Manches and Penningtons in advanced merger talks to create £60m firm

The Lawyer: Manches is close to sealing a merger with private client firm Penningtons in a move that would create a £60m firm of roughly 250 lawyers.

Full story: http://www.thelawyer.com/analysis/the-lawyer-management/financial-news/revealed-manches-and-penningtons-in-advanced-merger-talks-to-create-60m-firm/3009952.article

Osborne’s Swiss tax raid revealed as £2bn flop

Citywire: Chancellor George Osborne's highly-publicised targeting of wealth held in Swiss bank accounts has raised £2 billion less than hoped, according to figures from HM Revenue & Customs.

Full story: http://www.citywire.co.uk/new-model-adviser/osborne-s-swiss-tax-raid-revealed-as-2bn-flop/a704644?ref=new-model-adviser-latest-news-list

HMRC adds tax evasion and avoidance policy update

Accountancy Live: HMRC has added a new campaigns section to its policy detail on ‘Reducing tax evasion and avoidance’.

Full story: http://www.accountancylive.com/croner/jsp/Editorial.do?channelId=-601014&contentId=2758590

Crowe Clark Whitehill finds a new home in Mayfair

Crowe Clark Whitehill: National accountancy firm Crowe Clark Whitehill’s Mayfair office is moving to a stylish new address to better accommodate its team and their clientele.

Full story: http://www.crowehorwath.net/UK/news/Crowe_Clark_Whitehill_finds_a_new_home_in_Mayfair.aspx

HMRC signals tough stance in tax avoidance cases

Accountancy Live: HMRC has set out its policy on witholding repayment claims in tax avoidance cases, saying its new guidelines are designed to stop tax avoiders from acquiring an advantage over those who do not seek to get around the rules.

Full story: http://www.accountancylive.com/croner/jsp/Editorial.do?channelId=-601043&contentId=2749366

Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner to plead guilty to tax evasion

Daily Telegraph: The creator of the popular Beanie Babies plush toys became the latest American to face tax evasion charges after Swiss bank UBS began cooperating with US prosecutors.

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10318657/Beanie-Babies-creator-Ty-Warner-to-plead-guilty-to-tax-evasion.html

Asia set to house most of the world's super-rich

BBC News: The rich are getting richer, and in the coming years, most of them will be residing in Asia.

Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24121690

City Tax-Avoiders 'Laughing At Families' Says Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Philips

Huffington Post: High-flying City workers who avoid their taxes laugh at ordinary families who pay their fair share, a Liberal Democrat peer has claimed.

Full story: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/16/tax-avoiders-liberal-democrats_n_3935958.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

Do Lib Dems plan to tax £50k earners or not? Chaos reigns

The Week: Lib Dems' Danny Alexander says wealthy must bear more of burden – but what does 'wealthy' mean?

Full story: http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/55163/do-lib-dems-plan-tax-50k-earners-or-not-chaos-reigns?

Forsters announces strategic partner hire

Private Client Adviser: Rosalyn Breedy, founding partner of niche private wealth practice BreedyHenderson, is joining Forsters to add a financial services capability and reinforce the firm's link between its corporate and private client practices.

Full story: http://www.privateclientadviser.co.uk/news/financial-planning/forsters-announces-strategic-partner-hire

Lib Dem conference: Nick Clegg narrowly wins 45p/50p tax vote

The Spectator: It was so close that they had to count the votes in the conference hall, and even then, the Liberal Democrats only backed Nick Clegg on retaining the 45p tax above a return to the 50p rate by four little votes – 224 in favour of the 45p, and 220 in favour of the 50p. 

Full story: http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2013/09/lib-dem-conference-nick-clegg-narrowly-wins-45p50p-tax-vote/?

ib Dem 'cock-up' as email released on plan to hike taxes on £50,000 salaries

The Guardian: Policy of raising taxes for 'richest 10% … those earning over £50,000' denied by Liberal Democrats after email gaffe.

Full story: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/16/lib-dem-email-plan-hike-taxes?

Mansion tax will be 'die in a trench' policy, Nick Clegg suggests

Daily Telegraph: Taxing the rich will be a policy the Liberal Democrats are prepared to “die in a trench” for during future coalition negotiations, Nick Clegg has hinted.

