刚刚，毕马威英国500名合伙人同时收到了一封"晴天霹雳" 般的信......
刚刚，
毕马威英国
500名合伙人
同时收到了一封"晴天霹雳"的信件......
继民财经汇导读：据英国媒体报道， 就在毕马威英国新的主席 Bill Michael 即将上任之际，上周， 毕马威突然向其500名在职和退休的合伙人发出了一封信。
媒体报道形容这是一封"晴天霹雳” （bombshell)般的信。也有网络媒体用 “The shoemaker’s children go barefoot,”这样的英国谚语来形容这件事情。
原来以审计和税务咨询为核心业务的毕马威英国和英国的税务海关总署(HMRC) 之间存在了税务纠纷。这个税务纠纷七年就已经爆发，主要是涉及毕马威对中东业务投资的会计处理，和某些税务抵扣项目。在这些事项上，毕马威和税务当局有不同的立场。
此次，毕马威英国突然发信给500名合伙人，告知这些合伙人，公司和税务局之间的税务争议可能会出现最坏的结果，请大家务必自己要挺住。
媒体报道如下：
urged KPMG partners to brace themselves for the most adverse outcome from the firm's dispute with the taxman.
报道指出，最坏的结果是，这些合伙人每人需要补交数万英镑的税，而且还需要加上利息和罚金。
报道指出，在过去数年中，就这个未决的税务争议，毕马威英国每年从其合伙人分红中预先扣下50%作为储备。但是，目前看来这个储备金额还不充分；可能还差10%。
毕马威英国答复媒体指出：正如其他大多公司，毕马威和税务部门是保持常态的沟通......；但是，偶尔(on ocassion)，......我们和税务部门也会存在不同的观点......"
"Like most organisations KPMG is in regular discussion with HMRC as to our tax liabilities.
"In keeping with our tax principles, and our published tax strategy, we make full disclosures to HMRC on all tax aspects including those where the tax treatment is not clear either in law or guidance.
"Again, like many large organisations, we will, on occasion, dispute HMRC's interpretation of tax law, particularly where it contradicts previous guidance or practice."
数月前，毕马威英国的四名合伙人曾经因为和税务部门HMRC 之间存在争议，而遭到逮捕和搜家, 连小孩的书包都不放过；有媒体指出，政府抓捕会计师是明显的作秀......。
注： HMRC 是：英国税务海关总署（英文：Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs，直译为：女皇陛下税务海关总署），是英国政府的非部长制政府部门之一，主要职责包括征收税项（直接税：包括所得税、公司税（CT）、资本增值税（CGT）、遗产税；和间接税：包括增值税、印花税等）、进口管制及部分形式的国家支援。
以上是继民财经汇导读，接下来是自由阅读时间，请君随意......
KPMG delivers new bombshell to partners over taxman's unpaid bill
KPMG wrote to hundreds of UK partners last week to outline tax bills running to tens of thousands of pounds, Sky News learns.
Hundreds of partners at one of Britain's biggest tax advisers have been told that they face bills running to thousands of pounds because of an ongoing row with HM Revenue & Customs.
Sky News has learnt that KPMG wrote last week to approximately 500 existing and retired UK partners with estimates of their individual "worst-case" liabilities.
In the most extreme cases, these are believed to amount to tens of thousands of pounds - and could be even bigger once penalties and interest are factored in.
Insiders at the firm said the letter had urged KPMG partners to brace themselves for the most adverse outcome from the firm's dispute with the taxman.
The row with HMRC dates back to 2010, and is understood to revolve around issues including the accounting treatment for an existing investment in one of KPMG's Middle East operations; its accounting for acquisitions in the UK, which were undertaken through its LLP firm; and other items where there was disagreement about the scale of eligible tax deductibility.
KPMG, one of the "big four" accountancy firms which dominate the profession globally, sets aside about half of its partners' pay each year to settle HMRC's bill.
That pot often leaves a surplus which is then paid out to the partnership, but one insider said that the tax now due from partners - both current and retired - could be about 10% more than had been retained by KPMG.
Last week's letter comes as the firm's new UK chairman, Bill Michael, prepares to take over the reins from Simon Collins, whose tenure began after the tax dispute had emerged.
KPMG handles some form of work for virtually every blue-chip company in the UK, and is currently pitching for the lucrative mandate to audit BT Group - which has been facing its own accounting problems.
In a statement issued to Sky News on Monday, a KPMG spokeswoman said it would not comment on the specifics of its tax affairs, but added: "Like most organisations KPMG is in regular discussion with HMRC as to our tax liabilities.
"In keeping with our tax principles, and our published tax strategy, we make full disclosures to HMRC on all tax aspects including those where the tax treatment is not clear either in law or guidance.
"Again, like many large organisations, we will, on occasion, dispute HMRC's interpretation of tax law, particularly where it contradicts previous guidance or practice."
She added that discussions could take years because both HMRC and taxpayers needed to consult with tax law experts in particularly complex areas.
The Sunday Times reported in April that the row between KPMG and HMRC was ongoing.
KPMG warns partners over potential tax bill
Sky News reported on Monday that around 500 existing and retired partners received a letter from the firm explaining that they could face tax bills running to tens of thousands of pounds
The row with HMRC relates to money that KPMG puts aside every year to cover its partners’ tax bills.
The report said the firm sets aside half of their pay to settle the tax bills. But sources told Sky that the tax owed could be 10% more than what has been saved up.
The issue relates to a bill dating from seven years ago and involves its Middle East operations, said the report, as well as its accounting for acquisitions in the UK and other disagreements about its tax deductibility eligibility.
KPMG said it did not comment on the specifics of its tax affairs.
A spokesperson from the Big Four firm said, “Like most organisations KPMG is in regular discussion with HMRC as to our tax liabilities.
“In keeping with our tax principles, and our published tax strategy, we make full disclosures to HMRC on all tax aspects including those where the tax treatment is not clear either in law or guidance.
“Again, like many large organisations, we will, on occasion, dispute HMRC’s interpretation of tax law, particularly where it contradicts previous guidance or practice.
“Tax enquiries can go on for many years, with both HMRC and taxpayers consulting with tax law experts in particularly complex areas,” the spokesperson added.
HMRC said it will not comment on identifiable individuals.
In January 2016 Patrick McCoy, KPMG’s former UK head of investment advisory, left the Big Four firm over his involvement in a film investment scheme.
A few months earlier four of KPMG Ireland's most senior partners were arrested in connection with suspected tax evasion.