38% Increase in Tax Evasion Convictions

An article in the Guardian (27/08/2011) reports that there has been a 38% increase in convictions for tax evasion.

This follows the promise of £917 million by the government to HRMC to enable them to increase their prosecutions fivefold.

Last week six individuals (all plumbers) were arrested for tax evasion and there are apparently 600 individuals facing civil investigations for failing to pay the correct amount of tax.

Vivienne Westwood UK has recently come to an agreement with HRMC concerning the valuation of the UK company.

If you find yourself in a similar situation please contact Jeffrey Lewis or Siobhain Egan. Between them they have many years experience of successfully dealing with these cases, all at practical realistic pricing levels. We work with a hand picked team of reasonably priced forensic/tax accountants.

Lewis Nedas & Co Instructed in International Computer Hacking Prosecution

Lewis Nedas & Co has been instructed in a huge international computer hacking prosecution.

Operation Crossbill is a multi-jurisdictional investigation focusing upon alleged computer hacking for financial gain.

Chancellor and HRMC Step up Campaign against Offshore Tax Havens

There has been much news this week about the landmark agreement between the Swiss Authorities and HRMC. The Swiss have agreed, according to the Daily Telegraph and the Independent, to maintain their secrecy status but will tax all monies held by UK taxpayers without revealing the identity of the account holders.

This has had a mixed reception. Many feel that this has not gone far enough; HRMC feel that they could benefit to the tune of £5 billion.

UK taxpayers can avoid this by stepping up, availing of the current amnesty and paying.

Many tax professionals feel that a lot of of these account holders will move their money to Liechtenstein and avail themselves of the Liechtenstein Disclosure Agreement which is more limited; that agreement only requires back payment of taxes from 1999/2000 rather than the total value of assets held as per the Swiss Agreement.

Those holding money in either Jersey or Guernsey, and who have failed to disclose their monies, face penalties of 200% of the tax evaded.

It seems that the Chancellor and HRMC are next targeting Panama and BVI.

If you have any concerns about this please contact Jeffrey Lewis or Siobhain Egan.

Laura Saunsbury’s Latest Article Published in Shooting Magazine

Laura Saunsbury has written an article in the August 2011 edition of Pull! Magazine, the official magazine of the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association. You can read the full article here.

Record Sentences Handed Down

Record sentences were handed down for Tomas Wilmot and his sons, convicted this week of £14 million ‘boiler room fraud’.

Second Investment Banker Charged by the FSA

A second investment banker charged by the FSA appears in City Of Westminster Magistrates’ Court today along with two female co-defendants. He is the first to be charged with an offence of ‘encouraging insider dealing’.

Foreign National Drivers Encountering Difficulties with Justice System

We have a large multi-national client base, some of whom hail from EC/EEA jurisdictions and many from other jurisdictions.

We have noticed that recently an increasing number have been presented with fixed penalty notices by police on the basis that the police believe that they are driving otherwise in accordance with a valid licence (contrary to s.87(1) Road Traffic Act 1988).

Clients have been inclined to accept the three penalty points and pay the £60 fine rather than deal with the matter directly.

These ‘offences’ can have serious consequences for the driver. Unpaid fines can lead to the seizure of a motor vehicle; more penalty points can lead to disqualification from driving.

If the driver has an EC/EEA driving licence, that is a valid driving licence. However, if the driver has a non-European driving licence, that licence is valid to drive upon in the UK for one year after their arrival in the UK. These drivers must obtain a provisional driving licence and pass the driving competency test.

The police are making serious mistakes when issuing these fixed penalty fines. If you are unsure please contact Jeffrey Lewis or Keith Wood for advice and assistance.

Camden Town: the Latest Property Hotspot for the Cool!

See the latest article from findaproperty.com detailing the music stars who live in the locality of our head office.

Our equally cool property department can assist anyone thinking of buying in the area. Contact Richard McConnell or Barry Hellewell.

Equity Release Scheme Advice

“Would you rather write your own will or have the government write it for you?”– Sir Gerry Robinson.

In these turbulent economic times people are rightly concerned about leaving adequate provision for their families and/or dependents whilst maximising any fiscal advantage. Increasingly people are drawing down the equity in the family home and making inter vivos gifts.

If you are considering this, it is IMPERATIVE that you consult a specialist fully qualified lawyer who can fully advise about these issues in depth.

Contact our wills and probate partner Prue Abrahams.

Lewis Nedas Instructed to Represent an Individual Facing Large Scale Fraud Prosecution

Lewis Nedas & Co have been instructed to represent an individual facing a large scale fraud prosecution with sixteen defendants.

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