HMRC enquiries should stop

HMRC probe should be voided due to address error, says businessman The Supreme Court is hearing an appeal from HMRC over a businessman’s claims that because correspondence relating to an investigation into his affairs was sent to the wrong address the inquiry and HMRC’s correction of a declaration of a £2.5m loss is rendered invalid. HMRC admits making an administrative error, but said that it had copied in BDO, his accountancy firm, on all correspondence so former Stobart Andrew Tinkler knew he was under investigation. Michael Paulin, a barrister at 1 Crown Office Row, said: "The point is that, when the going gets tough and formal inquiries are opened up into a taxpayer's return, HMRC must by law tell the person affected directly not only their accountancy firm.” Defeat for HMRC could open it up to claims from thousands of people who might have received demands to the wrong address, the Times’ David Byers suggests.