Autumn 2007 Newsletter Contents Borrowed clothes? You want it when? The daily grind Knock knock Computers@home Stick to the facts It's personal Expense claims Cash down Plant buying Hobson's choice A helping hand Education, education Up with the Joneses Bills bills bills Done to a crisp Tax association

A helping hand National newspapers earlier this year reported that the Revenue were planning a crackdown on buy-to-let landlords. The Revenue have tried to offer reassurance that this is not the case. It was all a misunderstanding: they had announced that they were planning to offer additional help to landlords of all types (not just buy-to-let) to understand and comply with their tax obligations in what HMRC recognise is a complex area. HMRC say that they presume that most landlords want to make a correct return but that many may need help to understand exactly how to do so. Their approach "will focus on giving landlords improved access to guidance and support so that they can understand how to calculate their own tax liabilities and, where there is tax to pay, using the lightest possible touch to ensure that the correct amount is paid". Anyone who has felt the "light touch" of the taxman in their pocket may want some alternative advice. It seems clear that the Revenue are looking at the tax returns of landlords - if you are not sure what you should declare or what you can claim, we can help as well.