Summer 2009 Newsletter Content Pot and kettle No more stealth Pensions hit A place in the sun Ready or not... Nice motor Making allowances Good times, bad times Tax-free checkup Three square meals Funny question Dividend rules OK? Too good to be true? Pay my friend Early EIS Mind the halfpennies Just the ticket Flat rate changes Foreign Service This year, next year Partial exemption Penalties Compliance checks Under their eye Howzat? Know your rights Discipline Don't be mean Redundancy Two sorts of absence Warranties

Pot and kettle Cabinet ministers often lump together tax evasion and tax avoidance in the same sentence - both mean that the Exchequer misses out on tax that "ought" to be paid. They ignore the fact that evasion is a crime involving dishonesty, while avoidance is a matter of following the rules - very carefully, and sometimes artificially - to make sure that the tax bill is no bigger than it needs to be. Now it seems that half the MPs, including senior ministers, have been following the rules - not always very carefully, but sometimes artificially - to make sure that their expenses claims are as high as possible. Will there be any reduction in denunciation of tax avoiders? Or is Parliament an embarrassment-free zone? There is a very serious point: reading about the dubious practices of our lawmakers may tempt people to stretch the rules themselves. If MPs are just going to spend it on themselves, why should I pay all that tax? But HM Revenue & Customs have new powers to investigate and penalise people who pay too little tax, and "I was only doing what my MP did" will not be a defence. Don't sink to their level. Meanwhile, we know that big tax increases are on the way, and some of them have already arrived. This newsletter explains some of the new rules that you may need to be aware of. If you want to know how to follow them carefully and minimise your tax legally, we are here to help.