HMRC loses more than half of reviews
Official data reveals more than half of disputes between taxpayers and HMRC are found against the Revenue. HMRC’s annual report shows that 52% of cases reviewed in 2016-17 were upheld in favour of taxpayers. The overall number of reviews also increased, from 27,000 to 29,500, with reviews of VAT penalties particularly likely to go in favour of individuals. However, HMRC’s success rate is far higher where cases are taken to a tribunal or court, with 84% of decisions going in HMRC’s favour in the "first tier" tribunal. Source: The Daily Telegraph (13/12/2017)