Anyone who has had a tax investigation or enquiry will probably be hopping mad about the amount of time it took up and the potential costs involved.

I read a great article in The Sunday Times this week by Nick Morgan a journalist who had a tax enquiry into his own affairs.

You can read about his case on his website www.tax-hell.co.uk it has some very useful information for anyone (including tax professionals) involved with tax investigations and enquiries. 

His case is simply the tip of the iceberg. He is certainly not alone. HMRC however simply do not seem to care. HMRC has little respect for taxpayers and business of the UK.

HMRC also has such a shocking lack of understanding about how businesses work and the level of red tape and regulations they now have to cope with. 

Today I am dealing with a case where HMRC would love to effectively shut a business down simply because they are in the building trade and paid one months PAYE late and paid their Corporation Tax a little late. HMRC will of charged them 8% late payment charge but this is not sufficient compensation for HMRC they would also like to write to all the customers of this business basically saying the company is a bit naughty and therefore we will be withdrawing the gross paying CIS certificate.  I am clearly appealling this one all the way. When HMRC behave so madly you just have to fight them all the way.

As a consequence it is possible that around 50 plus people could be out of a job and a profitable business paying lots of tax will be crushed.  A business that has paid ALL it's tax and on time the vast majority of the time for a good number of years, a regular reasable sized non troublesome "customer" of HMRC. Tax madness and HMRC and the Government gone totally potty.

In another case I am appealing a seperate case where HMRC want over £1000 in fines for late NIL CIS monthly returns. This is simply unreasonable.

The logic of this government and HMRC is simply astounding and beggers belief. It is a tax world gone mad.

When a new member of staff starts at HM Revenue & Customs the first thing they are passed is a stick.

The team leader when asked what this is for then replies. "Look in this job we beat taxpayers with a stick if they make ANY mistakes, no matter how small use the stick and use it well, and don't hesitate to use it".

"But what about helping taxpayers?" asks the new trainee...

"Help... don't be stupid why would we want to waste time doing that. There is more MONEY to be made with the stick and you will get no thanks or praise from me for helping but you will be rewarded for stick useage....the better the beating the better the rewards..."