Comments on: Tax advisers abusing the system http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/ Richard Murphy on tax and corporate accountability Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:07:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Dennis Howlett http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/#comment-250 Dennis Howlett Tue, 22 Aug 2006 23:31:54 +0000 http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/#comment-250 The sooner these deep ethical issues are resolved the better. The profession is imploding because of this and its insistence on following a model rooted in antiquity that has no bearing on modern life. The sooner these deep ethical issues are resolved the better. The profession is imploding because of this and its insistence on following a model rooted in antiquity that has no bearing on modern life.

]]> By: Richard Murphy http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/#comment-248 Richard Murphy Tue, 22 Aug 2006 10:38:57 +0000 http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/#comment-248 Jason I think you're ignoring my point about the "licence to operate" which a profession has. The ICAEW is, for example, granted priveliges by Royal Charter. So do the other institutes. I think it has a duty to society first as a result, as do its members. Again, we might have to agree to differ. Richard Jason

I think you’re ignoring my point about the “licence to operate” which a profession has.

The ICAEW is, for example, granted priveliges by Royal Charter. So do the other institutes. I think it has a duty to society first as a result, as do its members.

Again, we might have to agree to differ.

Richard

]]> By: Jason Holden http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/#comment-247 Jason Holden Tue, 22 Aug 2006 10:14:55 +0000 http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/#comment-247 Richard, I am glad we can disagree, this is what makes tax interesting, there is not always a right or wrong answer, it is as much about opinions and interpretation, as anyone who has sat opposite our friends from the Revenue will testify. But, and please consider this, it is the government (of the day) that has a duty to society as a whole, and the professional advisor who has a duty to his/her client, and not the other way around as you suggest. Richard, I am glad we can disagree, this is what makes tax interesting, there is not always a right or wrong answer, it is as much about opinions and interpretation, as anyone who has sat opposite our friends from the Revenue will testify.

But, and please consider this, it is the government (of the day) that has a duty to society as a whole, and the professional advisor who has a duty to his/her client, and not the other way around as you suggest.

]]> By: Richard Murphy http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/#comment-246 Richard Murphy Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:59:45 +0000 http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/#comment-246 Jason I'm going to agree to differ I do so partly by referring to your obvious typo - when you refer to 'cleaver advisors', because in truth I think that's exactly what they are. They are cleaving the tax system into unmanagable bits when if they actually considered that they had an ethical duty to society first and their client second (and I think this is essential as it is the basis of the licence a society grants to a profession which enables it to extract its super-normal profits in return for the privelieges it is given) this would not happen. In other words, I think your ethical argument is wrong. And the Revenue have got their ethics right. Sorry Richard Jason

I’m going to agree to differ

I do so partly by referring to your obvious typo - when you refer to ‘cleaver advisors’, because in truth I think that’s exactly what they are. They are cleaving the tax system into unmanagable bits when if they actually considered that they had an ethical duty to society first and their client second (and I think this is essential as it is the basis of the licence a society grants to a profession which enables it to extract its super-normal profits in return for the privelieges it is given) this would not happen.

In other words, I think your ethical argument is wrong. And the Revenue have got their ethics right.

Sorry

Richard

]]> By: Jason Holden http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/#comment-244 Jason Holden Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:38:36 +0000 http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/08/21/tax-advisers-abusing-the-system/#comment-244 I am sorry but I have to object Richard, why should one set of people through religious or other reasons have a tax advantage over others. And that is what was introduced with the ASPs, no matter how you look at it, it gives a tax advantage. The only way to cut out cleaver advisors using the legitimate tax rules/concessions to benefit their clients is to simplify the tax system, there is no other way! And if I had a client that such clever planning could help mitigate future tax liabilities it is my duty of care to that client to use it, and it is the governments duty of care to society as a whole to simplify the tax system to make it more transparent and fair to all, and not give concessions’ to small/any groups. I am sorry but I have to object Richard, why should one set of people through religious or other reasons have a tax advantage over others.

And that is what was introduced with the ASPs, no matter how you look at it, it gives a tax advantage.

The only way to cut out cleaver advisors using the legitimate tax rules/concessions to benefit their clients is to simplify the tax system, there is no other way!

And if I had a client that such clever planning could help mitigate future tax liabilities it is my duty of care to that client to use it, and it is the governments duty of care to society as a whole to simplify the tax system to make it more transparent and fair to all, and not give concessions’ to small/any groups.

]]>