling elated right now that they’ve finally, after ten years, called off the dogs. And do you know what? I just feel utterly, utterly beaten up and gaslit.”
Loose Women presenter
@kayeadams
on the tax case that left her feeling beaten ⬇️
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It is almost five years since I wrote to the Morse Review. It is hugely disappointing that so many of those involved look to blame everyone else and that
@hmtreasury
and
@HMRCgovuk
look to only blame them. It’s time to settle.
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@joymorrissey
I’m a pensioner who received winter fuel allowance, I gave it to Crisis and other charities. As long as those who need it are protected the change is fine by me.
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Some people seem to have some mythical idea about public sector pensions, just to be clear, if your pay sucks, your pension is much much worse and thousands of public sector workers have had years of stagnant low pay levels eroding their eventual pension even more.
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@loanchargeAPPG
“…measure is not expected to have a material impact on family formation, stability or breakdown.” In 2017 this should have been seen for what it was – complete nonsense…If the outcomes for many …were not so serious, you could laugh at the utter absurdity of these statements…”
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@taxbod
Just imagine how much better it would be if the tories had not appeased him and those like him over the past forty years.
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@PickardJE
And “24 hours in A&E used to be a television programme, now it’s Government policy!”
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When I first started working in London in the 1990s, the area around Waterloo station was a cardboard town with homeless from all over the UK. It’s not new and it’s certainly not the fault of migrants. It’s shameful we have a Home Secretary who is happy to feed such nonsense
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Ministers were prone to saying in the past that tax was “all about schools and hospitals”. Just think how quickly the NHS crisis and teachers pay dispute could be improved if everyone paid their tax on time. It’s not the taxman who loses, it’s all of us
@nadhimzahawi
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Congratulations to
@DanNeidle
for a tremendous year and being among the alternative honours recipients in the
@thetimes
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I have said in the past that the Taxes Management Act 1970 is not fit for purpose. In particular there are *no* rules by which
@HMRCgovuk
must notify a taxpayer that they are under enquiry after the 12 month statutory enquiry window has passed. No taxpayer should be in doubt.
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Almost six years ago I was criticised by a former colleague as being “overly aggressive”. With hindsight I was not aggressive enough. Government agencies should be subject to greater transparency.
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@mcauley_eoin
@JoeBeet
@bbclaurak
Well done for asking, too many think they know all this really complicated stuff
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Whilst I agreed entirely with how
@JimHarraHMRC
explained “innocent” and “careless”, there are too many examples of
@HMRCgovuk
refusing to accept that an error is innocent, or there was a reasonable excuse or a special circumstance. These are all statutory terms to protect t/ps.
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We need to change the debate on the regulation of tax advice. It focuses too much on day to day activities. But an effective coordinated regulatory structure that can hold bad, misleading or fraudulent tax advice to account does not exist either. Time for change
@carolvorders
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@Paul_Ilett
Who is old enough to remember when few people (that you knew) had a telephone or a bathroom or a proper kitchen or a car or a whole host of things we take for granted these days.
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@ayeshahazarika
Or even two, we could also insist that the flags of England, Wales and Scotland should have an image of Nigel at their centre ditto replace the crown on a pint glass. A ban any suggestion that he is as much part of the elite he criticises. Even then it would not be enough.
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Under the settlement opportunity offered to larger businesses, the company paid a fraction of the PAYE and NIC and the employees paid zero. The employees could then take the entire trust fund tax free and typically the employer received a corporation tax refund.
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The real question is not whether getting rid of inheritance tax is a good or bad idea.
The real question you need to ask is who pays more tax to make up the £5bn+ tax lost if it is scrapped?
It is almost certain to be someone who would never have paid inheritance tax, ever.
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@RichardJMurphy
@wesstreeting
Dear Richard, I don’t know if I am just getting old, but nothing I have read or heard suggests to me that there is any intention to “break the NHS”. Plainly how we restore public confidence involves different challenges to when the NHS was created.
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@JudithFreedman
Some years ago I acted for another TV personality, HMRC’s behaviour was outrageous throughout even throwing in a fatuous accusation of fraud in a hopeless attempt to preserve time limits. IR35 should have been reformed years ago, on the ground it’s even worse than people think.
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All of HMRC’s eggs are put in the tax avoidance basket with other important responsibilities suffering as a result. Until that changes and the scope of HMRC’s LSS approach is significantly reduced, you can increase resources as much as you like, nothing will change.
“HMRC is routinely outgunned by the private sector...because the minute you go against someone who’s rich, they can lawyer up and drag things out. HMRC are outmatched … particularly when it comes to the professional enablers and facilitators.”
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It’s not quite Avengers Assemble but it is there for any former sub-postmaster/mistress who is stressed about their tax position
@rbeccabeneworth
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@loanchargeAPPG
@LCAG_2019
@LC_Impact
@DrOsitaMba
@gregwrightYP
Four years ago and this still drags on causing misery. It is past time it was resolved on a fair basis.
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For decades the Government has refused to integrate the State pension system with the tax system. For years
@TaxAidUK
and
@taxhelp4
have had to help many of those suffering significant stress as a result but there is more help needed. It’s long past time for change
@Jeremy_Hunt
Tens of thousands of pensioners whohave no income but the state pension may get an unexpected tax demand from HMRC as their pension rises but the personal tax allowance stays frozen
@stevewebb1
of LCP and former pensions minister explains
@Moneybox
noon
@BBCRadio4
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@Jeremy_Hunt
calling again for
@HMRCgovuk
to introduce an overall settlement offer to users of all tax scheme to clear up the huge backlog and get the cash in. This would also free up HMRC resource and allow tens of thousands to get on with life and business. It’s time.
