Tax Relief

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement


Tax Relief

Sharp suits for Sean’s Accountants

007.jpg

Your secrets are safe with me, Mr Bond

It's not often that accountants make the showbiz news for anything other than a tax avoidance scandal, but a quirky payment method by James Bond star Sean Connery caught Tax Relief's eye.

Meg Simmonds, an archivist for Eon Productions, revealed in July that there are "virtually no" Bond costumes from the 1960s. She said this is because Connery, who played the iconic spy from 1962 to 1967, and again in 1971 and 1983, kept most of his suits for himself.

For keepsakes? For nostalgia? Well, not quite.

In an auction for the coat that Connery wore in Dr No, Simmonds found out that the vendor was in fact Connery's accountant, leading several news outlets to conclude that 007 was paying his accountant in sharp suits.

The Connery family has made the news on tax issues on more than one occasion, so it's unlikely that this small revelation will leave them shaken… or stirred.

Bishop bangs bag burglar

bishops.jpg

PwC’s security team get ready for a day guarding the office

A soon-to-be partner at Big 4 firm PwC took down an alleged burglar – while dressed as a bishop.

Max Lixingstone-Learmouth was taking part in a world-record attempt relay race when he heard someone shout "stop that man" at a suspected handbag thief, who he chased down over 100 metres before pinning him against a wall with his crosier.

"It's not your day if you've been run down by a bishop," Livingston-Learmouth told the man, who must have felt that God was not quite on his side that day.

Tax Relief recommends that next time he finds himself being chased down by a member of the clergy he runs in a straight line, rather than diagonally.

Eels, badger hair and anvils are off the American menu

Wile E Coyote will feel his chances of catching the Road Runner are getting even worse if a new round of 10% US tariffs on Chinese imports are imposed as planned in September.

The list includes a range of bizarre products including, unfortunately for the hapless cartoon character, anvils.

Here are some of the more interesting items on the list:

  • Badger hair for shaving brushes

  • Human hair

  • Manure spreaders

  • Bovine semen

  • Live eels, carp and other fish

  • Shark fins

  • Baseball gloves

  • Stroboscopes

  • Anvils and portable forges

  • Magnifying glasses

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

The future chief tax officer will be judged not only on compliance, but on their ability to harness data, technology and AI to support strategic decision-making
More than 200 tier promotions reshaped this year's European rankings as several international firms strengthened their positions in key tax markets
Ryosuke Takemura, OECD policy adviser, argued that the organisation’s role is ‘not to solve these issues one by one’
Awards
ITR is delighted to reveal all the shortlisted nominees for the 2026 Asia-Pacific Tax Awards
Monica Erasmus-Koen and her Taxtimbre team will be responsible for building the firm’s TP capability in the competitive Netherlands market
Howden’s Rian Bahia explains how tax insurance can address known risks, unlock transactions and offer an alternative route through disputes and uncertainty
Haynes Boone’s new London partner, Alexandra Ueno-Park, argues that one-size-fits-all policies, billable-hour targets and outdated networking expectations can hold talent back
Death, taxes and Deloitte hoovering up trophies at an ITR awards night. Isn’t that the saying?
AI, pillar two and joint audits could define the next era of tax controversy, says Baker McKenzie tax partner Ariane Calloud
Gregor McMillan of Howden explains how insurance-backed financing can help businesses and funds unlock liquidity from tax receivables and other contingent claims
Gift this article