Another rant from Richard.
Don’t trust the Inland Revenue
Yesterday’s Law Lords ruling in the case of Geoff and Diane James vs HMRC resulted in the appeal by HMRC being dismissed in less than 30 minutes, a case which has cost the tax payer hundreds of thousands of pounds. This is a further example to all tax payers that you cannot trust the Inland Revenue with some of their spurious claims.
The days have long since gone when we could all respect and trust our Inspector of Taxes. There have been too many incidents arising that have caused this lack of trust and even more importantly respect. Many small businesses and private individuals have had their lives ruined by incompetent tax officers, and in many cases dishonest practices by this extremely important government body, by being forced to spend even more of their hard earned cash fighting unjust claims.
July 28th, 2007 at 6:34 am
Totally agree! I’m staggered that nobody is signing this petition at:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/TaxCompensation/
Quote:
All government departments owe a duty of care to those affected by their negligence, except HMRC.
This is unfair when the revenue decides what compensation is due. Even the Parliamentary Ombudsman cannot make an award, he can only recommend. Which recommendation the HMRC does not have to follow nor be bound by!
There are no organisations of any kind, let alone any public authorities that can say to the layman ” You are responsible for your mistakes and for correcting ours”
I believe that HMRC should be answerable to taxpayers through the courts, the law is for everyone, and every organisation. HMRC is not above the law.
Under the Bill of rights, which has never been repealed, no one had the right to impose penalty, fine or forfiet other than through the courts.
Therefore HMRC should have to prove its case before the courts, and not use the court system as a rubber stamp for its decisions!
If HMRC loses its case the amount of compensation to be awarded to be set by the judge!