In Nigel Barratt v HMRC [2015] TC04514 the first tier tribunal (FTT) once again found that HMRC's interpretation of reasonable excuse was 'inappropriate'.
SME Tax News
In GDF Suez Teeside Ltd v HMRC [2015] TC04590 the FTT concluded that the company's accounts did not fairly represent its profits, despite them being prepared in accordance with GAAP.
In Peter Silvester v HMRC [2015] TC04682 a farmer was denied sideways loss relief, despite changing his business model. HMRC was entitled to make a discovery assessment on losses, even though losses were reported every year.
HMRC have reported that an increasing number of errors are being made in inheritance tax reporting.
In Ernest O Bustard v HMRC [2015] UKFTT TC04703 a take-away owner successfully appealed the results of a mark-up exercise by HMRC: its assessments were not made in best judgement and were excessive.
In Skatteverket v David Hedqvist (C-264/14) [2015], the CJEU has decided that bitcoin exchange services are exempt from VAT.
In Sonny Joseph McEwen v HMRC [2015] TC04677 the first tier tribunal (FTT) found that payments to a subcontractor had been paid gross: there was no evidence of any tax deduction.
In William P Harrison v HMRC [2015] TC04693 the taxpayer made multiple invalid CGT main residence elections: none of the elected properties was ever occupied as a "residence".
Proposals to align pension input periods (PIPs) with the tax year from 6 April 2016 were announced in the 2015 Summer Budget. The transitional rules which affect the 2015/16 tax year open up the possibility of doubling the available allowance for the year to £80,000.
The House of Commons' Public Accounts Committee (the PAC) has again been highly critical of HMRC's performance levels in delivering customer service, tackling avoidance and improving reporting.