Why is HMRC staff morale so low?

Last month the Treasury Select Committee published a rather impressive report, Administration and Expenditure in the Chancellor’s Departments 2008-09, in which it expressed serious concerns about low morale and a lack of efficiency at HMRC. The report notes that: “HMRC has an ambitious transformation programme to improve its efficiency involving a reduction in the number [...]

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Prediction: CGT rate will increase to 50% this year

I rarely make predictions but this one seems so obvious and I’m disappointed at the way the CGT ‘elephant in the room’ is being ignored by other commentators. Until the Chancellor’s announcement in his 2007 Pre-Budget Report the main rate of capital gains tax (CGT) was linked to the top rate of income tax. At [...]

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Tory tax plans discriminate against sole traders and partnerships

Last Sunday George Osborne explained in a TV interview how the Tories plan to fund the reductions in corporation tax they have promised. During the Andrew Marr show Mr Osborne initially stated that the reductions in the rate of corporation tax would be paid for by the “abolition of some complex reliefs”. When pressed however, [...]

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Is permanent residence different to domicile?

Back in March 2000, Lord Ashcroft undertook: “to take up permanent residence in the UK again before the end of this calendar year.” Many people assumed this meant that he would cease to retain his non dom status. In fact as all half decent tax advisers will tell you there is an enormous difference between [...]

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Non dom MPs – how difficult is it to change the law?

Top Tory donor and party chairman Lord Ashcroft has revealed he is still a “non-dom” but says he will at last give up that status. Leaving aside all the political mud-slinging about the timing of Lord Ashcroft’s announcement I was intrigued by something I heard Justice Secretary Jack Straw say on the subject. He was [...]

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