Thread by @nobigfish

1. I make no apologies for the length of this thread as 1000s have been living with the strain of #LoanCharge for years & it reflects what we've endured.I urge you to read this,especially if you are in the media.This thread contains links to facts evidencing HMRC & Gov behaviour.

2. Years, decades even, of inaction & inefficiencies by @HMRCgovuk now mean that 100k contractors face ruin with 20yrs of retrospective tax in the #LoanCharge. I found out about this over 10 years after first using a scheme.

3. Former chancellor @philiphammond sums up perfectly in a separate statement on tax of what 20yrs of inaction by @HMRCgovuk signalled to people. Also remember these schemes were never illegal. How his attitude changed to suit his own agenda in respect of #LoanCharge

4. @HMRCgovuk have never been clear on these schemes & in fact they have always been legal. Contractors using them declared the schemes on yearly tax returns & HMRC even gave them ref numbers. How is this disguised remuneration? #LoanCharge

5. How on earth can the ordinary man in the street be sure of what he is entering into when Tax QC's vetted & approved schemes & even HMRC state that the schemes weren't illegal. Most freelancers moved to this way of working due to complicated #IR35 rules.
#LoanCharge

6. #LoanCharge was introduced in 2017 Fin Bill & at this time @HarrietHarman wrote to @MelJStride on behalf of @HumanRightsCtte asking for details of retrospective legislation in the bill. Stride's carefully worded reply avoids mentioning the Loan Charge google.com/url?sa=t&sourc…

7. I assume reason @HarrietHarman asked about retro legislation was that it was normal practice to ask or she was aware of #LoanCharge & had concerns. So why no follow up? I wrote to @HumanRightsCtte & response was @treasurycommitte were too busy to take further, 7 suicides later

8. When the Fin Bill committee met @MelJStride denied them seeing evidence from 100s of people who would be affected by #LoanCharge & denied them seeing evidence from expert bodies. bit.ly/2NfiYza

9. From the initial idea at @HMRCgovuk of the retrospective #LoanCharge HMRC have employed a behavioural insights team to psychologically manipulate people to put them under maximum stress. Also known as the nudge dept.

10. Internally @HMRCgovuk created 'Project roar' to 'Make it real' for contractors using what they incorrectly called 'Disguised remuneration' schemes. This was run by Phil Gilbert at HMRC, see below. 7 suicides due to #LoanCharge still doesn't seem to be real enough for them.

11. An Early Day Motion was started by @StephenLloydEBN which gained a 152 signatures from cross party MPs against the retrospective nature of the #LoanCharge and still the government did not listen.
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-moti…

12. An All Party Working Group was started, @loanchargeAPPG ,to help bring a halt to the #LoanCharge legislation. However to date despite this being the only thing that cross party MPs can agree on, in times of #Brexit, it has not stopped the Loan Charge.

13. Over 170 cross party parliamentarians have now signed a letter calling for an immediate suspension of the #LoanCharge.
loanchargeappg.co.uk/wp-content/upl…
188 parliamentarians are members of the cross party @loanchargeAPPG.
Still the government don't listen.

14. I can't remember when I heard of the 1st #LoanCharge suicide but the government did not heed any of the warnings before this tradegy happened. We could all see it coming. This article was in June 2018.
standard.co.uk/business/suici…

15. In case anyone, like @Jesse_Norman, questions the number of #LoanCharge suicides or if indeed they happened, @HMRCgovuk have reported theirselves for several suicides.
economia.icaew.com/news/october-2…

16. Read the devastating effect #LoanCharge suicides have had on families. These are families who were leading normal lives before the Loan Charge. Their futures are now in turmoil.
buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/lo… via @elashton

17. @PhilipHammondUK called contractors tax evaders in front of @CommonsTreasury labelling us as criminals & we haven't acted outside the law at any time. Evasion is illegal but avoidance is not. @HMRCgovuk have never said the schemes were illegal.
parliamentlive.tv/event/index/3e…

