Summer 2007 Newsletter Content Reverse Charges Beyond The Grave Director's Two Hats IHT Plan Fails VAT And Cash Amnesty International An Inspector Calls Losing A Bet Caring Doctors TAAR Brush Made To Be Broken Flat VAT Safe Deposit Tax On Gas Working Late Composite Companies Excuses, Excuses

Beyond The Grave There used to be a rule that the Inland Revenue could collect tax and penalties from the personal representatives of a deceased person where the deceased had understated tax liabilities during his lifetime. They have now decided that this is contrary to the Human Rights Act - in effect, they are penalising the living (those who would otherwise benefit from the estate) for the offences of someone else (the deceased). The Revenue will therefore not now try to collect a "tax-geared" penalty from personal representatives on account of the deceased's conduct. They will still pursue the executors for their own defaults, of course, and they will be trying to get as much inheritance tax out of them as possible. Meanwhile, the sins of the deceased may be subject to punishment in the Afterlife...