This week's opinion

The revised code Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation is a significant development to which every tax adviser whether or not a member of a professional body will need to give serious thought. The key change is the new requirement that ‘members must not create encourage or promote tax planning arrangements that set out to achieve results that are contrary to the clear intention of parliament in enacting relevant legislation and/or are highly artificial or highly contrived and seek to exploit shortcomings within the relevant legislation’.

Some advisers will be concerned that the tax profession has bowed down to government pressure in publishing this guidance and that the independence of the profession has been compromised. On balance though I support what has been done. I take pride in being part of the tax profession and it is right that that it reflects on its wider place in...