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nick-clegg/10310489/Mansion-tax-will-be-die-in-a-trench-policy-Nick-Clegg-suggests.html

MHA MacIntyre Hudson in partner and director hires

Accountancy Age: Two partners have been appointed by MHA MacIntyre Hudson to strengthen its tax practice across London and the Midlands.

Full story: http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/2294543/mha-macintyre-hudson-in-partner-and-director-hires?

HMRC tax adviser quits after Panorama exposé

Evening Standard: David Heaton, an HMRC tax adviser, has stepped down after being recorded by the BBC's Panorama programme, as part of a joint investigation with Private Eye, outlining the advantages of tax planning, which he said included ways to keep the money from George Osborne's "grubby mitts".

Full story: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/hmrc-tax-adviser-quits-after-panorama-expos-8816599.html

G20 to share tax information by 2015

BBC News: G20 members say they expect to begin automatically sharing tax information by the end of 2015.

Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23994488

Swiss bankers admit responsibility for reputational damage

STEP Journal: The Swiss banking industry has made a frank apology for its past actions in helping international clients evade taxes.

Full story: http://www.step.org/swiss-bankers-admit-responsibility-reputational-damage

The $400m recluse, her nurse and heiress and a battle of wills

Daily Telegraph: Barring a last-minute legal settlement, the remarkable story of Huguette Clark will soon be played out in a New York courtroom – where 19 distant kin are pursuing the fortune of a woman whom most have never met.

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10293694/The-400m-recluse-her-nurse-and-heiress-and-a-battle-of-wills.html

Bill to publish tax returns of UK’s richest 250 debated today

Information Daily: The commons debated a bill proposed by Labour MP Michael Meacher today that would make the tax returns of the country’s 250 richest companies and individuals public.

Full story: http://www.theinformationdaily.com/2013/09/06/bill-to-publish-tax-returns-of-uks-richest-250-debated-today?

Probate revenues aid struggling Co-operative

STEP: Higher than expected revenues from probate services have helped the Co-operative Group's fledgling legal services business increase its half-year sales by GBP1 million.

Full story: http://www.step.org/probate-revenues-aid-struggling-co-operative

Clarke Willmott scoops Challinors teams

Private Client Adviser: Clarke Willmott has snapped up ten employees from Challinors, the Midlands-based law firm that entered administration last week.

Full story: http://www.privateclientadviser.co.uk/news/legal-practice/clarke-willmott-scoops-challinors-teams

Russell-Cooke adds to private client practice

Private Client Adviser: Rebecca Fisher has joined Russell-Cooke as its eighth partner, moving fromMorrisons Solicitors, where she was head of private client Wimbledon and deputy head of private client firm-wide.

Full story: http://www.privateclientadviser.co.uk/news/tax/russell-cooke-adds-private-client-practice

Swiss banks apologise for assisting tax cheats

Reuters: Switzerland's banks on Tuesday issued an unusually direct apology for their role in helping tax cheats, following a landmark settlement with U.S. authorities which could threaten the existence of some firms.

Full story: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/swiss-banks-apologise-assisting-tax-cheats-111958586--finance.html?#cx5fcAx

Isle of Man confirms tax information exchange from 2014

Accountancy Live: The Isle of Man government will officially sign up to international agreements on the automatic exchange of tax information by the start of next year.

Full story: http://www.accountancylive.com/croner/jsp/Editorial.do?channelId=-601043&contentId=2729595

100,000 London families 'would be paying mansion tax by 2023'

Evening Standard: Tens of thousands of London families will face mansion tax bills averaging nearly £2,000 a month if the levy is brought in, research claims today.

Full story: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/100000-london-families-would-be-paying-mansion-tax-by-2023-8794623.html

Speechly launches second Switzerland base in Geneva

Legal Week: Speechly Bircham has opened an office in Geneva today (2 September), ahead of the planned launch of another European office this November.

Full story: http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/2291999/speechly-launches-second-switzerland-base-in-geneva?wt.mc_ev=click&WT.tsrc=Email&utm_term=&utm_content=Speechly%20launches%20second%20Switzerland%20base%20in%20Geneva&utm_campaign=News%20Alert%20-%202%20September&utm_source=Daily&utm_medium=Email

Baker Tilly vote result on RSM Tenon merger announcement today

Accountancy Age: Baker Tilly will make an announcement today on whether or not the planned pre-pack buyout of listed firm RSM Tenon will go ahead.

Full story: http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/2292018/baker-tilly-vote-result-on-rsm-tenon-merger-announcement-today?