When stakeholders seem too close… – It is not only Regulators that can be criticised for being too close to some of their consultees

Last week’s Radio Four programme File on Four was called ‘Taxing questions’ and looked critically at HMRC’s recent activities in engaging openly with key stakeholders.

Two current situations were dealt with in detail. One is what’s called the Patent Box – a new tax regime, announced in last year’s Budget and designed to improve the UK’s business competitiveness by providing incentives for innovative Companies and practices. The other was the new set of rules being drafted for CFC’s or Controlled Foreign Companies. In both cases, the reporter questioned whether it was right for the HMRC to be influenced by the very Companies that may stand to gain from its decisions.