Thread by @keithmgordon

@Frances_Coppola @HMRobbinCs @MartinM51594604 @donedgley1 @Sitting_Rabbit @a4c111 @ChrisEGallop @LC_Impact @BorisJohnson @sajidjavid @patel4witham @MPIainDS @Jacob_Rees_Mogg @MattHancock @BethRigby @andyverity @gregwrightYP @Jesse_Norman @Conservatives As a general rule I consider those laid down in statute to be reasonably fair:
12 months to open an enquiry into a tax return (such enquiry to be left open as long as HMRC reasonably need to conduct enquiries).
In other cases: ...

@Frances_Coppola @HMRobbinCs @MartinM51594604 @donedgley1 @Sitting_Rabbit @a4c111 @ChrisEGallop @LC_Impact @BorisJohnson @sajidjavid @patel4witham @MPIainDS @Jacob_Rees_Mogg @MattHancock @BethRigby @andyverity @gregwrightYP @Jesse_Norman @Conservatives 4 years if HMRC could not be expected to have identified the problem in time for an enquiry; or
6 years if the taxpayer's error is down to carelessness; or
20 years if the taxpayer's error is down to fraud ("deliberate conduct").

My principal objection to the loan charge ...

@Frances_Coppola @HMRobbinCs @MartinM51594604 @donedgley1 @Sitting_Rabbit @a4c111 @ChrisEGallop @LC_Impact @BorisJohnson @sajidjavid @patel4witham @MPIainDS @Jacob_Rees_Mogg @MattHancock @BethRigby @andyverity @gregwrightYP @Jesse_Norman @Conservatives My principal objection to the loan charge is that it simply cuts across these statutory safeguards.

- For those taxpayers where HMRC have been too slow to use their existing statutory powers, it simply gives HMRC a second chance to remedy their previous oversights.
- ...

@Frances_Coppola @HMRobbinCs @MartinM51594604 @donedgley1 @Sitting_Rabbit @a4c111 @ChrisEGallop @LC_Impact @BorisJohnson @sajidjavid @patel4witham @MPIainDS @Jacob_Rees_Mogg @MattHancock @BethRigby @andyverity @gregwrightYP @Jesse_Norman @Conservatives - For those taxpayers where HMRC have taken action in time, then the statutory processes should allow the dispute to be resolved one way or the other (in the courts if necessary). In such cases, the loan charge is designed to render nugatory taxpayers' access to the courts ...

@Frances_Coppola @HMRobbinCs @MartinM51594604 @donedgley1 @Sitting_Rabbit @a4c111 @ChrisEGallop @LC_Impact @BorisJohnson @sajidjavid @patel4witham @MPIainDS @Jacob_Rees_Mogg @MattHancock @BethRigby @andyverity @gregwrightYP @Jesse_Norman @Conservatives In such cases, the loan charge is designed to render nugatory taxpayers' access to the courts because, if the taxpayers were to win in the courts, the loan charge comes along and taxes them in any event.