Taking Stock: When tax is stranger than fiction

Taking Stock: When tax is stranger than fiction

Sometimes you just can't make it up, TS finds

TS ISN’T AWARE of any times that ancient war dances have had any kind of impact on tax policy, or indeed anyone’s tax bills.

But, nonetheless, PR man Richard Hillgrove attempted just that when he, accompanied by his two children, performed the Moari Haka at Glastonbury Tor in retaliation for a tax evasion conviction he claims is a “stitch up”.

TS, it must be said, is baffled as to how the mighty Kiwi war dance is likely to affect the taxman.

Indeed, HMRC would not be drawn when we suggested a nominated champion perform a Morris dance in response, in what would have surely been the most bizarre dance-off of all time.

Although not Kiwi by birth or passport, Hillgrove said he is 1/16th Maori and 1/16th Danish – a “fierce combination”, he said and one that qualifies him to do the Haka at one of the UK’s most ancient sites of worship.

Hillgrove was last month found guilty of failing to pay £93,000 in VAT and NICs over a 12-month period. He is still awaiting sentence, but plans to appeal his conviction.

Share

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Resources & Whitepapers

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata

Professional Services Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata

3y

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folde...

In the past decade, the professional services industry has transformed significantly. Digital disruptions, increased competition, and changing market ...

View resource
2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

3y

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professi...

In recent months, professional services firms are facing more pressure than ever to deliver value to clients. Often, clients look at the firms own inf...

View resource
Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

Accounting Firms Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

3y

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

In a world of instant results and automated workloads, the potential for AP to drive insights and transform results is enormous. But, if you’re still ...

View resource
Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

Making Tax Digital Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

3y

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

The first phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD) saw the requirement for the digital submission of the VAT Return using compliant software. That’s now behi...

View resource