Victory for Ingenious in HMRC press briefing appeal

The Supreme Court ruled a background briefing to the press in June 2012 by then HMRC permanent secretary Dave Hartnett unlawfully disclosed confidential information to two journalists. The briefing predated the most recent First Tier Tax Tribunal ruling in favour of Ingenious in August, which granted partial tax relief to two of three Ingenious Film subsidiaries investigated by HMRC for tax avoidance. As such it is not directly related. Ingenious said it was "delighted" with the Supreme Court decision. It said HMRC had sought to justify the press briefing on the grounds that it wanted...