HMRC now have new powers under the
Finance Act 2008, which has become law. HMRC now possess
the right to enter business premises and inspect documents, without
warning, if an authorised officer deems it appropriate and without
the risk of appeals being made against them.
HMRC have assured the public that these new powers will be subject
to codes of conduct and will be used reasonably, but many business
owners are concerned about privacy and confidentiality issues
as well as areas in which the boundaries are blurred – home-working
for example.
HMRC also have the right to request that a member of staff
logs into a computer and allows them access to it if it is
in connection with a ‘relevant document’. The ‘relevant
documents’ aren’t enshrined in legislation yet, but
pertains to the statutory record keeping requirements set our
in the new Act.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.
To find out more about how we can help you, please contact Carvill & Johnson in Northfield, Birmingham.
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