HMRC bowled over after three more tribunal wins against tax avoidance

Accountancy Age: HMRC has secured a hat-trick of tribunal wins against tax avoidance schemes, protecting over £260m in tax. 

Full story: http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/2401984/hmrc-bowled-over-after-three-more-tribunal-wins-against-tax-avoidance

Existing UK codes of conduct are adequate protection against aggressive tax planning, says industry

STEP: Professional bodies have responded cautiously to the government's request for tighter regulatory supervision of tax and accountancy practitioners.

Full story: http://www.step.org/existing-uk-codes-conduct-are-adequate-protection-against-aggressive-tax-planning-says-industry

New Swiss-EU treaty will replace Savings Tax Agreement

STEP: Switzerland has signed an agreement to exchange bank account information automatically with the European Union within three years.

Full story: http://www.step.org/new-swiss-eu-treaty-will-replace-savings-tax-agreement

UK wealthy failing to plan for IHT, says Canada Life International

International Adviser: Less than one tenth of wealthy UK citizens have sought advice for inheritance tax planning, putting their families at risk of a large tax bill when they die.

Full story: http://www.international-adviser.com/news/tax-regulation/uk-wealthy-failing-to-plan-for-iht?

Former HMRC boss Dave Hartnett forced to defend new job – with HSBC

The Independent: The former boss of HM Revenue & Customs told MPs that the fact that only one of HSBC’s Swiss account holders had been prosecuted for tax evasion was “a miserable result”.

Full story: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/former-hmrc-boss-dave-hartnett-forced-to-defend-new-job-with-hsbc-10129195.html

Tax disclosure opportunities to close early

Solicitors Journal: The government is successfully making it extremely difficult to hide undeclared funds from HMRC. All existing tax disclosure opportunities will be closed by the end of 2015 instead of 2016, as the government continues its relentless drive to quash tax evasion.

Full story: http://www.solicitorsjournal.com/news/commercial/tax/22238/tax-disclosure-opportunities-close-early