In this episode of Taxing Matters, we are joined by Jeremy Johnson, managing director of inTAX Limited.  Jeremy helps clients to manage and resolve HMRC enquiries, and disclosures. Prior to joining inTAX six years ago, Jeremy worked in the tax disputes and investigations team at PwC and Grant Thornton, and before that was an inspector of taxes at HMRC.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Taxing Matters, we discuss the hot topic of financial health, wellbeing and confidence. We are currently experiencing a challenging economic climate and any guidance on this important topic is very welcome.  To talk us through this subject and provide some practical guidance we are delighted to be joined by Ruth Handock, who is the CEO of Octopus Money, and Ali Poulton, who is a practising financial coach and who now works as a head coach, training and mentoring other coaches across the Octopus Money team.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Taxing Matters, we are handing over the podcast baton and introducing our new host Alexis Armitage, who is a Senior Associate in RPC's Tax Disputes Team. We couldn’t think of any better way to say our final goodbyes to the fabulous Alice other than by putting her in the hot seat to discuss the topic of the moment, sanctions.  Alice  is an employed barrister at RPC who specialises in sanctions and fraud investigations and litigation conducted by the various UK regulatory bodies.   She has advised financial institutions, corporates and charities on the sanctions impacts of transactions particularly those involving the complex sectoral and trade sanctions regimes, advised on the application of export control provisions to international trade and assisted with queries around listing and delisting of individuals under the UK, EU and UN sanctions regimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the things that becomes clear over the course of one's career is that enforcement trends are important for businesses to be aware of. It is important to notice, not just the macro trends like sanctions compliance and fraud enforcement, but also smaller trends; campaigns against particular tax risks and the relegation of certain information gathering powers to relative obscurity. In this episode of Taxing Matters, we discuss the rise in one of the smaller trends, the resurgence of the use of the VAT security provisions. These provisions aren't new, but they are experiencing an upswing and can have far reaching consequences for businesses, and a number of traps for the unwary.  Joining us is Joshua Carey, an expert tax barrister at recognised repository of tax excellence, Devereux Chambers. Josh, who was recently named a Rising Star by legal directory, the Legal 500, specialises in tax, public and judicial review, commercial litigation, civil and criminal fraud, and business crime - and did we mention tax?  Josh gives us his top tips for making sure you know what to do – and not do – if you're faced with a VAT security notice.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered about the language we use when we talk about tax? And does that language influence or betray how we feel about tax as individuals or as a society? It turns out it is a hot topic of discussion.  In this episode of Taxing Matters, we are delighted to be joined by Kirstie Skates, founder of “Illume Linguistics”. Illume Linguistics are a team of linguistics experts who specialise in using techniques from language science to analyse organisational customer and community discourse. Their focus is on identifying the underlying assumptions and gaps in understanding that get in the way of effective communication between organisations and the people they want to connect with.  Kirstie has worked in the field of organisational and individual behaviour change for over 20 years and has always been fascinated by the power of language to reveal people's beliefs about themselves, others, and the world around them.  We discuss, in this episode of Taxing Matters, Kirstie's recent research paper - published in December last year - on the fascinating topic of how tax is framed by the private client industry and linguistic analysis which was commissioned by the “Good Ancestor Movement”. ReferencesDecember 2022 Report by Kirstie Skates- How is tax framed by the private client industry? Good Ancestor Movement who commissioned the workhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/good-ancestor-movement/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As questions of economic resource allocation push to the forefront of the national consciousness there has been a rise in the number of people calling for either new taxes or wholesale tax reform. This has been mirrored by the increase in lobby groups such as Patriotic Millionaires UK a lobby group of high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals who feel that they should be doing more. There are also a number of groups who are calling for a lower upper tax bracket in order to stimulate the economy. In this episode of Taxing Matters, we discuss wealth tax and whether such a tax should be introduced? We are delighted to be joined by Dr Ben Tippet. Ben is a lecturer in economics based at the Institute of Political Economy Governance, Finance and Accountability at the University of Greenwich and author of the thought provoking book 'Split Class Divides Uncovered'. Ben’s research focuses on pertinent questions around wealth inequality, housing, debt and political economy. He has been published in the Guardian, Opened Democracy and the BBC World Service.ReferencesRevenue potential of UK wealth taxImpact of wealth tax on investment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know the benefits which