The Telegraph is going to publish a latter tonight calling for the abolition of the 50p tax rate. I’ve now heard about it from so many sources it has to be one of the worst kept secrets in publishing history. This lot – whose funding is not known – are behind it. So, let’s deal with some facts and
Read the Rest…

I was very amused to meet David Gauke in London today. He has long avoided such a meeting, but when we walked slap bang into each other in Millbank television studios his chance to avoid me had gone, hands were shaken and discussion began immediately. Not on Barclays as might have been expected, but on
Read the Rest…

Accountancy Age has reported: THE NEW ”assurance commissioner” who will oversee big tax disputes should be appointed from outside HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), tax experts have said, after the Treasury announced an overhaul of the way it deals with tax settlements. No! No! No! I say. We have enough abuse of our tax system from
Read the Rest…

Left Foot Forward has blogged that it would have been great to report today that: The Sun has today launched its campaign against tax evasion, vilifying those, usually the very richest in society, whose scams cost the taxpayer a total of over £15 billion a year (pdf) But as they instead report: Hang on, sorry. The
Read the Rest…

I am posting this in case anyone is interested: The Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI) is seeking to appoint two exceptional Post-Doctoral Research Fellows to help shape, develop and lead SPERI’s research agenda over the next three years. We also have two funded PhD Studentships available. More information about SPERI and both opportunities can be found below in a form
Read the Rest…

My full report on why I think the EU has a €1 trillion tax gap, and how I suggest it should be tackled is now available, here. I didn’t expect this report to alter my thinking, but the categorisations of avoidance and evasion by type in this report are new. Comments would be welcomed. And
Read the Rest…

When I was a teenager the Top 20 was pretty important in my life. Well times, change, but it seems that I’m in at number 13 on the list of top financial influencers in the UK. The list has been prepared by new Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Economia, here. The table is as follows: Aut =
Read the Rest…

The Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament issued a report at their press release this morning, part of which dealt with the EU tax gap.  This report, which is based on my work (the full report is now available – here), was as follows: CLOSING THE TAX GAP AND RE-LAUNCHING THE ECONOMY AND
Read the Rest…

As is widely reported today, Ireland is to hold a referendum on the EU’s austerity and bailout plans that would lead to a lost generation in Ireland. The Irish already know that austerity does not work. It does not solve economic problems. It does not solve the problem of zombie banks. The pressure on the people of Ireland to accept austerity
Read the Rest…