Lords Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee: Does HMRC use its powers proportionately in practice?

Tax specialists will give evidence on Wednesday 17 October 2018 to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee. This evidence session will consider whether HMRC uses its powers proportionately in its dealings with taxpayers, and forms part of the Sub-Committee’s inquiry into the Draft Finance Bill 2018.

At 5pm the Sub-Committee will hear from:

• Graham Webber, WTT Consulting
• Keith Gordon, Barrister, Temple Tax Chambers
• Victoria Todd, Low Incomes Tax Reform Group

Questions are likely to include:

• Is HMRC getting the balance right between tackling tax evasion and avoidance, and upholding the rights of individual taxpayers?
• What changes have you seen in HMRC’s approach to taxpayers’ affairs in the last 10 years? Have taxpayers’ safeguards kept pace with increased enforcement activity?
• Does HMRC treat small businesses and ordinary taxpayers less favourably than large corporates or the wealthy?
• Are more safeguards or forms of support needed to protect unrepresented taxpayers, who are more likely to be those on a low income? 
• Clauses in the draft Finance Bill would extend HMRC’s time limit for dealing with offshore matters to 12 years. What does this mean for taxpayers in practice?

This evidence session, which is open to the public, will start at 5pm on Wednesday 17 October 2018 in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.