CIOT calls for 'fairness' for all taxpayers

Date: 15th January 2010

HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) new Tax Health Plan, which offers reduced penalties to medical professionals, is unfair.

This is the view of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), which said HMRC should make the scheme universal "as a matter of fairness".

Under the deal, HMRC is offering reduced penalty charges of ten per cent to medical professionals who declare understated or undeclared income before March 31st.

Those who miss the deadline risk investigation and could face charges of up to 100 per cent.

Gary Ashford, chair of the CIOT's management of taxes committee, said: "Whilst we welcome HMRC encouraging people to get their tax affairs in order, there is a measure of unfairness in offering a deal to one sector of the population and not to others.

"Surely it would be better to have a general arrangement available to all and a concerted effort by HMRC to get their message over?"

Posted by Jacob Williams