Background
Misleading Advertising: Target Umbrella Ltd t/a Target Umbrella breaks the UK advertising rules for making misleading claims and omissions for the tax arrangements offered on the https://targetumbrella.co.uk/ website.
Together with HMRC, the CAP Compliance team has been taking market-wide action about the advertising of tax arrangements. As part of this work we published our joint Enforcement Notice - Advertising Tax Arrangement Schemes.
The Notice applies to websites which advertise a tax arrangement to UK individuals or businesses that has been challenged by HMRC. The tax arrangement advertised by Target Umbrella Ltd was challenged by HMRC and subsequently this issue was passed to the Compliance team.
Misleading Statements
The following references on the Target Umbrella website breach the Enforcement Notice because the arrangement has been challenged by HMRC:
- Compliant – Can you afford to risk your reputation? Well, neither can we which is why we are fully compliant and safeguard your contractors’ earnings and your reputation
- ‘Ever Changing Market – You know the industry as well as we do, that’s why we always
look to match the contactor with the right payroll solution. Our core products being:
-
- Limited Company
- Standard Umbrella
- PAYE
These methods of paying contractors are well established and have an excellent track record of remaining compliant with ever changing legislation
- ‘Compliant UK PAYE solution’
- ‘Income Tax and National Insurance paid’
Omissions
Ads for schemes under HMRC challenge may be advertised – but it is particularly important to be clear and upfront about the potential risks to customers of entering into the challenged arrangement.
HMRC investigation does not necessarily mean that a claimed tax advantage will not be upheld. It does mean, however, that there is a risk that the scheme will not successfully deliver the tax advantages claimed, which should be disclosed. Omission of the disclosure of risk of entering the scheme is a problem.