networking and creating a supportive space in which to learn and ask questions can bring to our individual practices. Today we want to highlight one of the award-winning networks which is helping to develop networking opportunities within tax together with the benefits it can bring as highlighted by two of its amazing committee members. In this episode of Taxing Matters, we discuss the Women in Tax network and the benefits it can bring for all professionals. We are joined by its Chair Tasneem Kadiri and Events Committee Member, Alexis Armitage.In addition to putting her excellent organisational skills to use for the Women in Tax network, Alexis is also a solicitor in RPC's Tax, Financial Crime and Regulatory team, where she specialises in advising both individuals and corporate clients on a broad range of contentious tax issues involving direct and indirect taxes. Tasneem is a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor with experience in both practice and industry. Currently, in addition to chairing Women in Tax, Tasneem is responsible for managing all the UK and Ireland tax affairs for L'Oréal.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For international women's day we have produced a special episode of our Taxing Matters podcast, in which we discuss macro trends in ESG and gender diversity at work, the meso-level changes within organisations and the micro changes on a personal level talking through trends in ESG. Did we lose momentum during Covid? Do we still have the emphasis in the right places? And what can each of us do to shift the dial? We are joined by Kelly Thomson and Phoebe Waters who talk about moving the dial – making a change in your own behaviour that helps to create overall change at an organisational or societal level.Phoebe is a Chair of Female Fraud Forum, delegate to the United Nations' Commission on the Status of Women and visiting lecturer on gender equality at Cambridge University Kelly is a partner in RPC's Employment, Engagement and Equality team. She leads RPC's ESG strategy and is a co-host of the equality podcast The Fix, with Michelle King.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whilst different tax systems try to reach similar outcomes, they often achieve that via different routes and by applying different methodologies, but what do you need to bear in mind when considering UK and US cross-border matters? In this episode of Taxing Matters, we are joined by Alex Jones and Graeme Privett, who share their insights and views on how the US and UK are less similar than people might think and how this could lead well-meaning taxpayers into avoidable difficulties. Alex and Graeme are both Partner's at Rawlinson & Hunter. Alex has 30 years experience in US and UK personal tax, providing complex planning and assistance to high-net-worth individuals whilst Graham advises on a wide range of personal tax issues for both UK and non-UK domiciled individuals.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taking the witness stand can be challenging and nerve-wracking; more persuasive evidence is likely to be given when a witness has properly prepared for the occasion.  In this episode of Taxing Matters, we demystify witness familiarisation and what is permitted by the tax tribunals and the courts with Dr Penny Cooper. Dr Penny Cooper is a barrister who provides a specialist witness familiarisation and preparation service. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Taxing Matters, we discuss the role of R&D tax relief, how to qualify for the relief, how to stay compliant, some common abuses of the system and some of the recently proposed reforms.  We are joined by Sarah Scala, Head of Tax Dispute Resolution, and Caroline Walton, Head of Innovation Relief, at Claritas Tax.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should you do if your crypto is stolen? If you've invested in cryptocurrency your investment can be an increasing target for fraud, and it can be difficult to recover funds when this happens. In this episode of Taxing Matters, we discuss practical steps to take if your crypto has been stolen, recent crypto fraud case studies, search and seizure orders and enforcement for crypto assets with Chris Whitehouse.Chris Whitehouse is a senior associate at RPC who advises on crypto-related disputes. Show referencesCFAAR's Group  The legal landscape of crypto fraudBlockchain: Revolutionary technology… or the perfect opportunity for fraudsters  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of an investigation? In this episode of Taxing Matters, we discuss the role of the investigator in asset tracing, how they support clients and add value, and some common misconceptions about the traditional image of investigators, with Phoebe Waters. Phoebe is an asset tracing specialist and Chair of the Female Fraud Forum. She is also a champion of women in the industry. Winner of Management Today’s 35 Women under 35 2021.   References·                The Female Fraud Forum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tax gap refers to the difference between the amount of tax that should, in theory, be paid to HMRC, and what is actually paid. To help narrow this gap, HMRC has been granted a number of powers over the years, including those aimed at tackling tax avoidance. The Finance Act 2022 provided HMRC with additional powers to enable it to proactively clamp down on promoters of tax avoidance schemes, challenge misleading information and 'name and shame' connected individuals.In this episode we ask Danielle Ford, Head of Tax Disputes & Resolutions at haysmacintyre, how HMRC will use these new powers, the key issues that may arise and the impact they could have. References·        Measuring tax gaps 2021·        Rise in HMRC demands for information from professional services firms on suspected tax evading clients·        Tax fraud: The rise of the professional enabler·        Unpaid taxes: the ‘tax gap’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In March 2022, the Economic Crime Transparency and Enforcement Act came into force after it was fast-tracked through Parliament in response to urgent calls for the UK's economic crime laws to be tightened. The new legislation introduces further sanctions powers and aims to tackle financial crime by revealing the identities of overseas beneficial owners of UK property. We asked Tom Godfrey whether this important piece of legalisation is likely to be effective and achieve its aim?  