9 March 2009 re HMRC

Stuart Hill is claiming victory in the first round of his fight to get the UK government to explain how it derives its authority in Shetland.

After refusing to send in self-assessment forms and incurring the consequent penalties, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs threatened legal action with a hearing before the Tax Commissioners. Mr. Hill continued to hold out, telling them to go ahead and arrange the hearing. Not having had notification of the date after two phone calls, he wrote asking when the hearing was to be. After a three-month delay, the reply came back that he did not need to complete self-assessment forms from 2006-2007 onwards and that all penalties are cancelled.

Mr. Hill said: "This is extraordinary. The only reason I have given for non-payment is that I am not subject to UK tax law because I live in Shetland. Their climb-down is tantamount to an admission that I have a good case.

The VAT office has not pursued a £1200 VAT bill since sending the Sheriff’s Officer in July 2008 and threatening dire consequences if I did not pay. I am refusing to pay Council Tax on my building on the island, but have heard nothing more from the SIC (Shetland Islands Council) since they threatened legal action.

My position is that neither the UK government nor the EU has any power in Shetland. I can only assume that none of these authorities wants to be put in a position where they have to explain where their authority comes from. This is only a small victory, but I feel I’ve won the first skirmish in what may be a long battle.

If anyone else wishes to challenge the supposed authority of the UK government here, I am more than willing to help them to follow my example."

Details of the correspondence are on the website: www.forvik.com

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http://www.forvik.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=126:31-august-2008-letter-to-hmrc-re-income-tax&catid=35:officialcorrespondence&Itemid=82

See: http://www.forvik.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=35&Itemid=82 for correspondence with the Queen, the Justice Department, The Scottish Government, HMRC and other bodies.

See: http://www.forvik.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=907&Itemid=110 for videos explaining the project.