Private Eye Covers RAVAS Complaint

So 20 years ago this month instead of joining a VAT scam that was bewitching UK music retail, I reported it to HMRC who then ignored me for six years, until I went to the EU Commission ...and they couldn't. You can read the whole saga here . Private Eye has now published their piece online here.

Three years ago I made a complaint to HMRC about the behaviour of officials both with regards to the tax scam and with regards to their dealings with me. After wasting my time in the word salad spinner for three years and ending up at the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman the answer was "We don't deal with that" and some unsubstantiated claptrap about "fairness".

Nobody has been held to account for the enormous tax losses and the significant harm that was done to UK retail when one small group of retailers shipping goods via the Channel Islands was handed a 20% pricing advantage over the rest of the UK. Those tax losses and the market distortion were permitted and yet could have easily have been prevented. If it wasn't so serious it would be funny.

Coming in January 2026 I'll be appearing as part of a podcast series hosted by The Tax Justice Network discussing my tax adventures and more. Numerous people have urged me to write a book and I may well do so if I get the time. Thanks to Private Eye for the coverage.