IRRV Alert - week ending 22nd January 2021
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HMRC has not made enough progress on the Loan Charge (22 January 2021)
HMRC has not made enough progress on the Loan Charge
22 January 2021
The Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee has written a letter to the Government following its evidence programme on the Loan Charge.
After holding three follow-up public evidence sessions on the Loan Charge in December 2020, the House of Lords Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee has written a letter to the Government with the following findings:
- HMRC has made progress in improving the way it manages the Loan Charge, but there are far too many shortcomings in the way its response to the Morse Review is being implemented.
- In its actions, HMRC should follow the spirit, as well as the letter, of its Charter and the recommendations of the Morse Review.
- HMRC finally appears to recognise that lower-income taxpayers became caught up in disguised remuneration schemes without being aware of the risks, but it must do more to take account of their specific circumstances.
Lord Bridges of Headley, Chair of the Finance Bill Sub-Committee, commented:
“What the HMRC commits to is all too often not reflected in what taxpayers experience with regard to the Loan Charge. It has improved, but it needs to implement properly the recommendations of the Morse Review.
“We welcome that HMRC is doing more to tackle disguised remuneration schemes at source, including the marketing of these types of scheme through its work with the Advertising Standards Authority. However, it must do more to reduce the exposure of taxpayers to such schemes in the first place. There should also be a renewed focus on ensuring consumer protection and preventing the mis-selling of schemes.
“HMRC should practice what it preaches and take further steps to avoid using employment agencies and contractors that use disguised remuneration or other tax avoidance schemes.”