FN-FORUM: PRESS RELEASE: AILING PCG MEMBER'S TAX HEARING TAKES PLACE IN GATESHEAD LIVING ROOM

date posted 24th January 2004 09:31

For those who are interested ......
Ailing PCG member=92s tax hearing takes place in Gateshead living room
=20

For immediate release: Saturday 24 January 2004


---BEGINS---=20

In=A0a very unusual move, a hearing of the Special Commissioners of =
Income Tax
took place this week at the Gateshead home of=A0Professional Contractors =
Group
(PCG) member, Bill Hood, rather than in a court room.

The hearing related to a case that began two and a half years=92 ago, =
when the
Inland Revenue decided, under the controversial IR35 tax law, that Bill, =
an
oil rig designer, was not a self-employed businessman and entrepreneur, =
but
someone else=92s =93disguised employee=94, and that he should be taxed
accordingly. Bill sought professional help to argue his case, but even =
with
the support of experts, the stress and uncertainty have taken a toll on =
his
health. In July 2003, he had major heart surgery following a severe =
heart
attack. He also suffers from diabetes and asthma, and his poor health =
led to
the original hearing date being postponed.=20

Bill had started his own business, Use Tech Limited, in 1996, at the age =
of
54, and had thrown himself into providing quality work for his clients,
using his highly specialised skills and working very long hours to =
achieve a
modestly successful turnover. He will be 62 in March, and it is unlikely
that he will ever work again. =93Until this all happened, I used to run =
50
miles a week,=94 he says, =93including full marathons. I never dreamt =
that the
stress of this case would have such a devastating effect on my life.=94=20

Bill and his wife Anne, who is also in her sixties, live in the
unpretentious semi-detached home in Gateshead that they bought over 30
years=92 ago on a council mortgage, and where they had planned to spend =
a
contented, if not luxurious, retirement. This may now be in jeopardy if =
the
Special Commissioners=92 judgment rules against Bill.=20

PCG is supporting Bill through its legal fund, and he is being =
represented
by Dave Smith of Accountax. It is likely that they will have to wait a =
few
weeks for the judgment. Commenting on the case, PCG director Richard =
Robson
said, =93This is a very sad example of an inherently unfair tax being =
imposed
on exactly the kind of hard-working citizen who least deserves it. Bill =
has
our full sympathy and support. Many people think that IR35 affects only =
IT
contractors. As Bill=92s case illustrates, that is simply not true.=94

---ENDS---