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What is truly astonishing, I mean truly astonishing, is that every single Conservative Minister and MP is talking as though someone else has been in power since 2010.
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When a media personality with over 1 million followers descibes
@HMRCgovuk
as “the department of thievery”, whatever it is, it’s not good!
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@armcmb
@campaignforleo
@AlbertoNardelli
Brexit has nothing to do with freedom, it's about being small and inward
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This is bothersome
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So to summarise, the Government has introduced democracy threatening laws to crack down on non-existent crime whilst women and girls are not safe walking on our streets even, in some places, from policemen. Have I got that right?
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@CutMyTaxUK
Just the usual reminder of how selective you are with your data, why don’t you add all State taxes, property taxes, healthcare costs (spoiler almost £10k average per year)?
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Dear
@HMRCgovuk
this is a nonsense. A Tribunal hearing with all the required appeal proceedings for a £200 Child Benefit tax penalty. Here is what you should do, suspend first offence penalties and issue educational material
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If you said that the Government was going to rough up a veteran of World War 2, Korea, Suez, the Falkland War, and the Gulf war there would be outrage. That’s what the BBC is.
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As 31st January draws to a close a big well done to all the tax advisers without whom the Government would have to spend a great deal more on making the most basic aspect of UK tax system function. Quite simply tens of thousands of taxpayers would be lost without you.
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Perhaps they should have asked him to say whether HMT have been dealing “sensitively and flexibly with HMRC” in relation to the loan charge? Based upon various discussions I have had with both, I am not persuaded they are.
HM Treasury Permanent Secretary James Bowler defended
@HMRCgovuk
's handling of
#LoanCharge
cases, telling a U.K. parliamentary committee that HMRC is “trying to deal sensitively and flexibly” with affected taxpayers.
@santhiegoundar
explains:
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Another case in which HMRC takes ordinary words (in their relevant context) and drags a case through the Tribunal. Further evidence of
@HMRCgovuk
unwillingness to ever accept that it is wrong, depressing.
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My good friend
@hselftax
some years ago challenged MPs to say whether they completed their own tax returns. Publishing their tax returns only goes so far, there should be enhanced due diligence on an MPs tax and financial affairs increasing as they become more senior.
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Just a reminder that no one should worry at all about Inheritance Tax. Worry about you or your family and friends dying, that’s the sad bit.
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Great news tax peeps
@mrjamesob
is discussing Capital Gains Tax right now on
@LBC
, what could go wrong!
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@Dannythefink
If they do blame Truss for the next 13 years and 360 days it will still be 5 days short of the time the tories have blamed Labour for pretty much everything including somehow voting against the 80 seat majority Government so preventing it achieving anything.
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@tomstocktontees
I was in Spain for the past week, shopping was cheaper and no shortages, eating out was cheaper, having drinks was cheaper and don’t get me started about public transport including taxis! “Lied to” does not go far enough.
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Years ago I said that all parts of the tax system contributed to the loan charge mess,
@DanNeidle
short history of loan schemes highlights the fact that had, in 2004, the Special Commissioners adapted a more realistic view of the facts in “Dextra” loan schemes were done.
And I should link to our full report. All sources and evidence included, together with legal analysis/references
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@IainDale
@DavidGauke
@maxatkinson
Dear God Iain I regard you as a first class radio conversationalist but I am astonished at this comment, the leading Brexiters have done nothing but tell us that we hold all the cards and the EU will give us all we want. IDS still does and Gove still drones on about opportunities
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@theweeflea
@jk_rowling
@nytimes
Oh it’s in the Daily Mail, phew that’s okay then, I thought for a moment that Brexit had screwed us all but that beacon of journalism knows a fake when it sees it
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@PeterMatza
@lionelbarber
@piersmorgan
@FT
You know full well that only a few of the 17m are rabid leavers who lied and misled, state a good reason to leave that works on a net basis?
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@mentalmal1
@JolyonMaugham
@GoodLawProject
It’s the essential essence of democracy that the people can overturn a decision of the people. I would have expected a leaver to understand these basic concepts, no?
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@hselftax
@JudithFreedman
2. There are some in HMRC who prefer a punishment strategy which is naive and lacks humility given the fact that every aspect of the tax system contributed to this mess
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They can’t really respond but I would bet that many Civil Servants could give example after example of working really hard (and well) to deliver less than “clear steers” from Ministers only to find that it’s replaced by another now “clear steer” that is shortly after junked.
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Great to see Labour take a serious step towards involving experienced tax experts and others who have seen the tax world from inside and out right from the start of their policy development
@BillDodwellTax
@edwardtroup
@MTBracken
@margarethodge
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@Darwen_QPR
@qprmicky
@EUflagmafia
@fosstuff
Urgent Brexit alert, destination now 13th Century not 19th as previously planned repeat 13th Century. Incidentally I bet you haven't!
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It is not part of a Minister’s role to rebuke or threaten a junior Civil Servant. That is why there are senior Civil Servants. The Minister should/must discuss failings or frustrations with the senior Civil Servant. Otherwise the management structure is usurped.
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Being a tax adviser is like standing at a bus stop, if you wait long enough you see them same bus coming round the corner, small companies rate!
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@Samfr
During some of which Rees-Mogg has been encouraging the idea that Civil Servants are slackers.
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This is the last day for submitting your self-assessment tax return online. If, for whatever reason you can’t, try to pay any tax you owe or might owe. You are likely to avoid a late payment penalty if you contact HMRC to agree extra time to pay no later than today.
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