Final HMRC warning to Swiss bank account holders

Accountancy Live: British holders of Swiss-based bank accounts are being urged to pay any tax due, or face an HMRC probe and potential penalties of up to 150% of the taxes owed.

Full story: http://www.accountancylive.com/croner/jsp/Editorial.do?channelId=-601014&contentId=2386106

Private Client/Family Team of the Year: Harbottle & Lewis

Legal Week: Harbottle & Lewis sealed the prize for Private Client/Family Team of the Year after successfully proving to the judges that it has adapted its practice around this rapidly-evolving area of law. The firm has a strong traditional private client practice, covering areas such as divorce, private wealth and tax, as well as acting as the chosen advisers for several high net worth individuals including the Royal Family, David and Victoria Beckham, and Roman Abramovich.

Full story: http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/2231850/private-client-family-team-of-the-year-harbottle-lewis?WT.rss_f=Home&WT.rss_a=Private+Client%2FFamily+Team+of+the+Year%3A+Harbottle+%26+Lewis

Tax evasion costs Greece 5 percent of GDP - EU tax chief

Reuters: Greece could generate budget revenues amounting to 5 percent of national output annually if it reforms tax collection and clamps down on tax cheats, the European Union's tax chief told a Greek newspaper.

Full story: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/16/uk-greece-taxation-idUKBRE8BE0C120121216

Fiscal cliff: Republican offered to 'increase tax rates'

The Telegraph: Republicans offered to increase tax rates on earners above $1m (£620,000), it has emerged, as talks with the White House continued over how to avoid America falling off the fiscal cliff.

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/9748544/Fiscal-cliff-Republican-offered-to-increase-tax-rates.html

Channel Islands rebuff UK's FATCA-style plans

LowTax.net: Jersey and Guernsey have released a joint statement indicating that they will not sign an enhanced Tax Information Exchange Agreement with British authorities unless the UK's proposed Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)-style initiative targets global adoption.

Full story: http://www.lowtax.net/asp/story/front/Channel_Islands_Rebuff_UKs_FATCAStyle_Plans____58771.html

Actor Depardieu hits back at French PM over tax exile

Reuters: Actor Gerard Depardieu, accused by French government leaders of trying to dodge taxes by buying a house over the border in Belgium, retorted that he was leaving because "success" was now being punished in his homeland.

Full story: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/16/uk-france-depardieu-exile-idUKBRE8BF05H20121216