Slap tax

The old BBC clearly used to try to push the tax envelope a little. FOI disclosure of correspondence between Auntie and HMRC reveals the BBC wanted exemption from tax for staff who have to purchase their own make-up and lipstick for outside broadcasts, and claimed the money back. HMRC said no; clearly a taxable benefit. And the rule on staff claiming for their own copies of newspapers is that the re-imbursement can be tax-free - but only if they've been bought for the purposes of a broadcast review.

Elsewhere in the correspondence there's discussion of an exemption for items of clothing for members of BBC Orchestras. However, the language is so opaque it's hard to see what's been agreed. But then, isn't that the way tax people like it ?

Meanwhile, in dark corners of White City, CFO Zarin Patel will be in rehearsal mode for Thursday's appearance before the MPs of the Public Accounts Committee. If the Deloitte review of payments to BBC talent via companies doesn't give her sufficient body armour, she's taking a new colleague to answer the tricky stuff. Bal Samra, Director, Vision Operations/Director, Rights & Business Affairs, basic salary £280k, is a former England amateur boxer.

Also in training will be Trustee Anthony Fry, chairman of the Trust finance committee, who'll have to field the questions about George Entwistle's exit package. Was he in the loop that fateful evening, when Lord Patten called his deputy Diane Coyle for approval, as she settled down to Strictly Come Dancing ?