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A tax specialist at the Southampton office of international accountancy firm BDO is strongly advising finance directors and their advisers not to become involved in aggressive tax avoidance schemes following a new recommendation from The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).


Andrew Lines, tax partner at BDO Southampton, said that for many, the dividing line between acceptable and unacceptable tax avoidance is blurred, making it a difficult area of law to comprehend, similar to the line between legal tax avoidance and illegal tax evasion: “Accountants should be aware that it can be relatively easy for an aggressive tax avoidance scheme to slip into tax evasion.


“Entering into any tax avoidance scheme will mean having to have a strong stomach for litigation with HM Revenue & Customs. Tax avoidance is a complicated, sometimes a messy business and certainly expensive, with litigation often continuing for many years.


“Each case is judged on its own merits, but increasingly it seems the courts are tending to look through the arrangements and finding in favour of HMRC. Litigation with HMRC is unlikely to be a positive experience, particularly if you lose.


“There are many legitimate ways in which a professionally qualified tax adviser can reduce your tax bill without resorting to artificial schemes.“


A further tax warning comes from VAT expert, Alan Rolfe of leading Hampshire


independent accountants HWB. Rolfe advises all businesses advertising their prices to the public to ensure they include VAT, after a landmark ruling.


He said that although the ruling from the Advertising Standards Association (ASA) was made in relation to hotel room promotions, it applies across the board.


The ASA upheld a complaint over “misleading“ prices for hotel rooms in London advertised on websites that didn’t include VAT. The ASA backed the complaint, despite the adverts clearly stating ’excludes VAT’. This was because the adverts were likely to be seen by consumers who would have to pay VAT.


The ruling follows another in May of this year relating to spa prices, when the ASA reiterated that VAT-exclusive prices could only be given if all consumers to whom the price was addressed paid no VAT or could recover VAT. Also that marketing quoting VAT-exclusive prices needed to state prominently the amount or rate of VAT that was payable.


“This has implications for any Hampshire business advertising to consumers,“ said Alan. “The ASA is sticking to its guns and insisting that either the full price be displayed or the VAT rate or amount of VAT due be clearly stated. And this applies to all adverts apart from those broadcast, including print and those on the web.


“Businesses should act now or risk falling foul of the advertising authorities.“


GCS sponsors Southern Tech 100


GCS has joined the line-up of sponsors of the Southern Tech 100, the listing of the top private technology companies in the south.


GCS Recuitment Specialists joins Barclays, law firm Pitmans and business advisers James Cowper in supporting the annual ranking of top IT businesses in the region, which is compiled by The Business Magazine.


Managing director David Bloxham said: “Having provided skilled professionals to leading technology companies in the south for over 20 years, we have seen the local market grow into a hotbed for the UK’s technological development.


Business THE M A GA ZINE www.businessmag.co.uk TM


“We feel it is important to recognise, support and encourage those companies which continue to innovate and shape the country’s future with their concepts and creations, and are proud to sponsor the 2012 Southern Tech 100.“


David Murray, managing director of The Business Magazine, added: “Technology has been at the centre of GCS since 1989, and the


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – SEPTEMBER 2012


firm has an unrivalled knowledge of the IT recruitment market, so it is great to welcome them on board as a sponsor.


“We will in the autumn be starting the process of compiling the third update of the Tech 100 listing, ready for release in the new year, and we will, of course, be running more events for this illustrious group of technology companies in the months ahead.“


The July/August issue includes a special report on a recent Southern Tech 100 Roundtable event, staged in Reading. For details, go to www.businessmag.co.uk and click on ’Current Print Editions’ to read online.


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