Promotions: ​Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth

Law Society Gazette: Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth has made two promotions with Nick Rucker being appointed national head of Tax, Trusts & Estates and George Merrylees being promoted to partner.

Full story: https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/movers/promotions-irwin-mitchell-private-wealth/5063262.article

EU tax haven blacklist talks brought forward

International Adviser: A European Union blacklist of tax havens will move a step closer to reality on Tuesday when the member states’ finance ministers meet to discuss plans to tackle offshore tax avoidance.

Full story: https://international-adviser.com/eu-tax-haven-blacklist-talks-brought-forward/

GRANT THORNTON MAKES SENIOR PRIVATE CLIENT APPOINTMENTS

Insider Media Ltd: Two senior appointments have been made to the expanding private client team at the Cambridge office of business advisory firm Grant Thornton.

Full story: https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/central-and-east/grant-thornton-makes-senior-private-client-appointments

One of Britain's richest men inherits billions and avoids paying inheritance taxes

The Independent: The Duke of Westminster, one of the richest men in Britian, reportedly inherited the bulk of his father's £8.3bn fortune without having to pay a penny in death duties.

Full story: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/duke-of-westminster-son-avoids-inheritance-tax-billions-britains-richest-men-family-trusts-rules-a7998246.html 

HMRC prosecutes 1,135 tax offenders

ICAEW: HMRC has issued 1,135 prosecutions for tax offences last year, Thomson Reuters has revealed.  The Revenue exceeded its target of 1,000 prosecutions in 2015/16, placing emphasis on investigating tax evasions among businesses more than wealthy individuals.

Full story: http://economia.icaew.com/en/news/september-2017/hmrc-prosecutes-1135-tax-offenders

UK solicitors are warned that assisting tax avoidance may now be misconduct or even illegal

STEP: The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has instructed all solicitors to comply with the Code of Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation (PCRT) drawn up by the accountancy profession.

Full story: http://www.step.org/news/uk-solicitors-are-warned-assisting-tax-avoidance-may-now-be-misconduct-or-even-illegal