‘Buy-to-let’ article

HMRC have responded to the article in The Times on 29 May – “Thousands of buy-to-let families face tax shock”, by stating that they are not planning a tax crackdown in the way implied by the article. HMRC are “planning to take a concerted approach to helping landlords of all descriptions (not just in the buy to let market) to understand and comply with their tax obligations in what they recognise to be a complex area”.

Further information is available at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/workingtogether/news/times-buy-to-let-shock.htm.

Another Scam

HMRC have advised that a Compensation Scam is being aimed at people who supposedly have already been the subject of a fraud attempt. An email is sent in the name of a HMRC official to a person who has been the subject of a fraud attempt, who requests personal details on the pretext that compensation will be paid.

Further information, including an example of a Compensation Scam email, is available at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/fraud-attempts.htm.