VAT scam fizzles out

HMRC has been successful in pursuing a prosecution through the Crown Court against a company director who faked invoices relating to his VAT return.


From me to EU to me to UK

Post Brexit we think it’s likely the Mini One Stop Shop mechanism (MOSS) will be extended to all companies selling to European based customers.


Midlands Family Business Awards entry deadline extended

  Organisers of the Midlands Family Business Awards are extending the deadline for entries to this year’s awards. Family businesses and their leaders now have an extra week, so entries can be made up until midnight on Monday 25th July 2016, free and via the dedicated online entry platform, accessed from the Awards’ website www.familybusinessawards […]


Deadline approaches – Family Business Awards

Award schemes are a great way to raise the profile of your business with positive PR. They also provide the opportunity to meet and network with other business people both competitors and judges. The Midlands Family Business Awards is one of our favourite award schemes.


Worthy of a film plot – fact rather than fiction

HMRC has recently won a significant case at Southwark Crown Court against a group of film producers, accountants, financial advisers and investment bankers who received a combined jail sentence of more than 36 years for faking tax rebates and cheating HMRC out of £2.2 million. The  people involved in the scheme claimed false tax rebates linked to […]


Tax fraud ends in jail

Business people need to keep within the provisions of the law when it comes to VAT and tax more generally otherwise they can end up in jail or with a hefty fine. HMRC has been successful with its latest prosecution.


Five good reasons to enter business awards

We’re really pleased to be sponsoring this year’s Best Small Business award category in the Family Business Awards 2016 which is, as you’d expect, open to family businesses from across the Midlands. Naturally we’re biased and think the Family Business Awards is a fantastic event and every business which is eligible should enter, after all […]


HMRC’s Mexican VAT stand-off

The old argument over VAT and hot food has recently reared it’s head again and this time there’s not a pasty in sight. The Mexican restaurant chain Chilango has been in in dispute with HMRC over whether burritos are hot or cold snacks. Unfortunately for the restaurant it’s lost its argument with HMRC to the tune of £1 […]


HMRC spots the ball

A VAT related dispute between HMRC and Sportech which has been ongoing since 2014 has reached the end of its latest match. Sportech have won against HMRC in the Court of Appeal, though it remains to be seen if this means they’ve won the actual league, to keep the football metaphor going. HMRC have just […]