anthonymellorfca's blog
A style of life – international tax – l’evasion
Submitted by anthonymellorfca on Wed, 02/09/2009 - 20:13.Says it all really, a mix of languages, a mix of countries. So much to observe from so little:
There is a world of difference between the British "evasion" and the French "evasion". The former is used to denote avoidance of something whereas the latter is to escape, as in the "great escape", often used in holiday brochures.
Evasion is to avoid something such as an incoming missile, or indeed taxes, which are also like missiles in that they are directed at a target. Of course like any gun a trigger has to be activated to fire the missile or activate the charge to tax. That begs the question about what triggers a charge to tax? Location. Of course evasion in tax terms also means if you dodge the missile you may have to pay in other ways, including loss of liberty.
What is a professional? How can you tell the difference?
Submitted by anthonymellorfca on Sat, 23/05/2009 - 13:29.There's nothing like an experienced real professional. It takes far far more than saying "I am a professional". Being very very good, even excellent at something is not the same thing.
It's not about knowing everything (amateurs know everything about their area of specific interest, anyone can do that, the "diy" approach), what it is about is knowing what you don't know and knowing how to find the information you need damn quickly and knowing it is complete, accurate and right up to date this week; THAT means paying hundreds or thousands in professional subscriptions for professional information services. To know what you don't know? That requires years of formal training learning about everything around the subject up to and including the periphery of the other professions; that way we also know when and who is required when the subject passes beyond our boundaries.
It's not about knowing everything (amateurs know everything about their area of specific interest, anyone can do that, the "diy" approach), what it is about is knowing what you don't know and knowing how to find the information you need damn quickly and knowing it is complete, accurate and right up to date this week; THAT means paying hundreds or thousands in professional subscriptions for professional information services. To know what you don't know? That requires years of formal training learning about everything around the subject up to and including the periphery of the other professions; that way we also know when and who is required when the subject passes beyond our boundaries.
Sham, fraud or mitigation?
Submitted by anthonymellorfca on Sun, 29/03/2009 - 10:52.Sham, fraud or mitigation? Tax law, International Tax
This is an invitation to professionals or others to discuss the above, the distinctions. What is real, what makes it so, what isn't. What fraud is (think document fraud). And mitigation, the new "avoidance". The role of politics (tax havens?) and semantics ("right amount of tax", yet no advice given, only leaflets). How the systems work based on circumstances and yet our lawgivers and judges state (amongst many other things):
Judgments - Levene (Appellant) v Inland Revenue (Respondents) [1928] UKHL 1 (09 March 1928)
This is an invitation to professionals or others to discuss the above, the distinctions. What is real, what makes it so, what isn't. What fraud is (think document fraud). And mitigation, the new "avoidance". The role of politics (tax havens?) and semantics ("right amount of tax", yet no advice given, only leaflets). How the systems work based on circumstances and yet our lawgivers and judges state (amongst many other things):
Judgments - Levene (Appellant) v Inland Revenue (Respondents) [1928] UKHL 1 (09 March 1928)
International tax planning means paying tax where you need to and not where you need not.
Submitted by anthonymellorfca on Sat, 28/03/2009 - 17:15.International tax planning means paying tax where you need to and not where you need not.
This goes for companies as well as individuals.
Imagine, an Italian with an assingment from Germany to work in Austria, while staying in Slovakia and a partner in the UK.
Imagine a UK company Director living in France and working all over the world.
It's all about timing - and that is about the choices you make, not "structures" or "schemes" or "dodges" or "avoidance"
Arrange your affairs to suit yourself - in every way completely legal and "compliant".
This goes for companies as well as individuals.
Imagine, an Italian with an assingment from Germany to work in Austria, while staying in Slovakia and a partner in the UK.
Imagine a UK company Director living in France and working all over the world.
It's all about timing - and that is about the choices you make, not "structures" or "schemes" or "dodges" or "avoidance"
Arrange your affairs to suit yourself - in every way completely legal and "compliant".
What is a tax haven and where and who are they? Prepare to be surprised.
