Taxing Matters

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of an investigation?In this episode of Taxing Matters, we discuss the role of the investigator in asset tracing, how they support clients and add value, and some common misconceptions about the traditional image of investigators, with Phoebe Waters.Phoebe is an asset tracing specialist and Chair of the Female Fraud Forum. She is also a champion of women in the industry. Winner of Management Today’s 35 Women under 35 2021.References·The Female Fraud Forum

The tax gap refers to the difference between the amount of tax that should, in theory, be paid to HMRC, and what is actually paid. To help narrow this gap, HMRC has been granted a number of powers over the years, including those aimed at tackling tax avoidance. The Finance Act 2022 providedHMRC with additional powers to enable it to proactively clamp down on promoters of tax avoidance schemes, challenge misleading information and 'name and shame' connected individuals.In this episode we ask Danielle Ford, Head of Tax Disputes & Resolutions at haysmacintyre, how HMRC will use these new powers, the key issues that may arise and the impact they could have. References·Measuring tax gaps 2021·Rise in HMRC demands for information from professional services firms on suspected tax evading clients·Tax fraud: The rise of the professional enabler·Unpaid taxes: the ‘tax gap’

In March 2022, the Economic Crime Transparency and Enforcement Act came into force after it was fast-tracked through Parliament in response to urgent calls for the UK's economic crime laws to be tightened.The new legislation introduces further sanctions powers and aims to tackle financial crime by revealing the identities of overseas beneficial owners of UK property. We asked Tom Godfrey whether this important piece of legalisation is likely to be effective and achieve its aim? Tom, a barrister at 23ES, is a recognised leader in the field of corporate crime and has been instructed on some of the most complex financial crime cases of recent times.References·Tackling economic crime and sanctions evasion·Corporate Crime Reform: A comparative guide·The complicated question of corporate criminal liability