Tom, a barrister at 23ES, is a recognised leader in the field of corporate crime and has been instructed on some of the most complex financial crime cases of recent times. References·        Tackling economic crime and sanctions evasion·        Corporate Crime Reform: A comparative guide·        The complicated question of corporate criminal liability Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In previous episodes we have discussed the myriad of ways HMRC collects information on individuals and businesses. Whether through international agreements, information provided on a voluntary basis, as a consequence of a legal duty to report, or through its information gathering powers, the Revenue holds an abundance of information relating to taxpayers. In this episode, we discuss the important question of what exactly can HMRC do with your information? Keziah Mastin joins us to help shed light on this important issue and explain the powers HMRC has when dealing with taxpayer information – and what restrictions apply. Keziah is the newest member of our Tax and Financial Crime team having recently joined from HMRC's Solicitor's Office, where she specialised in a variety of things including strategic litigation, international trade and customs policy. References·        Connecting the dots·        The Common Reporting Standard: An HMRC game changer? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a much-anticipated podcast we revisit the multi-billion tax trading scandal known as Cum-Ex, and  consider recent developments and discuss why this rapidly expanding cross-border tax fraud remains of interest 5 years after it was first exposed.With so many twists and turns since Bloomberg journalist Donal Griffin first covered the Cum-Ex fraud on Taxing Matters episode 12 back in December 2020, we are delighted to be joined by barrister David Stern, to discuss recent developments.David is Joint Head of the Regulation and Business Crime Practice Group at 5 St Andrews Hill Chambers, and is currently retained by several clients with exposure to the on-going Cum-Ex trading investigations and is a leading expert in this specialised area.References·        Cum-Ex - probably the biggest tax scandal you've never heard of·        The Cum-Ex trading scandal: What are the implications for the UK? | Articles | 5SAH·        PRIN 2.1 The Principles - FCA Handbook·        COBS.pdf (fca.org.uk)·        Market Watch 52 (fca.org.uk)·        Criminal Finances Act 2017 (legislation.gov.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a follow up to the episode Blockchain: Revolutionary technology… or the perfect opportunity for fraudsters, we are delighted to be joined by Michael Goodwin QC to delve deeper into the legal landscape of crypto fraud. Michael, a highly regarded Silk at Red Lion Chambers, is an eminent white collar crime practitioner described by Legal 500 as a “serious heavy-hitter in criminal fraud".While crypto is increasingly challenging traditional finance systems and fast becoming a mainstream alternative, it has also provided an opportunity for criminal behaviour. With increasing numbers of people falling victim to crypto fraud, this episode focuses on the criminal law in this important area of the law.References·      Crypto Fraud and Asset Recovery Network·      HMRC internal manual: Cryptoassets Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first Taxing Matters episode of 2022, we are delighted to be joined by special guest Margaret Mousley, Deputy Director at HMRC. While Margaret now heads up HMRC’s Mid-Sized Business division, her career has spanned over 18 years across key compliance roles within the Revenue. With the vast array of potential risks and tax pitfalls now facing mid-sized businesses (MSBs), Margaret discusses how her team is investing in enhancing its customer service offerings to further improve the quality of the service it provides to MSBs.References·      Making Tax Digital for VAT as an agent: step by step·      Get help with a tax issue as a mid-sized business·      HMRC Profit Diversion Compliance Facility·      HMRC internal manual: Cryptoassets·      Taxing Matters: Clearer lines of communication·      Taxing Matters: Tax fraud - The rise of the professional enabler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warren Buffet once quipped, "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and only 5 minutes to ruin it". The potential impact of reputational damage can be significant during litigation, or a commercial dispute. Understanding when to react and how to respond, can make all the difference.From media strategies to risk mapping, Stuart Leach joins us on this episode to explore how you can best protect your business's public image and reputation, should that become necessary.An advertising executive turned barrister turned reputation advisor, Stuart now heads up the Litigation & Disputes team at Montfort Communications.References·        RPC ReAssure Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.