Tax Investigations

HMRC sign commercial property lease on new Belfast office

HMRC sign commercial property lease on new Belfast office

31st July 2017

By Neil Logan HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has signed a new commercial property lease that will see 1,600 employees situated in the Erskine House in Belfast from 2021. Erskine House is... Read more

End of year tax returns scrapped in favour of real-time accounts

18th March 2015

Chancellor George Osborne announced in his Budget speech today that the government will scrap annual tax returns and replace them with a 'real-time' online accounts system that calculates tax throughout... Read more

Two years prison for attempt to dodge inheritance tax

10th March 2015

By Lenore Rice A 56 year old woman has been given a two year prison sentence for lying about the size of an inheritance she received and failing to disclose gifts... Read more

HMRC reclaims record amount in unpaid taxes

10th November 2014

Almost £3.65 million of unpaid tax has been recovered from taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK by HMRC as a direct result of avoidance schemes, evasion... Read more

Don’t file your paper Tax Return

5th November 2014

Taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK who were issued with a paper self assessment Tax Return, had until 31st October 2014 to submit the return in... Read more

Increase in total amount of capital gains tax paid

3rd November 2014

The total amount of capital gains tax paid in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK rose to £3.8billion in 2013-14, with 154,000 people liable for the tax. The amount... Read more

HMRC to target all UK income of Expats

12th August 2014

Expats who rent out their UK homes or receive a government pension could get their personal allowances cut as part of a proposed government plan. Currently EU nationals and British expats... Read more

Proposals for inheritance tax to be paid before death

11th August 2014

Inheritance tax is often referred to as the 'death tax', but if a proposal is taken up by the government it could become just another one of the taxes we... Read more

Increase in inheritance tax payments in last tax year

8th August 2014

By Lenore Rice Inheritance tax payments in 2013/14 came close to pre-recession levels according to figures released by HMRC, with revenue increasing by 8.6 per cent on the previous year. There was... Read more

Hint at tax breaks for Northern Ireland high earners

4th August 2014

Taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK may be paying less income tax in the future as David Cameron has suggested some high earners might be moved... Read more

Self Assessment payment deadline looms

22nd July 2014

Many individual taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK will have recently received a self assessment statement from HMRC. This statement will usually have a payslip attached to... Read more

HMRC warn of increase in tax credits scam emails

23rd June 2014

HMRC are warning tax credits claimants in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK about scam or ‘phishing’ emails promising money back. May 2014 has already seen an increase in... Read more

HMRC announce £23.9 billion tax cheat haul

27th May 2014

The Government collected a record £23.9 billion from taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in additional tax as it stepped up efforts to tackle tax avoidance. The... Read more

Emily Morris receives STEP NI Diploma

27th May 2014

Pictured right - The President of the Supreme Court Lord Neuberger presents Emily Morris with her STEP NI Diploma at a STEP conference at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast with... Read more

HMRC treble use of debt collection firms

22nd May 2014

Taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK owing money to HMRC are finding bailiffs calling to their door more often as evidence shows that the taxman has... Read more

Investigations into NI savers' tax affairs double

20th May 2014

Savers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are now being targeted as HMRC tax investigations double. This has raised concerns that innocent mistakes on self-assessment tax... Read more

Northern Ireland tax investigations on the rise

19th May 2014

The number of people in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK being investigated by the taxman has doubled in one year. Recent figures show that HMRC made... Read more

NI taxpayers caught by 60pc income tax rate

15th May 2014

Many taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are paying an income tax rate of 60 per cent as a result of a little-understood policy introduced by... Read more

Threat to NI taxpayers over non resident CGT

13th May 2014

HMRC’s plans to extend capital gains tax (CGT) to non-residents selling property in the UK includes proposals for the withdrawal of the principal residence election for all taxpayers in... Read more

Completing your 2013/14 Tax Return form

7th May 2014

Self Assessment (SA) taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK should now be thinking about gathering the relevant information in order to complete their 2013/14 Tax Returns. SA... Read more

Direct Recovery of tax debts from defaulters

6th May 2014

The government is consulting on proposals to recover tax and tax credit debts from businesses and individuals in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK that are actively refusing... Read more

New tax evasion deal signed

30th April 2014

Anyone in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK with undeclared income from offshore accounts could soon be found out after a new deal was signed. Chancellor George Osborne has... Read more

Tax investigations for Northern Ireland landlords

23rd April 2014

  HMRC is targeting landlords big and small in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK with their latest Second Homes Campaign.  Recent government estimates are that there are up... Read more