18. We also mustn't forget @PhilipHammondUK earlier attitude to retrospective legislation, how fickle our politicians can be to serve their own goals. #LoanCharge

19. On 28th October @PhilipHammondUK on @AndrewMarr9 refers to people caught by #LoanCharge as 'illegal tax avoiders' continuing the stance of trying to criminalise innocent people.
hmrcloancharge.info/lcag-press-rel…

20. Let's not forget the current chancellor @sajidjavid 's view on tax avoidance. Funny how they change their mind or remain silent to suit their own current circumstances. #LoanCharge

https://twitter.com/LCAG_2019/status/1159838681848373250?s=09

21. Mary Aiston @HMRCgovuk lied about the average amount owed. Lied that HMRC won't take people's homes, this has already happened with APNs linked to #LoanCharge mess. HMRC may not do it theirselves but will pass the debt on to a collection agency.
parliament.uk/business/commi…

22. Those impacted by #LoanCharge have had to put up with senior @HMRCgovuk officials lying to @CommonsTreasury & getting away with it e.g. 'Avg owed £13k' it's nearer £130k, 'Avg avoided per year £20k' ,figures don't stack up.
whatdotheyknow.com/request/550887… 00358 Graham Webber.pdf.html

23. Samples of the lies at the @CommonsTreasury session 30th Jan 2019 from Mary Aiston @HMRCgovuk #LoanCharge

24. As shown by @ContractorCal the #LoanCharge figures just don't stack up. Why would @HMRCgovuk lie about something if they believed it to be just?
linkedin.com/posts/dave-cha…

25. While Mary Aiston from @HMRCgovuk was lying to the @CommonsTreasury about the £13k average #LoanCharge bill per person @HMRCpressoffice were pushing out a figure of £20k avg tax avoided per annum by those using schemes. Together the figures are a nonsense.

26. While @MelJStride was Treasury Minister he misled the House on numerous occasions about #LoanCharge. He insisted it was retroactive, not retrospective. It's telling in this exchange Mogg uses retroactive in question & Stride replies with retrospective.
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2018-0…

27. @MelJStride could not defend this unjust #LoanCharge legislation so he simply hid from any questions. The @LordsEconCom took a very dim view of him avoiding appearing before them.
ft.com/content/953b28…

28. @MelJStride was also invited to appear before the @loanchargeAPPG but again refused to appear despite being fully aware of the suicides and #mentalhealth damage being done by #LoanCharge
ft.com/content/52d718…

29. On 2/03/2019 @MelJStride appeared on @Moneybox being interviewed by @paullewismoney, when pushed on his claims that promoters had been jailed for tax avoidance he stated that this was in respect of the #LoanCharge, a clear lie to mislead.

30. NC26 (New Clause 26) was a cross party amendment to the Finance Bill proposed by the Liberal Democrat MP, @EdwardJDavey It asked for a review of #LoanCharge & was passed unopposed. Yet nothing changed.
etctax.co.uk/nc26-the-spiri…

31. However the review as a result of NC26 was nothing more than a report. The shocking thing is that @HMRCgovuk had substantial input/influence into content of the report on #LoanCharge .
whatdotheyknow.com/request/nc26_f…

32. With the change of guard at No. 10 @Jesse_Norman replaced @MelJStride as Treasury Minister. Norman gave those affected hope with Tweets implying he would be fair handed in respect of #LoanCharge.

33. However as soon as @Jesse_Norman spoke in @HouseofCommons on #LoanCharge it was immediately apparent that he was just another mouthpiece of @HMRCgovuk & @hmtreasury
bit.ly/2YCOn5e

34. This performance in @HouseofCommons by @Jesse_Norman dashed all hopes of fairness and resulted in 2 further #LoanCharge suicides within days of the speech. Apparently Norman was named in 1 suicide note. Totally avoidable tragedies.

