Taxman denies 'crackdown' on buy-to-let landlords

The Fisherman recently referred to an article in the Times that claimed the taxman was planning a crackdown on landlords in the buy-to-let sector.

Not so, says the taxman. Not a 'crackdown' at all. Rather, the aim is to give landlords 'improved access to guidance and support so that they can understand how to calculate their own tax liabilities'.

That's reassuring. And not only that, the taxman promises that even where it turns out that there is tax due, he will use 'the lightest touch possible' to recover it from the landlord.

The Fisherman is a bit wary of this new cuddly taxman. First, an 'amnesty', and now this. We're much more used to the demanding-money-with-menaces style approach. Wonder how long this softly-softly manner will last.