Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Tax Avoidance

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service,
Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Tax Avoidance
Central Government currently has a policy in place that Departments will not engage in tax avoidance arrangements for employees by subsidising, refunding or paying the HMRC Income Tax liability of civil servants.
- Can you confirm if similar policies are in place for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) to ensure that it does not refund or pay income tax on behalf of employees
- Please provide a copy of the WSFRS policy in relation to the above.
- Has WSFRS  engaged in HMRC income tax avoidance by subsidising, refunding or paying the personal Income Tax liability of any employee over the last five financial years ending April 2019? If so on how many occasions and what was the financial amount paid on behalf of the employee?
- Is WSFRS proposing to subsidise, refund or pay the HMRC Income Tax liability for any employee in the current financial year 2019-20? If so what is the financial amount being considered for payment by WSFRS on behalf of employees?
- If the internal or external auditors have been consulted on the payment of an employees income tax by the Fire and Rescue Authority, please provide a copy of the view expressed by the auditor(s).

Yours faithfully,

G Henley-Blake

Thank you for your email. We will endeavour to respond to all enquiries
within 5 working days. In case of emergency, please call 999.

Kind regards, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.

 

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Thankyou for your email.

This has been forwarded to the Management Information Team to respond to you directly.

Kind regards,

Elsie

Elsie Bennett | People Support Administrative Assistant
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service & West Sussex County Council

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westsussex@infreemation.co.uk, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

Dear G Henley-Blake

Thank you for your request which has been assigned reference FOI/535

Tax Avoidance

If you have submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) or the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), we will aim to
respond within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, i.e. by or on
18/02/2020.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please reply
to this email leaving the subject line unchanged.

Yours sincerely,
West Sussex County Council

 

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westsussex@infreemation.co.uk, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

Dear G Henley-Blake,

Our Ref: FOI/535

 

On 21/01/2020 you made the following request for information, which has
been dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

 

Details of F and Rescue Service policy regarding tax avoidance
arrangements for employees.

 

We have now completed a search for the information which you requested and
confirm that this Authority holds some data relevant to your request.
 

The Response to your request is as follows:

1. Can you confirm if similar policies are in place for West Sussex Fire
and Rescue Service (WSFRS) to ensure that it does not refund or pay income
tax on behalf of employees

* There is no similar formal policy for West Sussex Fire and Rescue
Service, however, the council does not engage in tax avoidance
arrangements.

2. Please provide a copy of the WSFRS policy in relation to the above.

* Not applicable

3. Has WSFRS engaged in HMRC income tax avoidance by subsidising,
refunding or paying the personal Income Tax liability of any employee over
the last five financial years ending April 2019? If so on how many
occasions and what was the financial amount paid on behalf of the
employee?

* No

4. Is WSFRS proposing to subsidise, refund or pay the HMRC Income Tax
liability for any employee in the current financial year 2019-20? If so
what is the financial amount being considered for payment by WSFRS on
behalf of employees?

* No

5. If the internal or external auditors have been consulted on the payment
of an employees income tax by the Fire and Rescue Authority, please
provide a copy of the view expressed by the auditor(s).

* Not applicable

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Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
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Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

 

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