FSB joins attack on Revenue over appeal

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has strongly attacked HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) decision to seek leave to appeal in the House of Lords over the Arctic Systems victory in the Court of Appeal. (Section 660) which went against them.

The FSB is the latest organisation to join the criticism of HMRC's action. Earlier this week, Mark Prisk MP, Conservatives' small business spokesman took up the baton for family-owned businesses, claiming that it was an attack on the independent taxation of women. Despite a decisive victory in favour of the taxpayer in the Court of Appeal and a refusal by that court to give leave for an appeal to the House of Lords, HMRC announced that they will petition the UK's highest court. This could leave small businesses in a position of uncertainty for another year.

Simon Sweetman, FSB Tax Spokesman and regular UKTECH contributor, said: "HMRC's hard line attitude to a family-run business in this case is very worrying and doesn't instil confidence in the UK small business sector, which rightly expects to be treated proportionately and fairly by the tax authorities.

"We are disappointed to see that HMRC has refused to respect the decision of the Court of Appeal, which delivered a decisive and authoritative ruling in favour of the taxpayer in this case.

"HMRC's decision to take the case further comes at the worst possible time for family-owned businesses, which now face deep uncertainty in the run-up to tax-filing obligations at the end of this month."