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Note: A monthly commentary on the notable people, facts, figures and goings-on in the tax world.

Suitable items should be sent to taxrelief@euromoneyplc.com

Work no longer coming in waves for advisers

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Work waves fail to wash

Tax Relief has noticed that advisers have been more forthcoming recently than in previous months about how much work they are doing in the downturn. Typically, a year ago they said everything was hunky dory and they could not get out of their office with all the work that was coming in.

Now, some have begun to admit openly to Tax Relief that they are not doing as much as they used to. Still, they are being cryptic about it. One adviser told Tax Relief that whereas he used to get work in waves, now it was coming in pulses. What does that mean? That it is coming in at a steady rate, quickening up or slowing down depending on the amount of exercise one is doing? Answers on a postcard.

Lights, camera, action!

T ax Relief feels that the spotlight on tax havens could die away for a while, for everyone's sake. It feels like a new game called "Information Exchange" has been under way for months, without an end in sight, as the players try to outdo each other concerning the amount of detail they are prepared to reveal about taxpayers, so a group of international civil servants in Paris, otherwise known as the OECD, do not get upset.

One thing Tax Relief has spotted in all of this is how media savvy the tax havens - sorry, international financial centres - have become. Some would say far too late. So it was no surprise when one of them popped up with their own television channel. Arise Jersey Finance TV!

If you are so inclined, go to www.jerseyfinance.tv where Geoff Cook, the agency's chief executive, among others, will keep you updated regularly about what Jersey Finance is doing and how Jersey is better than its international competitors at keeping the bigwigs in Paris happy.

HMRC says play fair

HMRC spoils summer fun

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Tax Relief loves the summer months. He whiles away his time down the park drinking cheap beer and extolling the virtues of international taxation to anyone who walks past.

Tax Relief also takes the opportunity to earn a bit of extra cash by selling cheap souvenirs to tourists. But now it seems that the taxman is looking to close Tax Relief's beer fund.

HM Revenue and Customs in the UK are targeting individuals looking to take advantage of big summer events such as Wimbledon and the formula 1 British Grand Prix. Many traders sell food, drink and some even rent their flats for the duration of these events for extra cash.

But HMRC have sent out a strong message that they will be checking these individuals to ensure that they have paid the relevant taxes.

It looks like tax relief might be spending the summer months sober.

International Tax Review joins Twitter

Tax Relief likes to think International Tax Review is up to date with the information technology revolution. If you needed further evidence it can be found in the fact that the magazine has joined Twitter, the micro-blogging and social networking site, to provide updates on the ever-changing world of international taxation. The site will be updated daily and will enable followers to have access to breaking news as and when it happens.

The Twitter account will run in conjunction with www.internationaltaxreview.com. The account will be open to all and will allow for full interaction with International Tax Review. To view International Tax Review's Twitter page, go to www.twitter.com/intltaxreview.

Quotes of the month

"Did you know that the United Kingdom House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts drew attention to the ATO's methodology for differentiating high and low risk businesses, as amongst best practice?"

Michael D'Ascenzo, commissioner of the Australian Tax Office, should get a job in the organisation's press department

"Cayman already has an identically functioning unilateral arrangement with Ireland, and 11 other OECD jurisdictions, which are simply not counted by the OECD,"

It's clear that Anthony Travers, the chairman of the Cayman Islands Financial Services Association, got up on the wrong side of the bed

"For Gordon Brown to trumpet his clampdown at the G20 and then sign bits of worthless paper is a disgrace."

Lord Oakeshott, Liberal Democrats treasury spokesperson, is clearly not impressed by the UK's efforts to improve tax transparency by calling for country-by-country reporting

"When asked, my wife would not keep many friends if she said I was aiding mass genocide."

One transfer pricing specialist criticises how media coverage of transfer pricing abuses has blown out of all proportion