Northern Ireland taxpayers can now submit their Tax Returns

15th April 2014

As from 6th April 2014, self assessment taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK can submit their 2013/14 Self Assessment forms. If you send in a paper 2013/14... Read more

HMRC target Northern Ireland landlords

11th April 2014

HMRC’s Let Property Campaign gives individual landlords in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK who are letting out residential property in the UK or abroad the opportunity to... Read more

Concerns for Northern Ireland tax defaulters

10th April 2014

HMRC’s powers to allow it to take money directly from the banks of tax debtors in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK have been criticised as they may... Read more

HMRC targets NI taxpayers with undeclared second incomes

9th April 2014

Northern Ireland taxpayers with undeclared second incomes can avoid a HMRC tax enquiry by availing of their latest scheme.HMRC has launched a second incomes campaign, giving an opportunity for individuals... Read more

Northern Ireland self employed – things you should know

3rd April 2014

As a sole trader your profits are taxed as any other income by the HMRC and as you are self-employed your tax will be self-assessed. You will need to register with... Read more

NI workers benefit from tax cuts of £2,000 since 2010

2nd April 2014

Reports suggest that David Cameron will today speak of his “pride” at having cut tax by almost £2,000 for the typical worker in Northern Ireland and the rest of the... Read more

Personal tax allowance for NI expats up for review

31st March 2014

The government is to consult on plans outlined in the Budget to tighten up the rules regarding the use of the UK personal allowance by non-residents, which could have implications... Read more

Tax clampdown under threat as HMRC plan job cuts

27th March 2014

George Osborne's budget promise to fund a clampdown on tax evaders in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK appears to be under threat after a leaked memo showed... Read more

Unpaid Class 2 NIC collected from PAYE tax codes from 2014

25th March 2014

Employees in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK who have a class 2 NIC debt will find that their 2014/15 tax code may be amended to collect the... Read more

NI Tax avoiders to be forced to pay off bills sooner

20th March 2014

HMRC will now demand faster payments of income tax and national insurance from people in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK using disclosed avoidance schemes. The new rules mean... Read more

HMRC collect £110m in Capital Gains Tax underpayments

11th March 2014

Buy-to-let landlords and owners of multiple homes in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK have been targeted by HMRC in the past year resulting in an increase in... Read more

NIC savings for Northern Ireland employers for 6th April 2014

7th March 2014

George Osborne has written to employers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to make sure they know about the new £2,000 Employment Allowance which will be introduced... Read more

7pc of Northern Ireland taxpayers filed late tax returns

28th February 2014

HM Revenue & Customs has broken down Self Assessment taxpayer by region and finds that taxpayers in Northern Ireland registered 7 per cent of late tax returns, which was the... Read more

Undeclared offshore account holders face HMRC clampdown

25th February 2014

HMRC’s latest campaign which starts on 24th February 2014 will target offshore account holders in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in a new clamp-down on tax evasion. With... Read more

New digital services launched for Self Assessment taxpayers

24th February 2014

Three new pilot digital services are to be launched by HMRC with the aim of helping taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK manage their tax affairs... Read more

HMRC crackdown on false self-employment nets £122m in tax

24th February 2014

Businesses in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK have paid HMRC an extra £122 million as a direct result of a crackdown on false self-employment in the construction... Read more

HMRC urges SMEs in Northern Ireland to use new cash flow scheme

20th February 2014

Small businesses in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are being urged to consider using the “cash basis” scheme that allows them to be taxed on money that... Read more

How Northern Ireland Employers can avoid HMRC PAYE penalties

19th February 2014

Employers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK will soon have to make their final PAYE submissions for 2013/14. In order to avoid payroll penalties they need to ensure... Read more

Tax Cheats in Northern Ireland and rest of UK named by HMRC

18th February 2014

HMRC have today published the latest list of deliberate tax defaulters which include individuals and businesses from all parts of mainland UK and Northern Ireland.This policy is HMRC's latest approach... Read more

HMRC target hidden wealth

17th February 2014

A HMRC taskforce was launched on 11th February 2014 to target hidden wealth in London & East Anglia with a further 30 taskforces planned for 2014/15 which will target other... Read more

HMRC to introduce new timetable for Real Time Information penalties

14th February 2014

Employers in Northern Ireland and the UK will be pleased to hear that HMRC have announced a staggered start to the introduction of Real Time Information (RTI) penalties. Under original plans,... Read more

HMRC challenges yield £108m in additional inheritance tax

21st January 2014

By Lenore Rice New research shows that the HMRC brought in 23 per cent more inheritance tax in 2013 as a result of challenging the valuation of estates, netting an additional... Read more