35. @Jesse_Norman unlike his predecessor @MelJStride appeared before @LordsEconCom in respect of #LoanCharge in fact admitting that the legislation is retroactive.

https://twitter.com/LCAG_2019/status/1151431604700508160?s=19

36. Shortly after on @bbcpolitics interviewed by @afneil about #LoanCharge when asked about pursuing promoters @jessenorman stated they couldn't go after them as they'd done nothing illegal & government did not want to introduce retrospective legislation.

https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1151820634646646784?s=09

37. The suicide count as a direct result of the #LoanCharge has now hit 7 suicides. 1 suicide would be unacceptable to most governments but obviously not to this one. I make no apology for posting this article again.
buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/lo…

38. On 1st Oct 2019 in response to a question by @PeterBoneUK in @HouseofCommons @Jesse_Norman denied the 7 suicides although they have all been reported.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-1…

39. @Jesse_Norman 's fellow MPs on the @loanchargeAPPG have asked for an apology to the fact he denied the 7 suicides which is an insult to the families affected.

https://twitter.com/loanchargeAPPG/status/1179061035648593920?s=19

40. The @loanchargeAPPG now numbers 188 members made up of cross party MPs and still the government won't stop the #LoanCharge

https://twitter.com/loanchargeAPPG/status/1189624458530701312?s=19

41. Over 170 MPs have signed a letter asking for an immediate suspension of the #LoanCharge but @Jesse_Norman @sajidjavid & @Conservatives ignore these voices putting more vulnerable people at risk of self harm. #SuicideAwareness

https://twitter.com/carolynharris24/status/1186575135714742272?s=19

42. After @BorisJohnson had to be pressured to deliver on his hustings promise for a #LoanCharge review there were immediate concerns as to the independence of the review with @HMRCgovuk & @hmtreasury on the secretariat & the choice of Sir Amyas Morse to lead the review.

43. @StephenLloydEBN raised the concerns regarding the independence of the #LoanCharge review echoing the feelings of 1000's of contractors
drive.google.com/file/d/1ozJ-64…

44. @StephenLloydEBN received the usual brush off response from @Jesse_Norman regarding concerns about the independence of the #LoanCharge review and the chair Sir Amyas Morse.

https://twitter.com/StephenLloydEBN/status/1187002961752408064?s=19

45. In spite of 100k contractors facing bankruptcy and @HMRCgovuk & @Jesse_Norman claiming that the promoters have vanished, the person who ran AML, one of the biggest schemes is honoured to be allowed to get married in the @houseoflords chapel.
thescottishsun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4…

46. @MichelleMone states that her fiancee Doug Barrowman did nothing illegal so the billionaire @Conservatives donor is allowed to live his life of privilege while the 1000's who used his legal scheme are pursued for 20yrs tax by @HMRCgovuk
cnb.cx/2O1vZ17

47. The @PrincesTrust even honour Doug Barrowman who ran schemes caught by the #LoanCharge. How big the gulf between rich and poor.
thetimes.co.uk/article/prince…

48. To rub salt into the wounds of contractors impacted by #LoanCharge & families who have lost loved ones because of this legislation the CEO of @HMRCgovuk , Jon Thompson, gets knighted for running an out of control orgasnisation.
contractorweekly.com/?p=7107 via @contractweekly

49. Then @Jesse_Norman who has again misled MPs over the #LoanCharge is made a privy councillor. Behaviour like his should not be rewarded.

https://twitter.com/Jesse_Norman/status/1154458242862465024?s=19

50. Finally to add further insult to contractors @MelJStride who has lied and misled media & @HouseofCommons & himself has avoided scrutiny by @LordsEconCom is made Chair of @hmtreasury and effectively put in a position to scrutinise his own foul work.
ft.com/content/229a10…

51. And what remains is this one question which has never been answered satisfactorily regarding the #LoanCharge

https://twitter.com/gregwrightYP/status/1189623549255962626?s=19

52. So after reading this if you are a contractor come election day I hope you will think long and hard before casting your vote. I personally will vote tactically against the @Conservatives who have destroyed our industry and condemned many families to misery. Thank you.