by Mike Lewis | Nov 26, 2025
Budget’s third-largest tax pledge relies on UK tax authority that is suffering from recruitment delays and unfinished IT systems Just 26 of 6,700 extra compliance/debt staff promised by Chancellor are so far in post Decision to retain tax on digital...
by Mike Lewis | Sep 6, 2025
Now that the Ethics Adviser’s report is in on the Rt Hon Angela Rayner’s tax error, one thing is clear: tax advice is complicated. Because the tax system is complicated, and life is complicated. Although there’s no suggestion that the firms in this case...
by Chris White | Jul 18, 2025
New powers against ‘enablers’ – those who design and enable aggressive tax avoidance and evasion – are back on the table once again. But new figures show that existing powers are still not being used. A report published by the Public Accounts Committee...
by Mike Lewis | May 23, 2025
Previously we found that HMRC is hardly using powers to investigate, penalise and publicise tax advisers who enable tax abuse. Here we look at why these powers aren’t being used: a barrage of legal roadblocks; and holding back on naming and shaming. *** When tax...
by Mike Lewis | May 14, 2025
The government wants to step up the fight against enablers of tax abuse (again). New powers and better information can help. But HMRC is barely using some of the powers and penalties it already has. *** Laws that aren’t enforced are simply polite recommendations....
by Simon Watkins | Mar 6, 2025
Executive Summary The UK tax advice market operates with minimal regulation, creating significant risks for both taxpayers and HMRC. Anyone can establish themselves as a tax adviser regardless of qualifications or competence, as illustrated by the R&D tax relief...