TAUNTON-based chartered accountant Paul Aplin's position as one of the country’s top tax commentators has been confirmed with three New Year accolades.

Paul, who lives on the Somerset Levels, is listed as one of “the most influential and powerful hitters in accounting and finance” in the Accountancy Age Financial Power List.

The listing notes: “Paul Aplin, chairman of the technical committee of the ICAEW Tax Faculty and partner at AC Mole & Sons, continues to hold sway with those in power.

“His dealings with civil servants and ministers across the last two governments suggest he will continue to influence tax in 2015.”

His influence is also recognised in a vote by the readers of top financial magazine Economia, which places him amongst the 50 top tax and finance commentators on Twitter.

Economia describes those named as “the most influential sources of finance news and information in social media”.

Paul has also been included in the 2015 edition of Who’s Who, where his leisure interests are listed as including photography, hill walking and mountaineering, ballroom dancing, early music and “endeavouring (unsuccessfully) to stay one step ahead of the family border collie”.

Paul, awarded an OBE in 2009, writes, lectures and broadcasts on tax issues locally and nationally and has been tax partner at AC Mole & Sons since 1992.

“It has been a great start to 2015 and the general election is guaranteed to keep tax in the spotlight,” he said. “With so much election hype already in evidence, making sure that politicians understand the reality of the tax and financial issues businesses and individuals face will be more important than ever.”