Newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror has won an appeal against a £70,900 fine imposed for being a day late with a VAT return and payment.
The charge was imposed six years ago by HM Revenue and Customs following the late filing.
However Trinity Mirror felt the charge was more severe than the infringement warranted and inconsistent with the EU principle of proportionality.
And following a recent tax tribunal, the judge ruled in the company’s favour describing the surcharge as “plainly unfair.”
HMRC had argued that dropping the fine would undermine the whole system, allowing large businesses to “pay their VAT late with immunity.”
However dismissing the fine, Judge Dr Kameel Khan ruled the surcharge was “disproportionate” and said there was little evidence to support HMRC’s position.
Trinity Mirror has not so far commented further on the case.
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How much was spent on legal fees?
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LOL: “How much was spent on legal fees?”
Every silver lining has a cloud, eh, LOL?
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Ah yes, the ‘Bernie Ecclestone Effect’… the more money you have, the less tax you feel you should pay.
What happened to the £100 fine for being late? £70k is a bit mad.
Seems like the TM’s finance department can’t doing their jobs right. A bit like those folks at HMRC.
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