Submitted by anthonymellorfca on Sat, 28/03/2009 - 17:07. You may find the following of interest:
What is a tax haven and where and who are they? Prepare to be surprised.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi0lkJBTi58&feature=player_embedded
The Laffer Curve - lowering the tax rate and collecting greater revenues!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIqyCpCPrvU&feature=channel
There is a moral case of tax havens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf14lkyH2dM&feature=channel
What is a tax haven and where and who are they? Prepare to be surprised.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi0lkJBTi58&feature=player_embedded
The Laffer Curve - lowering the tax rate and collecting greater revenues!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIqyCpCPrvU&feature=channel
There is a moral case of tax havens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf14lkyH2dM&feature=channel
The price of everything and the value of nothing?
Submitted by anthonymellorfca on Mon, 16/03/2009 - 12:15.Time & fees - "profit costs" - time charged
I like to deliver value. That means to me, that through knowing me my client makes more money from our relationship than he pays me.
I am not a cost. I am a centre of profit.
I do not charge by way of open ended hours and no blank cheque book is required.
These things drive me nuts when I am faced with them by those in the professions. They may be my peers, but I am inclined to the view that being in the minority does not mean I am in the wrong.
Why should we not seek to ensure that we are "worth knowing" ? What's wrong with turning finance into something active? Why should there not be an imperative motivator in the professions meaning charging by the unlimited hour is something we have to take responsibility for? Why should the client have to have the unpleasant surprise of discovering that the engagement letter he signed authorising "rates and hours" (i.e. time charged) can lead to huge bills - especially when someone is charging by time sheet pretty much regardless of what they are doing, but by reference to their job description (such as "tax expert") when in fact actually doing something else?
Hello mother? Can you understand me?
Submitted by anthonymellorfca on Fri, 20/02/2009 - 19:58.Often when I write stuff I am told it is too complicated and sounds like it was written by an accountant - but then they say "but I know what you are trying to say".
This leaves me somewhat perplexed.
There was a time I thought I must try to write as if I am not "an accountant", but I am one of these and after 30 years it is a bit late to change this aspect of "me". Should I really be an accountant? Would I be so if I had my time again? No and no, but there it is, I have done and become what I have. What would I be given my time over again? That's a good one. Something a lot more fun that's for sure. Having said that I do find my work fun when I can find the work to do. I'm not really your basic accounts preparation and tax returns man. I like problems I can get my teeth into. By problems I mean like challenges to sort out where I might be asked "my dream is to live in France, and yet I cannot see how I could achieve it". We all become entwined in our own world of thoughts and it takes a fresh view sometimes to break what has become a mould in which we are stuck.
Brits abroad paying British taxes? Free foreign health care? It's a topsy turvy world. E101 E106 E121
Submitted by anthonymellorfca on Fri, 20/02/2009 - 19:56. Business : Brits abroad paying British taxes? Free foreign health care?
Director of a UK company? Living overseas? Tax? NIC? Free health costs?
International Tax - are you paying the right amount? Any? Zero?
It will help to know the context in which I am writing which is I am a qualified professional accountant, with a traditional background in business and tax who also lives internationally. I have worked out these solutions for myself and how they alter according to differing circumstances. Where circumstances were "new" I had the experience to work out how to proceed for the best, one step at a time, and it has worked beautifully.
Director of a UK company? Living overseas? Tax? NIC? Free health costs?
International Tax - are you paying the right amount? Any? Zero?
It will help to know the context in which I am writing which is I am a qualified professional accountant, with a traditional background in business and tax who also lives internationally. I have worked out these solutions for myself and how they alter according to differing circumstances. Where circumstances were "new" I had the experience to work out how to proceed for the best, one step at a time, and it has worked beautifully.
Chancellor Brown swells the Contracting Cake
Submitted by anthonymellorfca on Mon, 26/03/2007 - 12:07.Chancellor Brown swells the Contracting Cake......"contracting" does not actually exist, pretty much like most of the supposed constructs created within the "industry". Industry? What industry? It's not even a variation on a theme, it's simply the large corporations trying to "have their cake and eat it" - a wonderful English expression I usually fail to understand when I hear it. However, in this case it works.....
The Full Story:
Nothing changes?
A French phrase, partially assimilated into English. The full phrase in French is "Plus c'est la meme chose, plus ça change" which translates as "The more things change, the more things stay the same"
