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1984 and all that

17 December 2013 / Sarah Saunders
Issue: 4433 / Categories: Comment & Analysis , Avoidance , Investigations

How Orwell’s classic novel foreshadowed HMRC’s current behaviour

KEY POINTS

  • Offer of a contractual disclosure facility contract.
  • Blurring of tax avoidance and tax evasion.
  • Security issues and the agent priority line.
  • Is naming tax frauds equitable treatment?
  • Politicians make political points rather than reasoned conclusions.

It was a bright cold day in December and the office clocks were striking 13. I frowned and made a note to contact the landlord again; honestly he can’t even get the clocks running right. I opened my Christmas present from the senior partner: a copy of 1984.

A quick skim reminded me of what a chilling tale it was; thank goodness it could never happen. Full of the joys of Christmas I relaxed and may have dozed slightly at my desk.

I awoke suddenly faced by the poster...

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