UK minister suggests banning accountants running aggressive tax dodge schemes
24 Jul 2012
UK treasury minister David Guake has suggested that accountants who ran aggressive tax avoidance schemes could be struck off.
Gauke, when asked by reporters whether accountants should lose their right to practice in the same way that a drunk driver loses his licence, said the comparison was an interesting point as he stressed that the government wanted to work closely with professional organisations.
He added it was up to the professional bodies to exercise the option to take away the right to practice.
He said professional bodies might look at the option in case of people who were operating well below the standards.
The suggestion has been welcomed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
According to Frank Haskew, the head of the institute's tax faculty, it was something that the institute would be looking at over the next few years. He added it was difficult to draw the line between what was acceptable and what was unacceptable. He said it was not black and white situation.
