HMRC investigation ongoing.
Client doesn't want me to send in info HMRC requested as he feels he will be trapped by money laundering regulations.
I am going to send the Info to HMRC as they have requested it in no uncertain terms.
Do you think this is the correct thing to do ?
Replies (7)
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@ Tom
There is a limit to what we can do on this with the current content management environment that we work in. However, I have added a comment to the effect of not amending your question after it has been answered on the "Post a Question" page. I hope this will help.
Rebecca
Your programmers need to sort this.
David has answered a completely different question to that now shown and Mike has responded on the basis of the new question I think. I've seen this with a local newspaper where the editor changes his article after receiving responses thereby making some responders look complete prats.
The original question was actually to do with retrospective dividend paperwork and the fact that Joan's partner wasn't happy.
There shouldn't be a facility to alter questions or have no name at the bottom of the post. How about sequentially numbering all posts so that a poster can submit a second question and cross-referencing to the first?
Two different issues.
As far as HMRC are concerned, you are acting as the client's agent.
If HMRC are not entitled to the information you ask the client. If the client says do not send it you should not send it. You may need to consider your ongoing relationship with the client.
If HMRC are entitled to the information you ask the client. If the client says do not send it you should not send it. You may need to consider your ongoing relationship with the client.
If HMRC have served you with a statutory notice the position is different. If the notice is valid you need to reply.
If you have any problems you should consider taking professional advice to make sure you follow the path that avoids faslling into pitfalls of being sued by the client, falling foul of HMRC or money laundering problems.
OP changed the query
Following my posting the original poster changed the question - the original question was along the lines of, "If I created backdated minutes and accounting entries for dividends am I likely to get caught?"
My earlier posting was in response to that !
In response to the amended question:
The client is not going to be trapped by the money laundering regulations. The client has been 'trapped' by his own actions or failures and HMRC opening an enquiry.
David
Making sense
So, David, are you effectively saying "don't be bullied by HMRC into disclosing client information they have no right to know" ?
The wrong question
The question you should be asking yourself is, "Would it be legal and ethically correct to do this?".
The answer, of course, is "No".
David