More good news!!
HMRC have recently announced it’s new batch of task-forces which will be aimed at the:
- Fishing Industry in Scotland
- Restaurant (and similar) trade in the North East and Lincolnshire
- Road Hauliers in the Midlands
- Holiday Industry in the North West, Wales and South West
In the past HMRC Task Forces have operated using the element of surprise – that is, HMRC Inspectors have simply walked into business premises and have collected relevant evidence there and then. If you operate a Restaurant or similar type of establishment in the North East then it is entirely possible that this could happen to you! We’ve seen this happen very close to home on two occasions within the last 12 months!
It’s easy for HMRC to say you have nothing to fear if you aren’t unfairly avoiding tax but as we’ve seen from experience they often attempt to look for trouble when it simply isn’t there. And do you really want HMRC turning up when you have a room full of customers!
Forewarned is still forearmed though – so it will pay you to make sure that everything is as it should be just in case! If you have any concerns that this might not be the case then please speak to me for advice sooner rather than later.
And if the worst does happen? Then the best course of action is to either make the Inspector(s) comfortable away from public view or ask them to leave until you’ve spoken to me and then RING ME IMMEDIATELY. We will try to re-arrange their visit by appointment or, if I’m available I’ll hot foot straight over.
Paul
