The leading UK professional bodies involved in taxation have issued updated guidance on how tax advisers should act in difficult situations.

The publication 'Professional Conduct in relation to Taxation', was issued by the bodies today. It concerns the tripartite relationship between the taxpayer, the tax adviser and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).  It sets out the standards to be followed by members of the professional bodies when dealing with HMRC in connection with a client's tax affairs.  

Rosalind Upton, chair of the working party which produced the guidance, and also chair of the Professional Standards Committee of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, said: 

"We believe the new ‘Professional Conduct in relation to Taxation’ gives clear, concise and practical guidance which will help tax advisers when dealing with difficult situations such as what to do when a client refuses to make a full disclosure to HMRC or receives  an excessive repayment. It also includes information on other key areas including client confidentiality and when information must be supplied to HMRC and other authorities without client consent."  

The guidance has been reviewed by Ximena Montes Manzano of Atlas Chambers and also by HMRC.

We say...
This is guidance is extremely useful to anyone involved in advising on tax, so we are not going to try and summarise it as it needs to be read in full. Read this even if you are not a member of a professional body; it contains some valuable advice.

Links:
Professional Conduction in relation to Taxation (updated 2018 version)