Liss

This is not just a pleasant country town in Hampshire – it also stands for Litigation and Settlements Strategy and has just been re-launched by HMRC.

There are mixed messages in this strategy. For example it tries to assure us all that where there is a dispute about the amount of tax due but HMRC accepts they have a weak case, they will concede the matter. On the other hand they say that where they reckon they have a strong case they will push for payment of all of the tax rather than compromise.

LISS is a worthwhile part of the procedures within a tax dispute which we sometimes face with HMRC, and our role will always be to:

(a)    be ready to get HMRC to apply it where it is to your advantage; and

(b)    resist it if HMRC tries to use it to their advantage in an unfair manner.