Don't shoot the messenger!

Don't shoot the messenger!

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I'm sure we all get clients complaining to us about the amount of tax they pay, and even those who like to imply it's our fault and we're not doing enough to save them tax. This is particularly true at the moment whilst discussing with clients the looming increase in income tax on dividends. 

I had a client recently who was so outraged by this that they shouted at me "this is outrageous! Why should I pay this, I'm not even British?".

I have to admit, this wound me up. A lot. And it was all I could do to stop myself responding along the lines of "well if you don't like it......".

How do you deal with confrontations like this?

Replies (9)

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By bernard michael
15th Mar 2016 09:29

Laugh.

Laugh - this normally defuses the situtation. I then try to explain how ridiculous they are being

Thanks (1)
By cheekychappy
15th Mar 2016 09:33

Tell them that the law says those benefiting from residing in Britain have to contribute to the services they receive through taxation. NHS, policing, education etc.

Though I'd just be tempted to slap them.

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By pacta
15th Mar 2016 09:56

.

My personal favourite one was when I called to chase my bill and my client outright refused. Why? They'd paid their tax already and I took my money out of that. 

I've also had a chap this year who was so irate that he said he was off to work in the company's Australia office. I'm not sure if we'll be dealing with him next year.

My usual way of dealing with it is just to bite my lip.

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By whatdoyoumeanwashe
15th Mar 2016 09:57

I could not stop myself asking them what being British had to do with it. Their response was that they weren't educated here and didn't plan to retire here, so why should they fund our education system or state pension? All I could say after that was, shaking, "this conversation is over"!

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paddle steamer
By DJKL
15th Mar 2016 10:00

One used in the very distant past

One  inadvertent approach (by accident, not design) used in the very distant past, was actually re vat but possibly can be applied to other taxes.

Years ago the firm I was then with did vat returns for a pretty successful independent travel agents at their premises, one of the less pleasant parts was to take the return through to the owner for his signature with a cheque, so through I went, handed him the paperwork and  a cheque to be signed for some £25k and the fairly normal eruption took place-he liked shouting and had a nasty streak ,especially with those he thought he could bully

He ranted on and then finally said to me something like, "Well, how can we reduce these bills" 

Being slightly fed up with the tirade and having nothing else really to say my somewhat short retort was "sell fewer holidays"

This  left him near speechless and I initially thought  he might explode or have a seizure but it worked, he calmed I got the signatures and never had similar issues  again with him  re future returns,

In hindsight, thinking about things from a distance , I think that in effect he took what I said as a compliment about his business (and therefore him), inadvertent flattery-and flattery was something he  did like, he had a fair ego. I think to him my comment translated into "well the reason you pay x is because you are good at what you do, your business is a success",

So comments like "try not to be so successful" may work

 

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Replying to Wanderer:
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By whatdoyoumeanwashe
15th Mar 2016 10:09

Brilliant! Yes, I do similar on occasion. "How can I reduce my tax bill?" "Make fewer sales! Having a big tax bill is a nice problem to have. It means you've made a lot of money". It does work with the right client. With this one, it would have only lengthened the pointless conversation! 

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By free-rider
15th Mar 2016 10:20

My all-time favourite was (again) yesterday when a non-UK national called me to enquire if I could help him to get a refund of ALL UK income tax he has paid for the last 3 years he has worked in the UK (under PAYE).

He is leaving country for good and even claims that will not return for at least 5 years if will get all his tax back.

70% of my clients are non-UK nationals so am often getting questions around this line – apparently everyone has a story about their mate`s mate who received ALL his tax back when left UK and is now not allowed to return to the country for the next 5-10 years.

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By Method Man
15th Mar 2016 10:49

FIFO

I explain to them the principle behind 'FIFO': not 'First In, First Out'  but rather 'Fit In or F### Off'

Thanks (4)
By justanaccountant
15th Mar 2016 11:12

Make less money

Try give them perspective. Tell them their tax bill is more than a lot of people earn in a year.

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