CIOT calls for all-inclusive tax catch-up plan

Date: 1st November 2011

Government initiatives aimed at allowing certain individuals to catch up with their tax affairs should be rolled out to all taxpayers.

That is the view of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) after HM Revenue & Customs extended such an offer to tutors and coaches.

The organisation said that more of these schemes, which offer taxpayers reduced penalties for coming forward, should be launched so that more occupations are covered.

John Whiting, tax policy director at CIOT, acknowledged similar campaigns for those in the medical and plumbing professions but said more needs to be done.

"There's a big variety of offshore initiatives and I think there's a lot to be said for them, because they publicise [the issue] and encourage people to get back on the straight and narrow," he commented.

"In many ways you need an open-to-all, more concerted campaign to get people back on the straight and narrow, rather than just doing it for certain sectors."

Posted by Thomas Fletcher