Top tax names camp it for charity

If you'd like to see some top tax names camping it up in the name of charity you'll enjoy this video produced in support of TaxAid. It stars Tax Barristers Penny Hamilton and Michael Flesch QC alongside Chris Tailby CBE, Robert Maas and Peter Wyman. Did I miss anyone?

It starts as a cowboy parody with Penny at the Bar aiming to help a cash trader who has the Revenue after him. Loved the subtitles that 'clarify' what she's really saying! He then goes off to see the 3 wise men who are all reading Taxation magazine. They have a different approach - each of which parodies their real-life approach to tax advice. But the hapless trader can't afford to pay them so they recommend TaxAid. And the final piece to camera comes from Peter Wyman stepping out of a cupboard. It's all a bit surreal actually!

After the Taxation awards last night....

I was in a cab and the driver asked me where I'd been.

When I told him he has astonished that such an awards ceremony could exist.

He asked me whether the awards included: Who's paid most tax and Who has avoided most tax!

Sean Locke at the Taxation awards

Sean Locke was the comic turn before the awards were announced last night. Before moving into his more mainstream material he shared some topical tax related thoughts including:

This is the 11th year of the awards - if you don't count the 3 years we didn't declare.

Good to see HMRC have a table here tonight. It's easy to see which one it is as all the waiters are wearing balaclavas.

I told some friends I'd got this gig and they reckoned tax advisers would all be boring. But you're not. I've met a few tonight. One even showed me his favourite receipts.

The Apprentice - Edward the accountantist

Edward Hunter was the first candidate 'fired' in the latest series of The Apprentice. As he left the Boardroom he was advised by Lord Sugar to remember: "There's no shame in being an accountant."

Edward himself made a number of related observations about his profession including:

• I'm the wheeler dealer who accidentally became a financial professional.
• I was trained at one of the biggest accountancy firms (PWC); but I don't fit the mould.
• I don't need to show off that I can work out margins; I'm an accountant.
• I'm mildly accountantist (anti accountants)
• Whenever I'm introduced to anyone and I want to stop the conversation, I just say, 'I'm an accountant'.
• I think every accountant will look at me and think, 'that's how I feel' (negative about accountancy).

Not a great advert for the profession.

(I posted a link to his audition video in a separate blog post here)

"There's no shame in being an accountant" Edward

This is 'The Apprentice' audition video of a self-confessed "wheeler-dealer" chartered accountant.

Did his performance on the first episode of The Apprentice 2011 have a positive or negative impact on how the public perceive Chartered Accountants?

No VAT increase on lapdances

Sign seen outside a 'gentlemens' club on Piccadilly Circus, London

Given that VAT went up 4 months ago it would seem that the world of lapdancing is struggling to attract punters....