News & Insights

As anticipated, the Government has now implemented promised reforms to sanctions affecting late filing of Tax Returns and late payments. Initially, the reforms apply to VAT and Income Tax Self-Assessment. Tim Thompson and John Veale of Kangs Solicitors outline the reforms.

The GMC receives complaints or concerns about many doctors and will investigate those which raise issues about a doctor’s ability to practise safely or which may threaten public confidence in the medical profession.

In this third article commenting upon new provisions contained within The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (‘the Act’), Helen Holder of Kangs Solicitors considers sexual offences committed against young people by those considered to be in a ‘Position of Trust’.

Further to our article posted to this website on 8 July 2022 entitled Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (‘the Act’) Helen Holder of Kangs Solicitors now considers section 3 of the Act, known as Harper’s Law, which commenced on 28 June 2022.

Whilst HMRC enjoys total discretion as to whether or not to pursue a criminal prosecution in circumstances considered appropriate, it may, alternatively, pursue an investigation using Code of Practice 9 (‘COP9’). The service of a COP9 letter provides the recipient with the opportunity to make a complete disclosure of all the activity, deliberate or otherwise, that has led to the suspicion of tax irregularities. Should HMRC thereafter consider that the recipient of the COP9 letter has failed to make full and accurate disclosure, criminal proceedings may then be commenced. John Veale of Kangs Solicitors outlines the COP9 procedure.

In circumstances where HMRC considers that a taxpayer is failing to provide appropriate co-operation by way of information or documentation, Schedule 36 of the Finance Act 2008 provides for the issue of a formal legal notice, commonly known as an ‘Information Notice’. Such Information Notice requires a taxpayer to provide information or to produce a document when reasonably required by HMRC for the purpose of checking the taxpayer’s tax position. John Veale of Kangs Solicitors comments upon the operation of such Notices.