The bar at the Taxation Awards

Stephen Mangan was the host at last week's Taxation Awards. This is an annual event for 600 of the UK's top tax advisers - and a few hangers on like me.

Mangan did a superb job. Worth a mention on this blog were his observations after he announced that following the awards ceremony there would be a cash bar.

"A cash bar? At the Taxation awards? Make sure you keep your receipts!"

Oh well. maybe you had to be there...

What do you give the man who has everything?

A tax investigation!

Hidden money away and not told the taxman? Your options...

The following suggestions are those of Phil Hodgen. He has offered this advice especially for those who have hidden money away in Lichtenstein banks, lied and not declared the interest on their accounts:

• Jump up and down and say “It’s not right! The government can’t do illegal stuff like that!” (Response: So what? Cat. Bag. Out.) 
• Sit tight and do nothing. (Response: Inevitable merely postponed. Pain handed to your kids because you won’t deal with it.) 
• Run away to Panama. (Saw that happen last week for a US citizen I know. He is a fugitive for the rest of his life.) 

Or you can be a grown up and clean up your mess. (Why make a money problem into a jail problem?)

A unique way to encourage clients to file their tax returns early