The Tax Factor - Episode 50 - Sunscreen, fraudulent R&D claims, and snail farms

On this week’s top-rated podcast, Roger Holman is joined by Rehana Earle to unpack the latest in tax developments. With speculation growing that employer National Insurance contributions could be targeted by the Chancellor, we discuss whether the Government’s pledge to freeze rates for workers will shield employees from the impact. And is it time for a major overhaul of Capital Gains Tax to make it fit for purpose? Meanwhile, across the Channel, France is rolling out ‘temporary’ tax hikes – but how long will they really last? And finally, Roger looks into the complexities of designing a wealth tax and why it proves to be so tricky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Matt Crawford is joined by Blick Rothenberg CEO Nimesh Shah. They look at the problematic tax issues of a life on the high seas cruising, Capital Gains Tax reform and a homage to retiring HMRC CEO Sir Jim Harra.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Rehana Earle and Ele Theochari as they unpack the biggest headlines from the Labour Party Conference. Are the non-dom tax proposals just a political gimmick, or could they really deliver the billions the Chancellor hopes for? Ele dives into the latest R&D tax relief stats and why fewer claims might not be the bad news it seems – could HMRC finally be getting a grip on fraud? And we take a closer look at maternity pay and challenge Kemi Badenoch’s bold claims.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustainability: everybody talks about it, but in this episode we look at the business case for it. What do you actually have to do, beyond the cliches, and how can you prove that you mean what you say? Joining Declan for this discussion are Jim Brown from Blick Rothenberg, Charlotte Pumford from Vivobarefoot and Paul Lewis from Seismic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Rob Goodley is joined by a new voice on the Tax Factor, Blick Rothenberg Head of Private client, John Bull. They look at HMRC’s interest in ‘side hustles’, what we learnt from the Chancellor at the Labour Party conference, and the potential for an exit tax. We also pay tribute to John Brown, the man who successfully argued a Jaffa cake was a cake!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Heather Self is joined by pensions expert Martin Reynard. They discuss whether the Chancellor could fill some of her £22Bn gap with a reduction on tax relief on pension contributions or the tax-free lump sum. They also look at the impact of a ruling on the employment status of football referees and Heather disappoints Martin when she reveals that if Blick Rothenberg gives him a suit it’s a taxable benefit!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our fifty-first podcast is brought to you by Matt Crawford and Melissa Thomas.  This week they look at the European Court of Justice upholding a 2016 decision that Ireland is required to recover 13 billion Euros from Apple and the Upper Tier Tribunal sides with HMRC in their case against Stuart Barnes regarding his employment status. Matt discusses changes to the data employers are required to provide to HMRC regarding hours worked by employees and Melissa discusses how HMRC is an unlikely fan of the Oasis reunion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s our 50th episode this week, this time with Heather Self and Ele Theochari. In this episode we look back at some of the tax stories from the last year, current proposals to take VAT off sunscreen, fraudulent R&D claims, and if having a snail farm could save you some tax!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nimesh Shah and Heather Self look at what we can learn from Kier Starmer’s speech and what might happen in the Budget. If the Government’s hands are tied on the big 4 taxes, are we looking at minor changes in the Budget? Where will the billions come from: frozen allowances, Fuel Duty, Air Passenger Duty, Capital Gains Tax, Pensions Relief or a more wholesale reform of the tax system? Would it be more courageous to break the manifesto pledge and put Income Tax up?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tax Factor returns from its Summer break with Roger Holman and Neil Insull. They waste no time in giving their top 5 predictions for the October Budget and, in VAT news, how the First Tier Tribunal have decided hair loss treatment could not be zero-rated as hair loss is not a ‘disability’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.