Wozniak calls for companies to be taxed on income

31st May 2013

At a conference in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak called for companies to be taxed on their income instead of profit to bring them into line with the... Read more

HMRC targets tax evasion in NI restaurant trade

14th May 2013

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has set up a special task-force to target tax evasion in the Northern Ireland restaurant trade. A significant sum of money has been made available... Read more

Tax fraud prosecutions double as HMRC gets tough

26th April 2013

The aggressive approach taken by the HMRC to tax evasion and tax fraud over the past couple of years has seemingly paid off, as prosecutions relating to tax fraud are... Read more

Important Charity tax relief case win

25th April 2013

Charities in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK could benefit greatly from the recent tax relief case involving Buckinghamshire charity, Longridge On The Thames. In 2010 the outdoor activity... Read more

2013 Budget tax announcements at a glance

20th March 2013

Chancellor George Osborne has today delivered the 2013 Budget. Here are some of the key points in respect of tax: Income Tax From April 2013 the personal allowance will increase to £9,440 By... Read more

Tribunal holds £10m artwork exempt from CGT

19th March 2013

The Upper Tax Tribunal has held that painting sold at £9.4million should avoid capital gains tax, after the executors for the Castle Howard estate successfully established that it should be... Read more

First list of tax dodgers published by HMRC

21st February 2013

The HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published a list of 'deliberate tax defaulters' for the first time, in a week when there has been talk of adopting a name... Read more

Call to name and shame tax avoiders

19th February 2013

The Commons public accounts committee is calling on the government to adopt a 'name and shame' approach to tax avoiders in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Over the... Read more

HMRC warns late self-assessment tax filers

14th December 2012

The 300,000 people who failed to meet the deadline for filing their self-assessment tax return, and continue to ignore letters from the HMRC, have been warned that it could reach... Read more

Chancellor's Autumn statement: Tax summary

5th December 2012

Chancellor George Osborne announced the government view on the UK economy and its future plans in his Autumn Statement today. In particular, there were a number of tax changes outlined,... Read more

Cameron won't name and shame tax avoiders

3rd December 2012

David Cameron has ruled out adopting a 'name and shame' tactic to deal with multinational companies using tax avoidance schemes to minimise their corporation tax contributions. Pressure has been building among... Read more

Large companies paying less corporation tax

5th November 2012

While businessmen and politicians in Northern Ireland continue their battle for the devolution of corporation tax powers to the Assembly, an increasing number of stories are emerging that large companies... Read more

How volatile divorces are helping the tax man

29th October 2012

It seems that the old adage that 'no-one wins in a divorce' may have to be amended, as the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is regularly benefiting from bitter separations,... Read more

Higher rate taxpayer deadline looms

5th September 2012

Higher rate taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK have until 2 October to contact HMRC to confirm they wish to take part in their Tax Return... Read more

HMRC campaign targets higher rate taxpayers

3rd September 2012

HM Revenue and Customs has written out to 7,100 taxpayers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK advising them to submit their tax returns or face fines and... Read more

HMRC to send out 50,000 penalty letters

16th August 2012

Half a million people who failed to submit their tax returns for 2010/11 before the deadline will receive penalty letters this week. The introduction of higher penalties in April 2011 has... Read more

Investment risks farmland IHT exemption

9th August 2012

The increasing practice of investors purchasing farming land to avoid inheritance tax could result in the IHT exemption on farmland being removed altogether by HMRC. In some areas farmers are finding... Read more

Tax evasion informants payments on the rise

2nd August 2012

HMRC has paid out over £1m to tax informants in Northern Ireland and the UK over the last number of years to informants providing information on anyone evading tax.  These... Read more

Advice on 'unethical' tax avoidance

31st July 2012

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has issued a help sheet on aggressive tax schemes. The ICAEW says that the legality of a tax avoidance scheme is... Read more

HMRC getting tough on tax avoidance

20th June 2012

HM Revenue and Customs has made clear its intent to take action against tax avoidance schemes that cause "unacceptable tax loss" to the Exchequer. A number of tax avoidance schemes such... Read more

HMRC taskforces to crack down on evasion

1st June 2012

Tax avoiders in Northern Ireland & the UK should take note of HMRC’s changing attitude to those who are deliberately not paying the correct amount of tax.   HMRC have this... Read more

New unit to target offshore tax cheats

25th November 2011

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has created a new specialist unit that will identify and pursue people who attempt to hide income and capital in offshore accounts in order to... Read more

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